Dystopian and Apocalyptic Literature

Description
This is my preset list of dystopian/utopian literature, which includes apocalyptic literature, for the purposes of this list. Feel free to vote up your recommendations and thumbs down books that are not worth reading. Keywords: dystopia, utopia, apocalypse, postapocalyptic
1
54,213 members
1,003 reviews
4
2
82,389 members
1,275 reviews
4.2
31 Members
ShelfMonkey, ShellyS, aulsmith, PDE, merrystar, sturlington, greydoll, BLBera, alex68, Bluewolf0411, rretzler, Jarandel, Aug3Zimm, SonoranDreamer, gypsysmom, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963, nicoleop, SENSpence, pan0ramix, JoyKP, dianeham, zfak102, EvolvedMan, Vit.Z, Andrew_Orange, ManWithAnAgenda, allyrod113, Charon07, skid0612, midget84
Explanations
sturlington: Classic political dystopia. Mass surveillance, propaganda, historical deletion, mind control, and extreme totalitarianism. Required reading.
3
54,140 members
773 reviews
3.9
30 Members
ShelfMonkey, amz310783, ShellyS, PDE, merrystar, sturlington, thecoroner, BLBera, alex68, rretzler, Jarandel, Aug3Zimm, SonoranDreamer, cej1027, gypsysmom, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963, kara.shamy, Dreesie, nicoleop, pan0ramix, JoyKP, zfak102, EvolvedMan, klcallahan13, ManWithAnAgenda, allyrod113, Charon07, skid0612, midget84
Explanations
sturlington: Classic dystopia and counterpoint to 1984. Genetic engineering, mass consumerism, mind control, totalitarianism. Required reading.
4
60,341 members
890 reviews
4
28 Members
BookWallah, amz310783, ShellyS, aulsmith, PDE, merrystar, sturlington, thecoroner, greydoll, BLBera, rretzler, Jarandel, Aug3Zimm, SonoranDreamer, gypsysmom, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963, kara.shamy, nicoleop, pan0ramix, JoyKP, zfak102, EvolvedMan, Andrew_Orange, ManWithAnAgenda, allyrod113, Charon07, skid0612
Explanations
sturlington: Political/satirical allegory with animal characters. Propaganda and totalitarianism. Required reading.
5
42,601 members
1,149 reviews
4.1
6
49,876 members
747 reviews
½ 3.7
23 Members
BookWallah, ShellyS, PDE, sturlington, Fiamme, greydoll, BLBera, alex68, rretzler, SonoranDreamer, gypsysmom, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963, kara.shamy, Dreesie, nicoleop, pan0ramix, JoyKP, zfak102, Andrew_Orange, allyrod113, Charon07, midget84
Explanations
sturlington: Allegorical dystopia. Castaway boys on an uninhabited island regress to savagery.
7
40,372 members
1,590 reviews
4.2
8
17,019 members
538 reviews
3.9
9
4,620 members
101 reviews
4.2
10
34,582 members
1,407 reviews
4.1
19 Members
KimarieBee, amz310783, PDE, sturlington, Fiamme, BLBera, rretzler, Jarandel, Her_Royal_Orangeness, gypsysmom, nagasravika.bodapati, kara.shamy, Verkruissen, megschristina, JoyKP, DavidCady, EvolvedMan, Rosenort, allyrod113
Explanations
sturlington: Post-apocalyptic. A man and his son wander through a desolated landscape of ashes, eking out their survival from the little that's left remaining, while trying to get... well, nowhere in particular, really.
11
19,402 members
476 reviews
4
18 Members
hipdeep, ShelfMonkey, PDE, sturlington, thecoroner, Fiamme, alex68, rretzler, Jarandel, gypsysmom, nagasravika.bodapati, JoyKP, dianeham, zfak102, EvolvedMan, ManWithAnAgenda, flemertown, izzy45
Explanations
sturlington: Philosophical futuristic dystopia. Environmental degradation, androids, existentialism.
12
17,790 members
339 reviews
½ 3.7
17 Members
ShelfMonkey, KimarieBee, sturlington, thecoroner, alex68, rretzler, SonoranDreamer, cej1027, gypsysmom, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963, Dreesie, JoyKP, ManWithAnAgenda, TheRealLouise, Charon07, izzy45
Explanations
sturlington: Classic time travel novel. Far future dystopia in which humanity has de-evolved; also dying Earth. Required reading.
13
11,797 members
309 reviews
3.9
18 Members
ShelfMonkey, ShellyS, aulsmith, PDE, sturlington, Fiamme, Bluewolf0411, rretzler, Jarandel, gypsysmom, ahef1963, megschristina, pan0ramix, dianeham, EvolvedMan, Andrew_Orange, ManWithAnAgenda, Charon07,Her_Royal_Orangeness
Explanations
sturlington: Post-apocalyptic theological novel. Six hundred years after the Simplification -- total nuclear annihilation -- a cloister of monks in Utah preserve the little that remains of the world's knowledge, and wonder whether mankind is perpetually doomed to destroy itself.
Her_Royal_Orangeness : I've tried to read this several times and just can't get past the monk wandering around in the desert digging holes. *yawn*
14
11,822 members
783 reviews
4.1
15
64,832 members
3,494 reviews
½ 4.3
21 Members
KimarieBee, amz310783, ShellyS, sturlington, Fiamme, BLBera, eclecticdodo, rretzler, SonoranDreamer, gypsysmom, ahef1963, Dreesie, Verkruissen, megschristina, SENSpence, JoyKP, awarren1, Andrew_Orange, ManWithAnAgenda, allyrod113, flemertown, ,Her_Royal_Orangeness ,cej1027 ,Lucy_Skywalker ,DavidCady ,
Explanations
sturlington: Televised survival contests. Post-apocalyptic future America. Probably the best of the recent YA dystopias.
Her_Royal_Orangeness : "We're in a battle for our lives so why don't we go in this cave and make out for awhile?" *eyeroll*
16
49,507 members
1,795 reviews
4.2
17
25,979 members
389 reviews
4
16 Members
ShelfMonkey, ShellyS, sturlington, thecoroner, Fiamme, BLBera, alex68, rretzler, SonoranDreamer, gypsysmom, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963, Dreesie, megschristina, JoyKP, izzy45,Andrew_Orange
Explanations
sturlington: Classic futuristic dystopia written in fictional dialect. Mind control, extreme violence. Required reading.
18
22,394 members
301 reviews
4.1
19
10,780 members
268 reviews
4.1
20
41,349 members
1,051 reviews
½ 4.3
15 Members
BookWallah, aulsmith, merrystar, sturlington, Fiamme, rretzler, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963, Verkruissen, nicoleop, SENSpence, JoyKP, zfak102, EvolvedMan, awarren1,Her_Royal_Orangeness ,ManWithAnAgenda
Explanations
sturlington: Futuristic military SF with dystopian themes. Child soldiers versus aliens. First in a series.
Her_Royal_Orangeness : Homophobic and misogynistic.
21
23,012 members
941 reviews
3.8
22
13,885 members
359 reviews
½ 3.7
23
8,505 members
215 reviews
3.8
14 Members
ShellyS, merrystar, sturlington, thecoroner, BLBera, alex68, rretzler, SonoranDreamer, pan0ramix, EvolvedMan, Andrew_Orange, ManWithAnAgenda, izzy45, skid0612,Verkruissen
Explanations
sturlington: Classic precursor to 1984. Required reading for serious fans of dystopian lit.
24
8,189 members
239 reviews
4.1
13 Members
ShellyS, sturlington, Fiamme, BLBera, Dilara86, Her_Royal_Orangeness, SonoranDreamer, gypsysmom, Verkruissen, pan0ramix, ManWithAnAgenda, allyrod113, TheRealLouise
Explanations
sturlington: Feminist dystopia. Society has completely collapsed, and a young woman is driven from her home after her neighborhood is burned and her family murdered. Despite the violence and hopelessness that surrounds her, she is determined to spread her spiritual message.
25
4,907 members
177 reviews
3.9
13 Members
SylviaC, sturlington, cataloga, Fiamme, greydoll, alex68, Bluewolf0411, rretzler, ahef1963, DavidCady, EvolvedMan, Rosenort, Charon07
Explanations
sturlington: Classic "pre-apocalyptic" novel. Nuclear devastation.
26
45,532 members
1,745 reviews
3.9
27
16,717 members
325 reviews
4
12 Members
ShelfMonkey, ShellyS, PDE, merrystar, SylviaC, sturlington, alex68, rretzler, SonoranDreamer, gypsysmom, ahef1963, EvolvedMan
Explanations
sturlington: Human colonization of Mars, during which there is a nuclear war on Earth.
28
7,501 members
207 reviews
4
12 Members
ShelfMonkey, KimarieBee, PDE, SylviaC, sturlington, Fiamme, greydoll, Bluewolf0411, Jarandel, gypsysmom, ahef1963, Dreesie
Explanations
sturlington: Apocalyptic "cozy catastrophe". Blindness epidemic and man-eating plants.
29
6,679 members
382 reviews
4.1
12 Members
merrystar, SylviaC, sturlington, eclecticdodo, rretzler, NateK, kara.shamy, Verkruissen, JoyKP, zfak102, awarren1, allyrod113
Explanations
sturlington: Future subterranean totalitarian society. Post-apocalyptic--environmental destruction.
30
23,137 members
379 reviews
3.9
11 Members
hipdeep, ShelfMonkey, ShellyS, PDE, sturlington, alex68, rretzler, gypsysmom, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963, EvolvedMan
Explanations
sturlington: Classic cyberpunk. Required reading.
31
14,139 members
663 reviews
3.9
11 Members
ShelfMonkey, KimarieBee, sturlington, Dilara86, rretzler, cej1027, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963, Dreesie, awarren1, ManWithAnAgenda
Explanations
sturlington: YA dystopia. Conformity, personal appearance. First of a series.
32
9,446 members
638 reviews
3.9
33
3,558 members
154 reviews
3.9
34
20,250 members
401 reviews
4.1
10 Members
hipdeep, ShelfMonkey, KimarieBee, ShellyS, sturlington, Fiamme, rretzler, gypsysmom, ahef1963, ManWithAnAgenda
Explanations
sturlington: Cyberpunk (or post-cyberpunk).
35
10,257 members
232 reviews
3.9
11 Members
ShellyS, PDE, sturlington, Bluewolf0411, rretzler, gypsysmom, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963, pan0ramix, EvolvedMan, ManWithAnAgenda,aulsmith
Explanations
aulsmith : Clarke didn't mean this to be dystopian, just a sad evolutionary farewell.
sturlington: False utopia. Alien invasion, transhumanism.
36
3,585 members
168 reviews
3.8
37
7,324 members
363 reviews
3.9
38
5,818 members
201 reviews
½ 3.6
9 Members
sturlington, Fiamme, BLBera, rretzler, ahef1963, JoyKP, DavidCady, zfak102, ManWithAnAgenda
Explanations
sturlington: Futuristic dystopia/apocalyptic novel. Male infertility, human extinction, dictatorship. Christian allegory.
39
3,083 members
91 reviews
½ 3.6
9 Members
sturlington, thecoroner, alex68, rretzler, ahef1963, Dreesie, JoyKP, ManWithAnAgenda, flemertown
Explanations
sturlington: Feminist dystopia in which suburban housewives are replaced with robot versions of themselves by their husbands.
40
25,518 members
1,439 reviews
4
10 Members
KimarieBee, Fiamme, BLBera, rretzler, ahef1963, Dreesie, SENSpence, JoyKP, awarren1, allyrod113,sturlington ,DavidCady
Explanations
sturlington : YA dystopia. Conformity, totalitarianism. First of a trilogy.
41
13,096 members
391 reviews
4.1
8 Members
sturlington, thecoroner, BLBera, alex68, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963, ManWithAnAgenda, Charon07
Explanations
sturlington: Apocalyptic allegory. Blindness epidemic, extreme regression of civilization.
42
4,802 members
255 reviews
½ 3.7
8 Members
sturlington, BLBera, rretzler, SonoranDreamer, gypsysmom, kara.shamy, pan0ramix, pieperp
Explanations
sturlington: Feminist dystopia in which women gain the power to kill with electrical shocks. Reverse gender roles.
43
4,778 members
122 reviews
3.9
8 Members
ShelfMonkey, ShellyS, PDE, SylviaC, sturlington, greydoll, gypsysmom, ahef1963
Explanations
sturlington: Post-apocalyptic dystopia. Evolution of humanity, development of telepathic powers, theological themes. YA audience.
44
3,601 members
96 reviews
4.1
8 Members
ShellyS, sturlington, BLBera, Dilara86, Her_Royal_Orangeness, gypsysmom, ManWithAnAgenda, allyrod113
Explanations
sturlington: Sequel to Parable of the Sower.
45
1,039 members
106 reviews
½ 3.7
8 Members
sturlington, BLBera, rretzler, Her_Royal_Orangeness, Dreesie, dianeham, ManWithAnAgenda, pieperp
Explanations
sturlington: Futuristic dystopia. Organ harvesting, euthanasia of the aged and non-productive members of society.
46
34,938 members
794 reviews
½ 4.3
7 Members
hipdeep, sturlington, rretzler, gypsysmom, ahef1963, ManWithAnAgenda, allyrod113
Explanations
sturlington: Comic apocalyptic novel that takes the biblical rapture as its premise.
47
19,228 members
494 reviews
½ 4.3
8 Members
hipdeep, sturlington, Fiamme, rretzler, ahef1963, NateK, Dreesie, ManWithAnAgenda,cej1027
Explanations
sturlington: Alternate history with superheroes. Dystopian and apocalyptic themes.
48
18,575 members
1,284 reviews
4.1
8 Members
hipdeep, sturlington, rretzler, Dreesie, Verkruissen, dianeham, awarren1, ManWithAnAgenda,Rosenort
Explanations
sturlington: Futuristic dystopia: overcrowding and escape to virtual reality. Video game-like narrative.
49
17,793 members
684 reviews
4.1
8 Members
PDE, sturlington, BLBera, gypsysmom, kara.shamy, Dreesie, allyrod113, midget84,
Explanations
sturlington: This novel takes place in many different time periods, one of which is a mega-corporation dystopia with cloning, and another is a post-apocalyptic scenario featuring a fictional dialect.
50
15,567 members
715 reviews
4
51
13,707 members
767 reviews
4.2
8 Members
sturlington, Bluewolf0411, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963, kara.shamy, JoyKP, allyrod113, flemertown,ManWithAnAgenda
Explanations
sturlington: Time travel and alternate history. Dystopia is only at the very end, as a result of changes to the timestream.
52
11,731 members
453 reviews
3.8
8 Members
sturlington, cataloga, Her_Royal_Orangeness, SonoranDreamer, kara.shamy, JoyKP, awarren1, allyrod113,ManWithAnAgenda
Explanations
sturlington: A mysterious dome encloses a small town and civilization regresses quickly. Strong apocalyptic themes.
53
6,247 members
304 reviews
½ 3.7
8 Members
aulsmith, sturlington, rretzler, Jarandel, gypsysmom, Lucy_Skywalker, kara.shamy, ManWithAnAgenda,Her_Royal_Orangeness
Explanations
sturlington: Futuristic biopunk dystopia. Climate change and genetic engineering.
Her_Royal_Orangeness : RapeX1000. *shudder*
54
4,176 members
91 reviews
½ 3.7
8 Members
ShelfMonkey, ShellyS, merrystar, sturlington, greydoll, rretzler, megschristina, TheRealLouise,DavidCady
Explanations
sturlington: Post-apocalyptic. When the end of America comes, what is the one thing that can bring us back from the brink of complete anarchy? That's right: the U.S. Postal Service.
55
3,449 members
129 reviews
4
7 Members
ShellyS, aulsmith, sturlington, Dilara86, Her_Royal_Orangeness, pan0ramix, allyrod113
Explanations
sturlington: Far future following an apocalypse; first contact with advanced alien species. First in a trilogy.
56
2,621 members
70 reviews
½ 3.5
7 Members
sturlington, rretzler, SonoranDreamer, Dreesie, ManWithAnAgenda, TheRealLouise, midget84
Explanations
sturlington: A utopian all-female society.
57
1,789 members
66 reviews
3.8
7 Members
ShellyS, sturlington, rretzler, gypsysmom, dianeham, EvolvedMan, pieperp
Explanations
sturlington: Post-apocalyptic novel. Cloning, loss of individuality.
58
1,540 members
49 reviews
3.9
7 Members
sallypursell, sturlington, Her_Royal_Orangeness, SonoranDreamer, dianeham, allyrod113, TheRealLouise
Explanations
sturlington: Feminist post-apocalyptic fiction. Regression of civilization, return to the wilderness.
59
18,495 members
310 reviews
3.8
6 Members
ShelfMonkey, sturlington, alex68, gypsysmom, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963
Explanations
sturlington: Martian invasion with a strong apocalyptic tone.
60
5,611 members
398 reviews
4
61
5,228 members
119 reviews
4
6 Members
youthfulzombie, ShelfMonkey, sallypursell, sturlington, BlueHeaven1969, allyrod113
Explanations
sturlington: Futuristic dystopia. Survival contests. One of The Bachman Books.
62
4,971 members
144 reviews
4
6 Members
sallypursell, sturlington, Bluewolf0411, EvolvedMan, Rosenort, allyrod113
Explanations
sturlington: Classic post-nuclear war apocalyptic fiction. The residents of a small Florida town, having been alerted just prior to an all-out nuclear war, must struggle with the vagaries of small-town politics after the apocalypse.
63
3,973 members
260 reviews
3.9
6 Members
SylviaC, sturlington, rretzler, cej1027, ahef1963, Charon07
Explanations
sturlington: One by one, use of different letters of the alphabet is outlawed in a fictional island country.
64
2,612 members
151 reviews
½ 3.4
6 Members
sturlington, BLBera, SonoranDreamer, gypsysmom, Dreesie, TheRealLouise
Explanations
sturlington: Satirical dystopia in which people volunteer to live in a closed community where they must spend every other month in prison.
65
2,197 members
57 reviews
½ 3.5
6 Members
sallypursell, sturlington, gypsysmom, EvolvedMan, TheRealLouise, Charon07
Explanations
sturlington: Feminist spec fiction set in 4 alternate universes, two of which could be considered dystopias.
66
2,168 members
56 reviews
4
6 Members
ShellyS, sturlington, Fiamme, Her_Royal_Orangeness, SonoranDreamer, gypsysmom
Explanations
sturlington: Feminist false utopia. Post-apocalyptic matriarchal society.
67
1,823 members
95 reviews
3.8
6 Members
hipdeep, sturlington, BLBera, gypsysmom, awarren1, pieperp
Explanations
sturlington: Climate change leads to drought, collapse, and violent clashes over water in the Southwest.
68
1,553 members
118 reviews
½ 3.5
69
6 Members
sallypursell, sturlington, gypsysmom, kara.shamy, ManWithAnAgenda, pieperp
Explanations
sturlington: Collection of three novels. Two are set on alien planets. One is far-future post-apocalyptic Earth following an alien invasion.
70
22,914 members
495 reviews
3.8
5 Members
ShelfMonkey, sturlington, SonoranDreamer, ahef1963, ManWithAnAgenda
Explanations
sturlington: Post-apocalyptic alternate universe. Mix of western, horror and science fiction. First in a series.
71
9,517 members
282 reviews
3.8
6 Members
Dilara86, cej1027, ahef1963, Dreesie, awarren1, ManWithAnAgenda,sturlington
Explanations
sturlington : Sequel to Uglies.
72
9,443 members
253 reviews
4
5 Members
ShellyS, sturlington, rretzler, gypsysmom, EvolvedMan
Explanations
sturlington: Futuristic dystopia; perpetual war.
73
8,339 members
88 reviews
3.8
74
8,105 members
365 reviews
4.2
75
7,313 members
55 reviews
3.8
5 Members
ShelfMonkey, ShellyS, sturlington, gypsysmom, EvolvedMan
Explanations
sturlington: Sequel to Count Zero.
76
6,362 members
109 reviews
3.9
5 Members
KimarieBee, sturlington, gypsysmom, AlWheeler, EvolvedMan
Explanations
sturlington: Alien civilization that experiences cyclical apocalypses.
77
6,242 members
225 reviews
4.1
5 Members
sturlington, rretzler, ahef1963, kara.shamy, Verkruissen
Explanations
sturlington: Sequel to The Handmaid's Tale
78
5,932 members
422 reviews
½ 3.4
5 Members
sallypursell, sturlington, BLBera, allyrod113, skid0612
Explanations
sturlington: Technological dystopia. Social networks, loss of privacy, corporate culture.
79
5,374 members
406 reviews
4
80
5,171 members
434 reviews
3.8
5 Members
sturlington, rretzler, kara.shamy, awarren1, ManWithAnAgenda
Explanations
sturlington: YA dystopia. Technology implants.
81
4,850 members
191 reviews
4
82
4,327 members
70 reviews
3.9
5 Members
sallypursell, sturlington, Bluewolf0411, gypsysmom, EvolvedMan
Explanations
sturlington: A comet has slammed into the Earth, destroying all governing structures, and within weeks all of the survivors have reverted to feudalism, cannibalism and worse. Fun times.
83
3,285 members
257 reviews
3.8
5 Members
INTPLibrarian, sallypursell, sturlington, nagasravika.bodapati, Verkruissen
Explanations
sturlington: People start seeing something that causes them to go violently insane.
84
2,911 members
221 reviews
3.9
85
2,587 members
52 reviews
3.9
5 Members
sturlington, greydoll, BLBera, allyrod113, Charon07
Explanations
sturlington: A future anarchist utopia presented in contrast with present-day and (briefly) an alternate future dystopia.
86
2,126 members
185 reviews
3.8
5 Members
ShelfMonkey, sturlington, BLBera, rretzler, gypsysmom
Explanations
sturlington: Pre-apocalyptic. Imminent meteor impact causes social collapse. First in a trilogy.
87
1,588 members
114 reviews
3.9
5 Members
aulsmith, sallypursell, sturlington, rretzler, gypsysmom
Explanations
sturlington: WWII alternate history in which England goes fascist. First in a trilogy.
88
1,133 members
61 reviews
½ 3.7
5 Members
sallypursell, sturlington, BLBera, kara.shamy, Verkruissen
Explanations
sturlington: Near-future feminist dystopia in which abortion has been outlawed.
89
435 members
17 reviews
3.8
5 Members
sturlington, Her_Royal_Orangeness, gypsysmom, EvolvedMan, pieperp
Explanations
sturlington: Post-nuclear war. Once the apocalypse is over with, two women survive on a farm on the Oregon coast while trying to preserve the remainder of mankind's knowledge and sparring with the ultra-Christian religious cult down the beach.
90
16,512 members
780 reviews
3.8
91
10,570 members
190 reviews
4.2
5 Members
ShelfMonkey, eclecticdodo, rretzler, ManWithAnAgenda, TheRealLouise,sturlington
Explanations
sturlington : Probably not going to read this since I saw the movie.
92
8,956 members
144 reviews
4
5 Members
ShellyS, PDE, sturlington, NateK, JoyKP,ShelfMonkey
Explanations
sturlington: Short stories, several of which have apocalyptic and dystopian themes.
93
8,856 members
106 reviews
3.8
94
8,178 members
222 reviews
3.8
5 Members
Dilara86, cej1027, ahef1963, awarren1, ManWithAnAgenda,sturlington
Explanations
sturlington : Sequel to Pretties.
95
6,852 members
81 reviews
½ 3.7
96
6,570 members
197 reviews
4
6 Members
PDE, sturlington, rretzler, kara.shamy, EvolvedMan, ManWithAnAgenda,Lucy_Skywalker ,skid0612
Explanations
sturlington: Alternate realities include dystopian and apocalyptic possibilities.
Lucy_Skywalker : a great book, indeed, but it's not really a dystopia
97
5,010 members
290 reviews
3.8
4 Members
PDE, sturlington, kara.shamy, allyrod113
Explanations
sturlington: The last section takes place in a dystopian post-climate change world.
98
4,672 members
101 reviews
3.9
4 Members
sturlington, rretzler, gypsysmom, EvolvedMan
Explanations
sturlington: Futuristic dystopia. Overcrowding, scarcity of natural resources.
99
4,366 members
73 reviews
3.9
4 Members
PDE, sallypursell, sturlington, nagasravika.bodapati
Explanations
sturlington: Futuristic dystopia. Environmental degradation of Earth. Miserable Martian colonies.
100
4,117 members
266 reviews
4.1