Enjoying Dystopian Novels: 007

Enjoying Dystopia

I’ve found myself reading a lot of dystopian novels over the last year and a half. It wasn’t a subgenre which particularly interested me before my recent reading burst (more about that in another blog) but i’ve been going back to them constantly of late. Reading everything from classics like 1984 and The Road, to newer additions like Wool, and slightly more obscure bleak predictions of the future like The Drowned World and The Long Tomorrow.

Since my dystopian addiction began I’ve been researching and learning about all kinds of great novels and books series, I had no idea the subgenre was so bountiful. I knew about (and had previously read) some the classic, and of course had heard of most of the different YA dystopians turned into movies and TV shows over the last twenty or so years, but there’s so many others I never knew nothing about.

I find myself now down an endless rabbit hole of books about how fucking horrible the future is going to be, and I can’t stop reading them. Not only am I enjoying them, I’m feeling inspired by plenty too (writing wise, not dooming humanity wise)

And I have to say, a lot of them have been eerily accurate. Maybe not in the exact details of how things have turned out, but within the attitude of society and the depression surrounding these types of futures. So many are to close to the world we’re living in now, or what the near future could conceivably bring. They’ve been fascinating reads.

Why Has Dystopia Been Appealing Of Late?

I’m not sure if my recent captivation with this niche of science fiction relates to a more difficult period within my own life over the challenging last few years, or whether I’m simply enjoying the creativity and world building within the subgenre. The dark themes of isolation, paranoia, and ruin do seem to have a certain appeal (might need to investigate that) but I’ve also loved reading how the disguised broken world’s Brave New World and This Perfect Day came about. Or learning about the  hidden history within Wool. The authoritarian rules of 1984. The depressive breakdown of society in Handmaid’s Tale.

Maybe it’s a perfect storm. I’m just feeling subdued and pessimistic enough these days to enjoy the depressing themes of dystopia while I’m also getting more interested in the world building aspect of science fiction and fantasy and what could be done within those in relation to my own future writing.

There’s also the fact that it feels like everything is miserable of late. We are constantly being bombarded with horrible news. Social Media is a place where hate and lies are worshipped (The algorithm rewards nastiness) World politics and the potential rise of A.I. suggests a dystopia isn’t out of the question. The world feels like it is heading in the direction of one of these books, so maybe my recent fascination is more a morbid curiosity of what the future might bring.

I’ve shed a little more of my naivety and belief in people too over the last five or six years so that probably also helps me get into the mood and vibe of these bleak books.

… Or, maybe I’ve just accidentally discovered a new genre I like to read and it isn’t connected to anything other than an admiration for the words on the page and a strong author’s voice. I like to think it’s that one. (Never going to fully let go of my naivety)

Some Of My Favourites

I don’t normally do this in my blogs but as this post is already a little different I figured I’d quickly share some of my favourite dystopian books with you:

1984 by George Orwell will always be a favourite. It’s one I enjoyed long before my recent reading resurgence and long before my like of dystopia grew. I’m just fascinated by Winston and the somber grey world around him. I get sucked into the idea of history being erased or altered. Something about these themes always hit hard.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is another that just works for me. It’s a classic for a reason. Also features some of the best world building I’ve read.

This Perfect Day by Ira Levin has been one of my favourite reads over the last year. The idea of a dystopia disguised as a utopia is utterly terrifying for someone who predominately writes about themes like identity within their work. And the led character Chip does some nasty shit that can be heavily debated within the realms of nature vs nurture. It’s a great book.

High Rise by JG Ballard is another long time favourite. It’s more isolated than the rest on this brief list, but the microcosm of the high rise is perhaps the best example of the direction the world is currently heading.

Lasting, otherwise I’ll list another twenty, I really did enjoy Harry Harrison’s Make Room! Make Room! The atmosphere and hopelessness created in the book is at a whole other level. As much as I enjoy the world building of Soylent Green, I think I prefer the source material.

ohh… I forgot Walter Tevis’s Mockingbird. That was absolutely amazing too. Probably my favourite robot book.

Will I Write A Dystopian Novel Myself?

This is something I’ve thought about a lot over the last half a year as I’ve turned my attention to more genre based stuff within Spilt Latte Press. The simple answer is I want too, but I don’t have a particular story in mind at the moment, and have plenty of other ideas more fully formed. If I was going to write a dystopian novel anytime soon the idea would have to take shape in my head pretty quickly in order to jump the queue (which is always flexible)

That said, I do see a dystopian novel somewhere in my future. I like the idea of creating a potentially bleak world and working out exactly how it was formed. I have a novel in mind which could potentially qualify as having elements of dystopia within it, but I see it more as a cyberpunk or futuristic story for now, but who knows how that will develop.

I have written a short story called Analog Apocalypse which I’ll publish on my website and Substack at some point, and that’s also a story which could be built upon, so it’s an option. I have a side project in mind too which I could develop, but that’s a long way off.

What I do know is I’m definitely going to keep reading dystopian novels even as I expand my reading range into a bunch of different genres. I really am thoroughly enjoying them.

Alice On The Air

I’ve finished the first, and most of the second, draft of Alice on the Air this week. I’ve been re-drafting as I go, working on older chapters as I write the newer ones, so the two drafts have come along together. Because I’ve changed a chunk of my planned ending the third draft will be concentrating on making sure the character’s motivations are aligned throughout, while also adding some extra details to make sure everything works.

The change has made the book a little more complex than I originally planned, and has given the main character a choice to make which they previously didn’t have. I was reluctant to make the adjustment at first, but in all honestly it makes for a better more impactful ending, and tidies up a couple of things which had previous been a little loose. It’s the right decision, I think.

This means the third draft will take longer than planned, but I’ll reiterate once again, I’m in no rush. As eager as I am to move onto the next manuscript, I want this one to be the best it can be without falling into the perfection trap. July feels very unlikely as a release date now, but August isn’t out of the question so that’s my new aim.

What Else Have I Been Up To?

The rest of my week has been shared between re-reading the Darren Shan Saga, writing notes for a future fantasy novella, and working on some subgenre work for the website and Substack. Oh, and playing Trails in the Sky Chapter One… which is awesome.

I didn’t get as much done as I thought I might have this last week but it’s been super hot, and I had some freelance photography work to do at the weekend. This last week kind of slipped by really, but as mentioned, I did finish a draft of Alice on the Air and took a ton of photos so I can’t be too disappointed.

This Coming Week

At the beginning of the week I need to edit the photos I took at the weekend (a few hundred) so I’ll have to put writing aside for a couple of days. I’m hoping that break will get me motivated to dive into the third draft of Alice on the Air. I also need to continue my subgenre work. I have plenty scheduled, but haven’t written anything new in a while and I’m keen to get more done. I do have the next batch of subgenres and articles planned, and have watched and read everything needed for them, so now it’s just finding time to sit down and write them.

It has been difficult keeping up a good pace with my writing recently due to the heat and some health stuff. And, I’ve had a few things on my mind which needed to figuring out. But, I am feeling optimistic that I can get plenty written this summer. My main priority is finishing Alice on the Air. Then, I need to work out a schedule which allows me to start writing another book while also beginning some of the side projects I have in mind. There’s so much I want to write.

Stephen