The original item was published from May 19, 2021 12:12 PM to May 26, 2021 8:32 PM
Dystopian Fiction, Staff Picks, pt. 1
Today’s staff picks are all in the dystopian/speculative fiction category.
Station Eleven
by Emily St. John Mandel
Station Eleven, published in 2014, is the eerily prescient story of our world following a global pandemic. Infrastructure has collapsed, civilization has crumbled. The story follows a troupe of traveling actors, moving back and forth in time, vividly depicting life before and after the pandemic. I couldn't put this book down, nor did I want it to end.
Find it in the library catalog Here
Also available in digital format:
Montana Library2Go eBook and eAudiobook
Read more about the author Here
The Windup Girl
by Paolo Bacigalupi
Set in a futuristic Bangkok with bioterrorism, corporate greed and genetically engineered people, this sci fi dystopian novel is absolutely mind blowing. The ending still haunts me with its implications. R rated.
Find it in the library catalog Here
Also available in digital format:
Montana Library2Go eBook
Hoopla eBook
Read more about author Here
Ready Player One
by Ernest Cline
Who knew the '80s were so cool? Cultural references notwithstanding, this dystopian future novel keeps you on the edge of your haptic seat to the end!
Read more about the author Here
The Grace Year
by Kim Liggett
A dystopian Lord of the Flies that combines the will-to-survive of The Hunger Games with the sensibilities of The Handmaid's Tale. Written for a young adult audience, this book actually has a much wider appeal.
Read more about the author Here
Bretagne recommends . . .
The Handmaid’s Tale
by Margaret Atwood
A classic dystopian fiction novel that is now a popular television series. This novel is chilling in the demonstration of how quickly and drastically the society changed and in so few steps. You won't believe it was written over twenty years ago.
Read more about the author Here
Dog Stars
by Peter Heller
This is one of my favorite books and a great pick for these times. Even though it's a dystopian novel about a man and his dog existing outside of what used to be Denver, Colorado after a flu pandemic has destroyed the world, it is also a love story and a story of resilience. It also is kind of funny in parts and has a great plot. I loved his relationship with his dog who never leaves his side and even flies with him in his little airplane. There are some long scenes of shoot outs and some gun violence so that may not appeal to everyone. However, they are very realistic and detailed. Some people I have recommended it to just didn't like it all, but I thought it was great. One of his best works. It's not the kind of book I thought I would like but it just drew me along from the very first page and I ended up reading it late into the night. I even cried in some parts. I ended up just loving the characters and the plot. I wish someone would make it into a movie.
Find it in the library Here
Also available in digital format:
Montana Library2Go eBook and eAudiobook
Read more about the author Here
The Road
by Cormac McCarthy
A story about a father and son traveling through a land that has been struck by an unspecified cataclysm. Despite darkness and hopelessness pervading the journey, their love for one another keeps them going. An absolutely beautifully told and inspiring story.
Read more about the author Here