Utopia

[close] Going for twelve.

[close] The most active group for apocalyptic and dystopian stories! Join a monthly book discussion, get recommendations, or just tell us if you like canned peaches. We're a big, friendly group, but there's always room for more!

[close] This group is for anyone interested in Utopian and Dystopian Literature to discuss anything from Thomas More's Utopia to present day fiction. Everyone is welcome, including experts or those who are completely new to the genre and want to know more! Utopian fiction depicts imagined societies that display speculative improvements to the real society in which they were written. Although not always perfect, and more often than not unfeasible, the societies of Utopian fiction emit optimism for a better way of living. Dystopian fiction, or anti-utopia, on the other hand, depicts alternative societies where negative developments dominate. These pessimistic depictions are often warnings of the perceived dangers at the time of writing, particularly influenced by the rapid development of science, and the realisation of its destructive powers following the First World War. Perhaps the fundamental interest of Utopian and Dystopian Literature lies in its relationship to the time it was written, whether it is a symbol of a society’s optimistic faith in progress or the growing fear of the destructive nature of mankind. The books chosen for the group's to-read shelf are a selection from the ‘Key works’ list from The Cambridge Companion to Utopian Literature, plus suggestions from group members

[close] I feel there is the need for a forum where we can discuss literature. Not just rate books and say how much we like them, but anything to do with literature, great authors, periods, social context, styles, influences, movements. If all the words tumbled from a famous tome, And could be carefully reassembled in the fullness of time, Who would be the best person to be sure, If the new work in hand was literature? (By Goodreads Author Amelia Stark) A united minority is stronger than a divided majority. (Quotation by Goodreads Author Adriano Bulla)