The YA Dystopian Book Club discussion

A recent post described the dystopian genre as 'Dystopia is defined as an alternate society characterized by a focus on negatives, usually frightening, such as mass poverty, public mistrust and suspicion, police state, squalor, suffering, and/or oppression, that society has most often brought upon itself.'

So, what are the key elements of a good dystopian novel?

I would suggest that one of the most important things is to create an alternative world that is believable. It must have an infrastructure to support the inhabitants, including a credible social, economic and legal structure, a clear system of government and a geographical setting that can be easily imagined as real. All or most of these should be clearly distinguishable from the world we live in and the differences made clear.

What do other people think?

I completely agree and think you said it well!

I agree, too, but what gives a story added weight is if the future presented is a very possible scenario based on disturbing trends of today.

Steve wrote: "I agree, too, but what gives a story added weight is if the future presented is a very possible scenario based on disturbing trends of today."

yes that is what i think of as dystopia. you can easily see how Earth came to be this way from decisions we make today snowballing into a horrible apocalyptic event like climate change or war.

I agree with everything mentioned above, however I would add:

-likable, flawed characters who the reader can really get behind
-an element of hope! Otherwise dystopians can get really depressing.

I want to ditto what Veronica said about no love triangles. The whole meme of love triangles is so overdone. (I liked the HG trilogy DESPITE, not because of, the love triangles.)

Whilst many dystopian novels are set in the future, there are other possibilities. Some examples are as follows.

1. How a previous dystopian society would have made our lives different today, had it not been crushed.

2. Similarly, how our world today is shaped by the defeat of a previous dystopian regime, our awareness of its evils and our vigilance to ensure it is not resurrected.

3. A hidden, modern day dystopian society, of which we are not aware, but is aware of us and is planning to take over our world.

Owen wrote: "Whilst many dystopian novels are set in the future, there are other possibilities. Some examples are as follows. ..."

We're living in #2. We beat the 3rd Reich, and the USSR dissolved, but now we have new threats.

Betty wrote: "Owen wrote: "Whilst many dystopian novels are set in the future, there are other possibilities. Some examples are as follows. ..."

We're living in #2. We beat the 3rd Reich, and the USSR dissolved..."

oh yes.
every time i hear politicians talk about singling out Muslims for this or that law in order to find terrorists. i think "hmm i wonder if that's how it started withe Jews and Nazis."

or when the other side says they are going to spread the wealth to everyone so everyone has a share, so everyone is equal. i think "hmm that sounds kinda like communism or socialism. good on paper but history proves it doesn't work when applied."

i believe in the USA we are about 5 laws away from 1984. gotta stay vigilant!

Kimberle said it well. Nicely put.