What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

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► Suggest books for me > Unique Dystopian Books - Any Age

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message 1: by Psylk (new)

Psylk | 18 comments I am a huge fan of all things dystopian. I have read a bunch so far but I am looking for some recs for good unique ideas. With the market being so flooded with them lately it can be hard to find a great one. So what are your favorites with a unique premise? Or heck even a not so unique premise as long as its a great book lol. Any age group is fine with me.


message 2: by Jess (new)

Jess Myname | 155 comments I am reading this series right now. based on the other books I have read I am finding the story unique and it keeps my attention. Might be worth looking into.

The hybrid chronicles
By Zat Zhang
(Sorry I can't link from the phone app)


message 3: by Psylk (new)

Psylk | 18 comments Thank you so much!


message 6: by Cait (new)

Cait (caitmck) | 9 comments Not a totally unique premise, but I loved Mira Grant's Newsflesh trilogy, which starts with Feed . Interesting commentary on journalism and government corruption.

For two excellent, different takes on dystopian vampire takes, check out Robin McKinley's Sunshine and Holly Black's The Coldest Girl in Coldtown .


message 7: by Joseph (last edited Dec 09, 2014 06:09AM) (new)

Joseph  (bluemanticore) | 433 comments I recommend these 5-star dystopias:
Amped by Daniel H. Wilson and When She Woke by Hillary Jordan


message 8: by ``Laurie (new)

``Laurie (laurielynette) Eclipse of the Sun by Michael D. O'Brien is one of my favorites books in this particular genre.


message 9: by Psylk (new)

Psylk | 18 comments Thank you guys! These all look really good. Can't way for my winter break from college now!


message 10: by Lilian (last edited Dec 11, 2014 05:01PM) (new)

Lilian Deforest | 1 comments Partials, by Dan Wells. It's not very well known, but it is very well written and definitely unique! I loved it.


message 11: by Jess (new)

Jess Myname | 155 comments I second partials I was just thinking of reading them again :)


message 12: by Jess (new)

Jess Myname | 155 comments Forgot to say the whole series is already out I get irritated when I start reading a 1/2 finished series:)


message 13: by Psylk (new)

Psylk | 18 comments Good to know! Thank you both for the rec!


message 14: by Kathryn (new)

Kathryn (sscarllet) | 271 comments How about the Wool series? I thought it was fantastic.


message 15: by Ann aka Iftcan (new)

Ann aka Iftcan (iftcan) | 6917 comments Mod
No one has suggested the Kate Daniels series yet. It's not quite finished (I think that there are 2 more books to go, but am not totally positive.) Still at 5 books for the series, plus one "in the world of" and several short stories, it will keep you busy for a bit.

a YA standalone is Invitation to the Game by Monica Hughes.


message 16: by Kelly (new)

Kelly The Hallowed Ones is so good!


message 17: by Psylk (new)

Psylk | 18 comments thank you all I reall appreciate the recs


message 18: by Michele (new)

Michele | 2488 comments There are a LOT of dystopias out there, but if you specifically want some that are different or unusual, try these:

House of Stairs
Running Wild
The Hauntings of Playing God
It Can't Happen Here
Unicorns in the Rain
Genesis
The Testament of Jessie Lamb
Gibbon's Decline and Fall


message 19: by orihsba0_0 (new)

orihsba0_0 (aaeesha) | 14 comments I really loved Katie Kacvinsky's Awaken, it was an amazing book and I think you will really enjoy it.


message 20: by Michele (new)

Michele | 2488 comments Awaken for the clickamajig


message 21: by Nova (new)

Nova | 32 comments Try this one: The ScavengersIt's aimed at a younger audience but I'm 26 and I enjoyed it.


message 22: by Lillian (new)

Lillian | 28 comments This might be good to read The Darkest Minds By Alexandra Bracken...


message 24: by MJ (new)

MJ | 1617 comments Terry Goodkind Terry Goodkind, Wizard's First Rule series

Terry Brooks , Shannara series

Kit Rocha, Lauren Dane, Vivian Arend Aerand Kit Rocha, Beyond Shame series, very adult


message 25: by Brenda (new)

Brenda | 86 comments This one gave me nightmares as a kid (it's YA):

Z for Zachariah


message 26: by Empress (new)

Empress (the_empress) | 224 comments I'm really not sure what a unique dystopia means, but here are some books that I would suggest looking into:
The Gate to Women's Country; The World Inside; The Handmaid's Tale; Mockingbird


message 27: by Lauren (new)

Lauren | 7 comments I must also recommend Partials by Dan Wells. Also, Dualed by Elsie Chapman, The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau, Taken by Erin Bowman, and Legend by Marie Lu. There's a series called Gone by Michael Grant which isn't dystopia but is kinda sci-fi and has the dangerous survival situations that dystopian usually deals with.


message 28: by Nancy (last edited Jan 12, 2015 09:33AM) (new)

Nancy Brady (minesayn) | 47 comments How about Simone Pond's The City Center, The New Agenda, and The Mainframe? They are unique because there is a spiritual side to them. Not heavy spiritual, but it is there if you are looking for it. I have enjoyed them all.


message 29: by Avaminn (new)

Avaminn F'nett (dawnflower8) | 39 comments The Lunar Chronicles is a really good one. It's also a sci-fi dystopian retelling of fairy tales.


message 30: by Mawgojzeta (new)

Mawgojzeta | 89 comments Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler and the sequel are wonderful. I will second "We" and Ellie [The Empress]'s suggestions. I would add One by David Karp and Far North by Marcel Theroux.


message 31: by Rebekah (new)

Rebekah | 10 comments I recommend Anthem by Ayn Rand. I find it unique because the future society is quite primitive, unlike most dystopian books.


message 32: by Lobstergirl, au gratin (new)

Lobstergirl | 44924 comments Mod
The Flame Alphabet is unique, perhaps even experimental.


message 33: by Samantha (new)

Samantha | 74 comments I liked Found by June Oldham; it might not be dystopian...but it has a vibe that it takes place in a another time.


message 34: by Astraea (new)

Astraea (astraeagroup) | 33 comments Below the Root
And All Between
Until the Celebration

This 1975-77 series by Zilpha Keatley Snyder is a extremely subtle dystopia. It launches you into the overwhelming beauty of an idyllic society in a lush world of giant trees, blessed with flowers and abundant rain, but you gradually realize that the society is coming apart from the heart -- its children -- and rotting to death from the top. Salvation comes from the unlikeliest sources.

This was Snyder's only complete fantasy. Most of her other books are magic realism before it was called that. This was written decades before The Giver, but is often compared with it.

It also has the distinction of being the first book to be made into a video game. Below the Root, created by Dr. Snyder with Dale Disharoon (DeSharone) and Bill Groetzinger, involved lush colorful graphics, music by Dr. Snyder's husband Larry, intricate play with many surprises, and character choices allowing you to be male or female, either of two races, child or adult. It was created to solve what Dr. Snyder came to believe was a terrible mistake in the engineering of the resolution in the last book. She'd been flooded with mail but didn't know how to change things. The video game format let her present an alternative option.

The book was optioned early on by (I think) Disney, with no intention of actually making a film -- just so nobody else could get their hands on it. A few years before she died, Dr. Snyder was asked by a game developer if he could create a new and more detailed version of the Below The Root game for the modern PC. She wanted to allow it, but because the rights were optioned she could not give legal permission.

This is a great series. One of the best. Highly recommended.
Bluejay

See a playthrough here with humorous commentary.


message 35: by Michele (new)

Michele | 2488 comments Astraea wrote: "Below the Root
And All Between
Until the Celebration

This 1975-77 series by Zilpha Keatley Snyder is a extremely subtle dystopia. It launches y..."


Fascinating story about these books. I've read other things by her but not this -- clearly I've missed out!


message 37: by Eliene (new)

Eliene | 38 comments The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin is one of my recent dystopian reads. It's dark and definitely for an adult audience. The setting is unique and has compelling characters. Give it a go :)


message 38: by Michele (new)

Michele | 2488 comments Lindig wrote: "False Dawn"

ooh, chelsea quinn. I love her St. Germain books.


message 39: by Lobstergirl, au gratin (new)


message 41: by Eustacia (new)

Eustacia Tan | 19 comments I haven't seen this mentioned, but I really liked Renegade (first book of a series) by J.A. Souders


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