Dystopian novels provide a chilling look at societies shaped by extreme ideologies, environmental collapse, or oppressive governments. They challenge our assumptions about our own society, and leave us to question its future. Here are three dystopian novels that not only entertain but also invite readers to think deeply about their future: Scythe by Neal Shusterman, The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau, and The Giver by Lois Lowry.
In Scythe, society has eradicated disease, war, and famine, allowing humanity to live free of natural death. However, to manage population growth, a group known as the Scythes is tasked with choosing who must die. The story follows two teenagers, Citra and Rowan, who are selected as apprentices to a Scythe and must navigate the moral complexities of the role. As they train, they uncover the corruption within the Scythe system and are forced to confront the ethical dilemma of taking life when the world has solved nearly every other problem.
Shusterman’s novel offers a gripping exploration of mortality and ethics with a world where death is no longer a natural part of life. It’s a thought-provoking look at the cost of immortality and the impact of a system that values efficiency over human life. The characters’ growth and their struggle to do what’s right in an increasingly broken system make it a powerful read.
In The City of Ember, the last remnants of humanity reside in an underground city powered by a decaying generator. The city is on the brink of collapse, but its citizens are kept in the dark by an oppressive government. When two young protagonists, Lina and Doon, uncover a hidden set of instructions that could lead them to the surface, they embark on a journey to escape the doomed city. As they race against time, they must decipher clues and face countless challenges that will determine the future of their civilization.
DuPrau explores themes of hope, ignorance, propaganda, and the importance of knowledge with a story that reminds readers how easily society can forget the value of their surroundings and the integrity of the systems that sustain them. The instability of the subterranean city serves as an allegory for environmental sustainability and the dangers of ignoring the collapse of our planet’s biosphere. This book encourages readers to take responsibility for the world they inhabit.
The Giver depicts a society that has been transformed into a seemingly perfect community where emotions are suppressed, and everyone follows rigid rules to maintain order and harmony. Jonas, a young boy approaching adulthood, is chosen to be the next “Receiver,” a role that involves learning the secrets of the past from an elderly man known as The Giver. As Jonas experiences memories of pain, love, and freedom, he begins to question the cost of his society’s utopia and his place within it.
This classic novel by Lois Lowry asks profound questions about the nature of choice, freedom, and individuality. It delves into the dangers of a society that sacrifices personal agency for the sake of unity and control. Jonas’ experience as The Receiver is compelling, as he discovers the true meaning of emotion and what it means to live authentically. It’s a timeless story that encourages readers to consider the importance of one’s freedom of expression and the consequences of too much control.