Dystopian Societies
The Hunger Games, Divergent, Delirium, and the Maze
Runner Trilogy all have one thing in common; they are set in a dystopian
society. There is so much more to play with when an author sets his, or her, novel
in such a setting; you can let your imagination flow, and not worry about
having to fit into the parameters set by the ‘real’ world.
The Hunger Games trilogy gained immense popularity, especially
after the release of the first movie in 2012 (there were several thousand holds
on books two and three!), and there has been quite a buzz around the movie
version of Divergent (releasing in 2014). Books set in a dystopian society are not new
(i.e. George Orwell’s 1984 and Lois Lowry’s the Giver), but they have gained
new momentum in Young Adult Literature.
What do you guys think of books set in dystopian
settings? Are they believable?
I’m currently reading Insurgent by Veronica Roth, and
really enjoyed reading Divergent (book one). The Hunger Games was also a great
read, and I felt the movie was fairly well made as well (I am looking forward
to Catching Fire releasing later on this year!)
I know there have not been many teen books that have been
turned into movies in this genre so I wanted to get your general thoughts on
the ones that have been, as well as ask if there are books that you have read
that you would like to see turned into movies?
19 thoughts on “Dystopian Societies”
I do think the books set with dystopian features are sometimes believable. I’ve finished the first four series you mentioned above and while some of them were somewhat unbelievable, (like a world without love – Delirium), the hunger games and maze runner trilogy could potentially happen – maybe in the next thousand years though. I’ve read ‘The bar code tattoo’ which sounds pretty legitimate too.
I’d like to see The Bar Code Tattoo as a movie and also Delirium as a movie – not a TV show.
Reading dystopian novels give us a new perspective on society. Usually, the author is trying to tell us what they feel is wrong with society through their writing. They made very interesting read, and opens our our eyes wider.
I’d love to see Philip Reeve’s Mortal Engines quartet made into a series of movies, though they’d probably be pretty expensive to make…I love all the characters, and the dystopian/sci-fi setting is one of the most interesting ones I’ve ever read about.
I think dystopian societies in novels are, for the most part, believable. Though, i still sometimes question aspects of the Hunger Games novel. as for the Divergent and Maze runner series, I haven’t read them yet and I can’t comment. Not really sure which books i want turned into a movie.
I love dystopian novels. I find most of them pretty pretty believable although there are certain parts that I feel are unrealistic. I would love to see Legend turned into a movie and I am quite excited for Catching Fire and Divergent movies to come out.
Everyone should read Brave New World by Aldous Husxly. I had to study it in school last year. While my class complained to no end, I secretly loved the novel. It was well-written, suspenseful, entertaining, and a scary reflection of a society that could one day be ours. Brave New World is a bit hard to read at first with endless scientific mumbo jumbo, but I promise the content is worth the effort of looking past that.
Brave New World is a classic! Here’s a link to our catalogue in case anyone wants to borrow a copy…
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/search.jsp?N=37751+4294949333&Ntt=Brave+New+World
i think they are pretty believable.
I think the point of these societies is that you get a feel of an entirely new society. I mean think about it, who wants to read a book about a society they’re all familiar with? That’s the purpose of literature and books. To create a fictional world so by the end of the book the reader can say that they’ve lived another life (metaphorical of course). With this being said, I’ve read the divergence series and the maze runner trilogy and thought that the books were great. I mean it’s not like we can relate to them as far as setting but that’s what makes them so interesting as books. If you look at the book “The Maze Runner” it’s not very relatable, kids trapped in a maze with a group called the “runners” running out into the ever-so changing maze trying to find a way out into while the others stay home trying to stay alive, not such a relatable setting but nevertheless still a great read.
I just recently started reading books in the dystopian genre. With a different setting, you can really imagine and “live in a new world”. The only book series I have read that are set in this genre so far are “The Hunger Games” and “Divergent”. I think society is slowly changing, this is why I think dystopian books are somehow believable. I just started reading “Matched” by Ally Condie and am curious to see it be made into a movie.
I have yet to read The Bar Code Tattoo. Thanks for the suggestion!
I agree with you in that it is extremely hard to picture a world without love… almost all stories focus on relationships and love in one form or another. In fact, sometimes the entire basis of the story is set on them (i.e. the Hunger Games).
You’re right, it allows us to broaden the way we think and look at things differently.
Thanks for the suggestion! I just looked it up, because I have not heard of that particular series. Sounds very interesting. One more to add to the list 🙂
Legend would make a great movie. I read half of it, but then had to return it. I can’t wait to get it back so I can finish it off!
Have you read the second book in the series, Prodigy? Here is a link for it in our catalogue:
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM2943838&R=2943838
Book three is slated for release towards the end of the year.
Well said, Marko.
It’s for all the reasons you have listed that make this genre so interesting to read.
I have yet to read Matched. It sounds like an interesting read. Thanks for the suggestions.
Have you read the others in the series?
Reached: http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM2909594&R=2909594
Crossed: http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM2779004&R=2779004
I don’t think realism or believability should be a concern when it comes to literature, one can create the most fantastical premise and still have it be tremendously relatable. Novels communicate metaphysical ideas and concepts, those can be communicated in the absence of realism. You don’t a need story set in North Korea to communicate that oppression is terrible, you might as well set it in a medieval empire. The reason that dystopian novels ae so popular are simply because of the dread usually involved or a potential future, but rather because it delivers ideas with more depth and in a much more impactful manner. In most dystopian novels conventional societies have, without society’s underpinnings people are free to reveal their true self, mankind goes from being savage to being civilized to being savage again, compelling ideas are intrinsically bound into these narratives.
The Hunger Games series is my favorite. LOVE THEM. That’s true, since this is something that people today cannot totally relate to, it would be great to see a movie where one person’s interpretation is presented.
On the other hand, I think that if you make a movie, this takes away from the book. Obviously the movie cannot match the imagination of a human being.
Now if I had to choose a book to be made into a movie, I think that “1984” by George Orwell should be considered. Well a more improved version of the movie. The novel is amazing and it would make high school reading easier 😛
I have read the hunger games series. I enjoyed them. I think books like these are believable. It is interesting to think that things could be different from what we know.