My favorite sci-fi sub-genre is post-apocalyptic science fiction, with
dystopian literature coming in a respectable but distant second.
Why?
Because
I'm fascinated by the behavior of people when the thin veneer of
civilization is stripped away, and all hope is lost. What remains is a
true glimpse of humanity at its worst and best, and the question "what
makes us human" leaps to the forefront of existence.
For the past
several years, dystopian literature has been hot, especially with young
adults. Many readers remain confused about the subtle difference
between dystopian literature and post-apocalyptic literature. Allow me
to explain my interpretation of the difference.
A dystopia is a
society where societal perfection or societal transcendence is obtained
at the expense of something else. That "something else" could be a
devalued class of people, the loss of a fundamental freedom, or the
surrender of some aspect of human nature. Literary dystopias often arise
through a slow process of societal change, or more abruptly as the
result of some cataclysm. In either case, the dystopia represents
society in a stable state, albeit a state most of us find appalling in
some manner.
Post-apocalyptic literature, on the other hand,
focuses on the instability during and/or following a cataclysmic event
that shatters society both in form and headcount. During the story,
whatever society exists is typically small, isolated, and highly
threatened. Often there is little or no hope for any meaningful future.
Although it is true that post-apocalyptic events can lead to the
formation of dystopian societies, it is the immediately endangered
nature of the society that interests me as a reader.
For example,
I picked up Hunger Games in an airport years ago before it became a
global phenomenon, because it is exactly the type of story that grabs my
attention. Hunger Games is a dystopian story because it describes a
stable but imperfect society that has sacrificed morality and most of
the population for the comfort of a few. However, as a lover of
post-apocalyptic stories, I wanted to know "how." How did this society
emerge? What happened to create such a place? The story offers few
clues, other than hints of a war.
I preferred the very poetic Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. The survivors of a zombie-plague apocalypse huddle together in a small community surrounded by a chain-link fence, unaware of other survivors. Pretty hopeless, right? Despite that hopelessness, a small band of teenagers venture into the unknown with a vague hope that there must be something better "out there."
So ... it may come as no surprise that I wrote a pair of
post-apocalyptic novels. Write what you like; write what you know -
right? My other stories are not of that sub-genre, but I suspect that I
will revisit it later. My current PA novels are found at the link below.
I'll leave you with this. The best
example, in my opinion, of an utterly hopeless situation where survivors
soldier on is the short story "A Pail of Air" by Fritz Leiber. It's
available free on-line by the original publisher, Baen books. If your
tastes mirror mine, then do yourself a favor and read it at the link below.
(Note - there is a short Preface, but the story starts at the line "Pa had sent me out to get an extra pail of air." Good opening line!)
