These are the best dystopian / post-apocalyptic books published between 1970 and 2004. The period was fairly quiet for this genre, primarily because the English-speaking world was largely at peace and largely prosperous during that time. Most readers were interested in more upbeat genres, not gloomy end-of-the-world themes. Still, some of the greatest work was done during that period, including some of the best-loved teen-focused books, such as "The Giver".
The Children of Men by P.D. James – 1992.
Eternity Road by Jack McDevitt – 1998.
A Gift Upon the Shore by M.K. Wren – 1990.
The Giver by Lois Lowry – 1993. Jonas lives in a utopian society free of poverty, crime, and sickness. The sudden realization that he is different from everyone else causes him to question his society's suppression of the individual. The exploration of his unique "gift" leads to conflict and alienation. When he discovers what has been sacrificed for that 'perfect' society, he must decide if he is willing to pay the price, or abandon his society. The revelation of the "gift" is a "Wow!" moment for the reader.
Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
The House of Scorpion by Nancy Farmer – 2002. In a book of futuristic fiction that seems more plausible by the year, the author portrays a near-future world where the U.S. and Mexico have ceded land to drug cartels in an attempt to stabilize their border. The story follows a motherless clone, Matt, born into this dark place as a pawn of the drug trade. As he learns about his world, sometimes through horrible events, he begins to seek escape from his desperate life. Well-formed characters bring utter realism to the telling.
The Long Walk by Stephen King - King's first novel, it gathered dust for years before printing. In a future society where reality shows rule, 100 boys set out on a walk. The rules are simple: average four miles per hour. If you fall behind you get warned. If you get three warnings, the punishment is absolutely horrifying. To the last boy standing goes the spoils. The novel is striking in its prediction of the current culture's thirst for reality television, and foretold of King's greatness as an author of the gruesome.
Lucifer’s Hammer by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle – 1977.
Mortal Engines by Phillip Reeve – 2001.
The Postman by David Brin – 1985. First of all, forget the truly awful Kevin Costner film version of this book. If you saw it at all. Second, take my word for it - this is a wonderful novel. David Brin takes a premise that sounds a little dull - of a man inadvertently inspiring hope in a post-apocalyptic world by impersonating a ... wait for it ... postal carrier. But from this premise, he creates a gem of a book. His tone and pace at unrolling the story hooked me like few novels have, and the slow build to an actual dangerous showdown is masterfully executed. The message is a good one - that every act of hope has meaning, no matter how small.
Shade’s Children by Garth Nix – 2004. Extra-dimensional beings cause all adults to suddenly disappear. A mysterious entity called Shade rallies a group of teens to fight the invaders. (Sounds a little like "Gone", but this was written many years earlier).
The Shore of Women by Pamela Sargent - 1986. (Mini-Review) This novel left me very contemplative for some time after reading the final words. In a bold undertaking as a storyteller, Ms. Sargent tells of a distant future where war-weary women have exiled men to live as savages outside the walls of women-only futuristic cities, taking reproductive material only as needed to keep the species alive. The story follows an exiled woman, Birana, who forms what is considered an impossible and disgusting bond with a man named Arvil - one of love. The story is slow in places, but those moments reflect the monotony of life in the wild. *Spoiler* When sexual relations develop between Birana and Arvil, the author does not hold back. Her descriptions are graphic, although not gratuitous. In the end, though, the story gave me what I crave in every novel that I read: an abiding concern for the characters, and a truth to ponder that is larger than my limited world. Kudos to Pamela Sargent for such a bold story with such a profound message.
The Stand by Stephen King – 1978. Before Mr. King became the prince of horror he penned one of the all-time great good versus evil novels. A man-made plague has wiped out most of humanity. The few survivors, drawn by visions, congregate into one of two camps: one for good and one for evil. The two camps fight for the soul of humanity and the future of the human race. Although lengthy, the novel saves some tremendous twists and turns for the end.
Through Darkest America by Neal Barrett Jr. – 1986.
Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden – 1995. In a fantastic coming-of-age novel, Ellie tells the story of the invasion of her homeland of Australia by a foreign power. She escapes to the outback with six of her friends, where they make plans to fight a guerilla war against the occupiers. Ellie tells the story with superb sensitivity and insight, which generates the power that makes a good story a remarkable one. The relationships amongst the teens are incredibly realistic, and the accounts of armed conflicts are riveting.
Urth of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe – 1987. Future Earth with dim sun
Z for Zachariah by Robert C. O’Brien – 1973. What's worse than being the last person on Earth? Sixteen-year-old Ann learns the answer when she finds herself a solitary survivor of nuclear war, wondering if she is alone in the world. After a year of solitude, she suddenly sees smoke from a campfire moving closer night by night. Is her long lonely nightmare ended at last, or does the approaching man represent a new level of terror? The tenseness of this novel is outstanding; you won't be able to put it down.
