20 Must Read Dystopian Novels That Are Set In A Futuristic World

1. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Brave New World is a bold novel written in 1931 portraying an eternally peaceful and stable global society. It is an exceptional novel envisioning a future advanced in reproductive technology. Children are “created” in special hatcheries. Sleep-learning and psychological manipulation form the basis of the plot.

2. The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins

3. Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Delirium is a young adult, dystopian novel published in 2011 with an engaging plot. Lena, a young girl, falls in love in a society where love is seen as a disease that is commonly referred to as “Deliria”. The story is set in a time after decades of severe bombings. The totalitarian government has a surgical cure for this disease. Lena falls in love few months before her scheduled procedure. The story revolves around how Lena resolves this conflict. The novel was a New York Times bestseller.

4. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

The Maze Runner is a fast-paced, thrilling post-apocalyptic science fiction book that was published in 2009. The protagonist Thomas wakes up in an elevator which takes him to The Glade. He has no memory of his life. The Glade is a futuristic giant maze that houses creatures with mechanical arms. The Maze Runner has received many accolades and is one of the finest dystopian novels.

5. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

6. The Time Machine by H. G. Wells

The Time Machine is considered one of the earliest works of science fiction under the subgenre “Time Travel”. H.G. Wells has brilliantly scripted a plot where an English scientist tests his time machine that takes him to A.D. 802,701. He travels to a futuristic society comprising of Eloi, a group of childlike adults. The novel is a classic in the genre of science fiction novels.

7. We by Yevgeny Zamyatin

We is a fantastic dystopian novel set in the 26th century A.D. It was first translated in English in the year 1924. The author describes the life in a totalitarian regime of One State. It is a modern, futuristic society which is controlled by the Government. The plot details the pitfalls of chasing the collective dream of harnessing advanced technology.

8. Shatter me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me is a thrilling dystopian novel that unravels the life of Juliette, a 17 year old girl with a paralyzing and killing touch. Shatter Me is a gripping novella that is ideally suited for young adults. It is addictive and intense with romance that the teens will rejoice. The author’s depiction of Juliette is truly captivating. You will not be able to put this book aside until you turn to the last page.

9. The Stand by Stephen King

10. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

Atlas Shrugged is a masterpiece of Ayn Rand’s work on Objectivism. It is an astonishing story of a dystopian society where the most influential and powerful industrialists abandon their fortunes leading to the collapse of industries. Rand explores several philosophical themes in this novel and details the importance of a man’s spirit.

11. The Iron Heel by Jack London

12. Divergent by Veronica Roth

13. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

In Fahrenheit 451, a bizarre science fiction tale, Ray Bradbury presents a futuristic American society in which books are outlawed. It is a brilliant novel that tells the story of the protagonist, Guy Montag, who burns illegally owned books.

14. Legend by Marie Lu

Legend is the first book in the trilogy. An exhilarating novel that follows the trail of June in search of Day, a 15 year old criminal in the Republic. June is a prodigy groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Marie Lu with her fine writing has scripted a captivating thriller.

15. Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Pandemonium is the second in the Delirium trilogy. Lena, the protagonist explores the wild outside the totalitarian community she was raised in. Lena is on a quest to restore the society to its original state free from the clutches of an authoritarian regime. Lauren Oliver has managed to keep the suspense intact with her writing. You will be eager to grab the last book in the trilogy when you finish this book.