Thank you to I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Shelf Confessions for hosting this fantastic blog hop!
Dystopian fiction has seen a recent rise in popularity. Perhaps, in part, thanks to the success of The Hunger Games, dystopian fiction – particularly in the YA category – has never been more popular. I have always been a fan of dystopian literature and film, and love the dark creativity writing in the genre allows. Here are five reasons why you should get into Dystopian fiction today!
1. A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley – quite easily my favourite book in this genre. Published in 1932, this could be considered the father of modern Dystopian fiction. Huxley’s world seems Utopian but, of course, the society he describes is far from ideal.
2. Nineteen Fourty-Four by George Orwell – a dark and twisted classic, Orwell’s story has proliferated modern culture. We all know what Room 101 references, we know about thoughtcrime and newspeak, and we’ve all seen episodes of Big Brother.
3. Equilibrium, a film by Kurt Wimmer – a sorely under rated film that combines the best of Huxley and Orwell in a dark and cinematic masterpiece that will seriously disturb your equilibrium long after the credits roll.
4. Dark Angel, a TV series by James Cameron – set in a post-apocalyptic state of chaos and poverty, this series tells the story of a genetically engineered soldier fighting for her freedom against those that would enslave her for the needs of a nefarious government. (It’s perhaps worth noting that Dragon’s Teeth was inspired largely by Equilibrium and Dark Angel).
5. The Wall, an album and film by Pink Floyd – the music tells the story of a man in isolation, trapped by a metaphorical wall. The film takes this imagery more literally, depicting a warped and disturbing dystopian society complete with allusions to Hitler and WWII.
So if you’re still left wondering what a ‘dystopia’ is, here’s the answer…
Be sure to enter the rafflecopter giveaway below for a chance to win one of two ebook versions (in the format of your choice) of my dystopian/cyberpunk novel Dragon’s Teeth. If you want to find out more about Dystopias and stand a chance of winning more awesome prizes, check out the other posts in the blog hop in the Linky list below.
You can never outrun your past…
After years of war ravage the globe and decimate humanity, civilization is revitalized in the city of New Arcadia, a cybernetic playground where longevity treatments promise near immortality.Detective Cyrus, fond of fedoras and narcotics, is hired by Benji MacDowell, heir-apparent to an eugenics empire, to find MacDowell’s long-lost biological father. Employing his network of shady contacts within the underbelly of the city, Cyrus uncovers a murderous web of corporate corruption and political conspiracy with ties to the old Order, a tyrannical organization whose sole intent was perfecting the next generation of genetically engineered soldiers.Now Cyrus knows too much and finds himself caught in the cross-hairs of super-soldier assassins while the dark secrets of his past snap at his heels, forcing him to confront the truth he’s been running from… and discover his own terrifying purpose.
