Dystopia for Adults – A Reading List (Updated)
May 8, 2013 61 Comments
Three years ago, I took part in a Dystopia reading challenge and posted a list of Dystopian books for adults. There are many, many dystopia books for YA readers, but dystopian novels that are primarily for adults, are often harder to find: dystopian books with an adult protagonist. This list has been one of the most popular posts on my blog, and it’s time for an update.
What is Dystopia?
A dystopia is a society after some great disaster or change has taken place (post-apocalyptic), life is not as easy as it was. The main character in a dystopian story generally does not accept society as easily as most other people do and joins up with like-minded people to try and change their situation.
Creating a Reading List
For my 3-year blogoversary I asked my readers to suggest new dystopian books that weren’t on the original list and they were very helpful! Here is the updated list – a list that will keep growing, I hope.
So here it is: a list with Dystopian books that have adult protagonists. Do you know any others? Let me know and I’ll add them to the list. I’ll include post-apocalyptic novels that aren’t necessarily classified as dystopian but will be of interest to dystopia readers.
- White Horse by Alex Adams
- Feed by M. T. Anderson
- The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
- Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
- The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood
- The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
- The Drowned World by J.G. Ballard
- Nod by Adrian Barnes
- City of Bohane by Kevin Barry
- Jennifer Government by Max Barry
- Mountain Man by Keith Blackmore
- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
- The Postman by David Brin
- The Sheep Look Up by David Brin
- Armageddon’s Children by Terry Brooks
- The End of This Day’s Business by Katharine Burdekin
- A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
- The Wanting Seed by Anthony Burgess
- Veracity by Laura Bynum
- The Death of Grass by John Christopher
- Waiting for the Barbarians by J. M. Coetzee
- The Passage by Justin Cronin
- The Twelve by Justin Cronin
- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
- Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde
- Alas Babylon by Pat Frank
- Neuromancer by William Gibson
- The Carhullan Army by Sarah Hall
- The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway
- Into the Forest by June Hegland
- The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
- The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist
- The Possibility of an Island by Michel Houellebecq
- Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban
- Wool by Hugh Howey
- Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
- Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
- This Dark Earth by John Hornor Jacobs
- The Children of Men by P. D. James
- When She Woke by Hillary Jordan
- The Trial by Franz Kafka
- In a Perfect World, by Laura Kasischke
- The Stand by Stephen King
- Always Coming Home by Ursula LeGuin
- Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. LeGuin
- This Perfect Day by Ira Levin
- The First Century After Beatrice by Amin Maalouf
- I am Legend by Richard Matheson
- Swan Song by Robert McCammon
- The Road by Cormac McCarthy
- A Creed for the Third Millennium by Colleen McCollough
- I Have Waited and You Have Come by Martine McDonagh
- Malevile by Robert Merle
- A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr.
- Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
- V for Vendetta by Alan Moore
- 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
- Bend Sinister by Vladimir Nabokov
- Sulphuric Acid by Amelie Nothomb
-
The Suicide Collectors by David Oppegaard
- 1984 by George Orwell
- A Dream of Wessex by Christopher Priest
- Anthem by Ayn Rand
- Atlas shrugged of Ayn Rand
- The Beyond series by Kit Rocha
- Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
- Blindness by Jose Saramago
- Seeing by Jose Saramago
- On the Beach by Nevil Shute
- The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson
- Earth Abides by George R Stewart
- Dies the Fire by S. M. Stirling
- The Domination by S. M. Stirling
- Warday by Whitley Strieber and James Kunetka
- A Voyage to Kazohinia by Sandor Szathmari
- Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
- Far North by Marcel Theroux
- The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks
- The Sleeper Awakes by H.G. Wells
- The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
- Julian Comstock: A Story of 22nd Century America by Robert Charles Wilson
- The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe
- A Gift Upon the Shore by MK Wren
- The Crysalids by John Wyndham
- Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
- We by Yvengy Zamyatin
- Corpus delicti by Juli Zeh
Do you know any Dystopian books where the main character is an adult? Let me know!
About Judith
Leeswammes' Blog 
That’s quite a list! I have Battle Royale waiting for me on my book shelf and I have always wanted to read 1984, but that was mostly because of the title, as I was born in 1984. Also because my brother never reads a book, but he has read that one and loved it, so that made me curious as well.
Roxanne, Battle Royale is the Japanese Hunger Games. Some people think it’s better – at least I can say it’s the original Hunger Games, and more gruesome. 🙂
Fantastic list! This has to be one of my favourite genres so it is no surprise that I’ve read many of these. Blindness, The Road, The Death of Grass and Cloud Atlas are my favourites.
There are a few I haven’t heard of so I’ll be back to investigate and add some more to my reading list soon.
I’ve added The Death of Grass because you recommended it, Jackie. I guess I should read it if you loved it so much.
Fantastic list! I’ve read a lot of them but there are quite a few that are new to me so thanks 🙂
I hope you’ll find inspiration from the list, bookishoutsider.
One of my favourite types of fiction. I can see myself looking up a number of these.
A list of Dystopian fiction is not complete without the incredible Riddley Walker and at least one Ballard – The Drowned World or High-Rise perhaps?
I’ve also been meaning to read On The Beach after many recommendations and that isn’t here either.
Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham.
Thanks for your addition, Seamus. I’ll add them to the list.
This is a great list. I know I am going to refer to it for some good dystopia reads. Thanks for compiling this 🙂
*Booksmarks* Thank you! This is amazing 🙂
Great post, Judith! But I do have some quibbles and an addition.
While most of the book’s on this list are dystopian, I’d argue that you are conflating the dystopian and post-apocalyptic genres in some cases, and there’s a difference. Also, Battle Royale has teen protagonists.
My addition to your list is Jasper Fforde’s wonderful, satirical novel Shades of Grey, about a society that’s a “colortocracy.”
Susan, you’re right – I did mention it in my post, that I’m also accepting (some) post-apocalyptic stuff – I’m not strict. Battle Royale has teen protagonists, but I didn’t find it a YA book at all. For me, it fits into the adult category.
Thanks for your suggestion.
Just a few ideas:
The Beyond series by Kit Rocha (but these are VERY erotic and maybe not for you)
Wool by Hugh Howey
The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
And there are the Fuse books by Julianne Baggott although I’m not sure whether or not they qualify as adult books. GoodReads has them down as both YA and adult so that doesn’t help (although it does make me wonder if we should maybe call them New Adult? All these terms are getting too confusing for me.
Thanks, Marleen!
I miss Atlas shrugged of Ayn Rand and Waiting for the Barbarians of Coetzee
Thanks, Ludieke.
Awesome!!! I love reading dystopian novels and many times have found YA ones I have enjoyed, but I’m more of an adult fiction reader than YA reader, so this list is great!
I hope you’ll find some great new reads, Rebecca.
What a list! I have read some of them (1984, The passage, I am legend) and I liked them very much. And I have just started Do androids dream of electric sheep? in English!!
I didn’t enter the giveaway because I didn’t know titles to answer your question, but some of the titles of the list will be on my list soon!! 😉
Isi, sounds like you are a dystopian reader already. Hope you like Do android…. a lot!
Fabulous list! You’ve got all my favourites (especially Attwood) and some others I’m going to try now. “Death of Grass” is a brilliant concept but very much of it’s time and now reads as an essay in misogynism….
I can’t remember reading any dystopian fiction yet, thanks for this list!
Great list! Will investigate the (many!) I don’t know The often described as ‘Science Fiction’ writer Christopher Priest writes a lot of dystopias and post-apocalypse stuff A Dream of Wessex; The Islanders:; The Dream Archipelago.
The author he rather reminds me of is David Mitchell (Cloud Atlas)
Wonderful list! I enjoy the genre (ugh… that sounds bad…LOL) There are some on here I still need to read!
I love dystopian fiction and am delighted to see so many titles on this list that are completely new to me! My wishlist won’t know what’s hit it!
I believe Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence would count. Haven’t read it yet so not 100% on the age of the protagonist but it’s adult epic fantasy. Might have to double check though.
Thanks, Hannah. I’ll check it out.
Some of my favorites hat are not on this list:
A Gift Upon the Shore by MK Wren
Swan Song by Robert McCammon
Malevile by Robert Merle
The Suicide Collectors by David Oppegaard
I’ve only read about 25 on this lists, so I need to check some out.
I made up a bunch of top 10 lists for different types of Post Apocalyptic and Dystopian fiction for my Welcome to the Apocalypse feature. Most of my blog is audiobooks, but the Apocalypse lists cover print as well. I also do a annual top 10 lists covering both PA and Zombie fiction.
You sound much more into Dystopia than me, guildedearlobe. I’ll have a look at your lists. Thanks for the recommendations.
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I’ve just now found this list. I think I’ve found some summer reading…..
James, there’s enough to keep you reading all summer! Let me know what you’re reading (and what you think).
Warday by whitley Strieber and James Kunetka is excellent too
Thanks, Melanie.
Great list! Here is another short list of the top ten greatest adult dystopian novels.
http://www.spotsify.com/10-greatest-adult-dystopian-novels-of-all-time/
Your list is WONDERFUL!!! I do have one to add though. This Perfect Day by Ira Levin. While Brave New World ( my all time favorite book) focuses on consumerism, This Perfect Day seems to me to focus on solcialism. Otherwise they are very similar. Just a different approach to the same broken Utopia. Thanks again for this great list!
WOW, awesome list! I am going to be saving this for sure. I’ve only read a few of them so I have some work to do!
Have fun choosing and reading from this list, Kelly.
Great list!
I’m so glad to find this list. I really wished someone would recommend some dystopia novels for adults because I see (and have read) a few YA dystopia novels but they don’t really tickle my fancy. I hope these will! I only read 1Q84 from the list. Thanks for this!
5eyed, thanks for your comment. I had the same problem, I like dystopia but not always YA. Hence the list. Hope it inspires you to read a lot of great dystopian novels.
On Mon, Dec 23, 2013 at 11:46 PM, Leeswammes' Blog
Good morning! Great list!!! I’m missing Kurt Vonnegut though (e.g. Cat’s Craddle). Not sure if James Lovegrove – Untied Kingdom – should make it onto your list as well. Utopia by Thomas More? Jack London – Iron Heel. ….. Looking ahead to laying my hands on some of the mentioned books on your list! Happy New Year to you.
Hi Markus, Thanks for your additions to the list. I’m sure there are loads more than I got here, I just add them as I go along, so: thanks! Happy New Year. I hope you get to read a lot of great books.
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I’m bookmarking this! I love dystopian and I would try to read each and every book in this list! 😉
Great List
I literally just asked for recommendations of these. I haven’t read a lot of these so i’m hoping to narrow it just a bit. …Ok I still like to have the romance in my dystopias. Not like Kit Rocha erotic trash but you know Titanic like romance. I wonder if you could add a ❤ next to those with romance?
Hi Mic, thanks for your comment. I’m glad this list is useful for you. I’m not interested in romance myself, plus I haven’t read all the books on the list, so I won’t be doing anything with a heart. Nice idea in principle. 🙂
Hey Just getting started on another off this list I’ve bookmarked this page it’s great. but i do believe your missing kurt vonnegut here. Cat’s Cradle, Galapagos, Player Piano, Sirens of Titan, Breakfast of Champions, and his collection Welcome to the Monkey House should not be missed.
Thanks, Mic. I’m not sure if Vonnegut is strictly speaking dystopian or ‘merely’ post-apocalyptic. I love his work, though. I may look into it when I have more time. Thanks for the recommendations.
Just thought of 2 more, by Maria Doria Russell: The Sparrow and Children of God
How about the Ender’s Game series by Orson Scott Card?
Thanks, Nina.
Great list! I really like post-apocalyptic or dystopian fiction as well. That much even, that I wrote my master thesis about it two years ago!
I researched eight post-apocalyptic novels written shortly after the Second World War, published either in America or in Britain. Five of them are already on your list, but I can add three more!
The books I researched were:
*already on your list:*
The Death of Grass by John Christopher
I am Legend by Richard Matheson
On the Beach by Nevil Shute
Earth Abides by George R. Stewart
The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
*not on your list yet:*
The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke
The Long Tomorrow by Leigh Brackett
Ape & Essence by Aldous Huxley
From those three that are not on your list yet I did not really like Aldous Huxley’s. It is also not as well-known as Brave New World (which is on your list). I haven’t read Brave New World, so I cannot compare the two, but I found Ape & Essence quite boring and over the top. I did like the other two that are not on your list yet. Also the five novels that are already on your list were very good!
This is a great list – I lobe good dystopia!
I just finished The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood. It was a great read!
Good one, Tiffany. I loved that book!
J. G. Ballard – Concrete Island
Just published dystopian fiction – Traverse by BR549. A quick read, need more reviews. Thanks.
Mockingbird by Walter Tevis
The Unbroken series by Na’Imah Anderson on Amazon has a protagonist that is 23 and most main characters are 19 and up. I really like how the parents play an important role rather than kids taking charge. It is a very unique novel in many other ways. Unbroken: The Renegades
The website: unbrokenseries.blogspot.com