Book Review: The Resistance by Gemma Malley

THE DECLARATION and its sequel THE RESISTANCE are set in a world where a longevity drug has been developed that essentially lets people live forever. Sounds great at first - until you realize that if no one dies and people keep having children, population growth explodes and there just aren’t enough resources to go around. That’s why everyone who takes longevity drugs must sign a declaration saying that they will not have children.

THE DECLARATION followed the story of a 15 year old girl, Anna, who was born illegally to parents who signed the declaration, was caught and then sent to a surplus hall to work off her debt to society. It was a fascinating introduction to this dystopian world, and even though plotwise it didn't completely satisfy, it was thought provoking and introduced a couple of really well-rounded characters. (Read my full review of THE DECLARATION).

THE RESISTANCE seems to exist solely to make the dangers of immortality at a societal level excruciatingly clear. While a drug like Longevity is of course an amazing breakthrough for the individual, it is poised to be the ultimate destroyer of mankind, as society needs a continuous cycle of youth for its renewal. Without that renewal – a culture grows stagnant, the people brittle and egocentric.

These are certainly interesting ideas to explore, but the execution seems a little one sided. Every adult not in the resistance (with one notable exception) is portrayed as irredeemably selfish and heartless. The resistance claims that mankind’s only hope is in the few teens, like Anna and her friend Peter, who haven’t been seduced by Longevity – but the plot does these teens a great disservice by demanding that they do stupid things. Fortunately for them, the adults do stupid things too, and in the end it’s just luck and coincidence that determines everyone’s fate.

A third book in the series THE REVELATION is set for an October 2010 release.  The teaser summary is enticing: "It appears Longevity isn't working and the drugs promising eternal youth are failing to live up to their promises. A virus is sweeping the country, killing in its wake, and Longevity is powerless to fight it." Maybe death is just the thing to bring new life to this concept.

Both THE DECLARATION and THE RESISTANCE are out now in paperback. Find out more about them at the publisher's website.

My Rating for THE RESISTANCE: 1 Zombie Chicken - For Dystopian Completists Only (I'd give THE DECLARATION 3 Zombie Chickens though, so if you really liked that one, you may be more inclined to like its sequel than I was.)

See index of all dystopian reviews on Presenting Lenore

Guest Megan from Po(sey) Sessions on lesser-known dystopian gems

Naturally it's not possible for me to read or feature every dystopian novel ever written in one month (nor would I try), but thanks to a few dystopian fiction junkies like myself around the blogosphere, I can introduce you to some titles I haven't read during Dystopian February.

My first guest is Megan from Po(sey) Sessions. Megan has been book blogging just as long as I have, and she's gung-ho about dystopian fiction, reading pretty much every title she can get her hands on. Today, she's here to tell us about a few lesser-known gems she's discovered lately.

Stead, Rebecca: FIRST LIGHT (Middle Grade, Standalone, Political Dystopia)
Newberry winning Author Rebecca Stead (When You Reach Me)’s debut novel was 2007’s FIRST LIGHT. It skates the line between utopia and dystopia. Teah lives in a society underground. It is beautiful and mostly peaceful. Her people were forced underground retreating from persecution in England. Now the ancestors live in Gracehope, without fear of the outside world. But as in most seemingly happy places, the people in power abuse their knowledge and hide things from the community.

Meanwhile, on the surface, Peter is arrives in Greenland with his scientist parents. Peter's father is searching for something, but no one really knows what. Peter is not really sure why he was brought along, nor why his mother was there writing a book.

The story is told in an alternating narrative between Peter and Teah. Peter explores further and further from their camp but he never really knows what he is searching for. Teah is searching for something too, following clues in Gracehope to the truth. Teah is the stronger of the two. She doesn't expect to be rescued by others. Peter's passivity towards his situation touches on making him boring. He doesn't ask questions, he doesn't involve himself into the world and into the narrative. I enjoyed the story and writing but it may be too light for other dystopian junkies.

FIRST LIGHT is available in paperback now. Find out more about it at the author's website.

Davidson, Ellen Dee: STOLEN VOICES (Middle Grade, Standalone, Political Dystopia)
As children come into their teenage years, they are masked to keep them from using their voice as weapons. Each teen is encouraged to find their unique talent and cultivate it. But Miri cannot find her talent. She is now at risk of being masked later than her friends. The masking ceremony is a great honor and a symbol of maturity and loyalty.

But Miri begins to see the world around her in new ways. She begins to understand the ways that music has power and also why it is kept muted. I enjoyed the world in the story and so many of the details the author used to build it. Though there are many things about Miri's world that are unsettling, there are things about it that do seem truly pleasant. But to live in a world without music, to have no voice, and little control would be heartbreaking for me.

STOLEN VOICES is availble in paperback now. Find out more about it at the publisher's website.

Adlington, L. J.: THE DIARY OF PELLY D (YA, Companion Novel CHERRY HEAVEN, Political Dystopia)
A young boy named Toni V comes across a notebook while he’s cleaning. The notebook is a diary by a girl named Pelly D, and we experience her story through Toni’s eyes. Toni sees how her world was different from his. How her world would become his. As the story continues, he becomes more engrossed in thinking about Pelly D and what will happen to her. And if the diary will even be able to tell him what happened to her. The world and politics in this story are interesting, but it is the creative narration that makes this book really compelling.

THE DIARY OF PELLY D is available in paperback now. Find out more about it at the author's website.

Thanks Megan! I know my wishlist just got longer. Anyone else have some lesser known dystopian gems they want to recommend? Let us know in the comments.

Book Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

A mind-wiped boy wakes up in an elevator that drops him off in a place called the Glade, filled with boys his age all trying to find their way out of a giant maze guarded by monstrous creatures. All he knows is that his name is Thomas – and that he’s destined to be a maze runner.

It’s a premise that reminded me very much of the Canadian cult movie CUBE. Both feature a group of people specially chosen for an experiment. Both feature a very dangerous maze where a wrong move can cost you your life. But where the CUBE victims were ultimately their own worst enemies, the boys of the Glade get along remarkably well. Some boys have been living in the self-contained community for over 2 years, getting by on their own hard work and supplies sent by the mysterious people who put them there. Thomas’ arrival on the scene sets off a terrifying chain of events that will either lead to escape – or the death of every last one of them.

We do a get a peek at the dystopian world behind the maze via violent memories brought back by monster attacks, and the setting of the Glade and the maze itself is lushly and painstakingly described. But it is the action that is in focus here – and boy does it deliver. I have seldom been so drawn in, possessed to keep turning the pages as fast as I could read.

While the pacing and plot are top-notch, “the emotional landscape of the characters could have been more fully developed” (to quote My Friend Amy’s review). When a couple of major characters bite the dust and your only reaction is “meh”, that is not a good sign. (And just so you know I’m not cold hearted, I cried buckets when a certain minor character died in THE HUNGER GAMES ).

Still, I am very excited to read book 2 THE SCORCH TRIALS (thanks evil cliffhanger!) due in October 2010, and I can recommend this to anyone looking for a quick yet completely absorbing read.

THE MAZE RUNNER is available now in hardcover. Find out more about it at the author’s blog or the offical book website.

My rating: 3 Zombie Chickens - Well Worth Reading (NOTE: I'd actually give this an extra half Zombie Chicken - despite it's failure to move me, it really is very good.)

See index of all dystopian reviews on Presenting Lenore

Prepare for BEA 2010!

So you’ve taken the plunge – you’re going to Book Expo America for the first time! You’re super excited but you also have tons of questions. No problem – it’s the Book Blogger Con Tour to the rescue.

Many of the other bloggers on the tour have already touched on the basics (wear comfortable shoes, bring business cards, take your own snacks), so please do check out their advice.

Here is mine.

Come with a plan…. BEA is so huge, you really have to prioritize, and to do that, you have to first know what is going on. That means, you should get a fair schedule (usually available at the official BEA website sometime in April) and write down everything you really want to do before you go. Unfortunately, a lot of events and signings are going to overlap, so you’ll have to make some tough choices sometimes. When I read a bunch of after-BEA recaps, I was amazed just how different everyone’s experience was. Make yours memorable.

…but be flexible. Don’t have every second of your day mapped out, because you want to be able to take advantage of a last minute opportunity to connect with an author or that cool blogger you adore – or to chase down the hottest galleys (some publishers stagger when they put their galleys out, and sometimes getting a certain one requires luck and heavy reliance on the word-of-mouth network).

Use waiting times wisely. Last year, I spent a lot of my time in the autograph area standing in line. Fortunately, I nearly always found a blogging buddy to chat with while I was waiting. And if I didn’t, I introduced myself to whoever was standing near. I had a lot of interesting conversations with librarians and booksellers that I never would have met otherwise.

Don't think you have to carry around everything. If you want a certain galley or catalog, you don't always have to take it with you. After a few hours, you (and your sore shoulders) might wish you hadn't. Publisher reps are often happy to take your address and send you materials after the fair - just ask!

Get out of the Javits and explore New York City. Some people will tell you otherwise – that your time is precious and it should be book-centric – but honestly, it can get overwhelming if you are at the Javits every second the fair is open. And if you can, stay extra days. BEA was awesome, but I had some of my best experiences outside the fair. The Teen Author Carnival. Lunch with Nicole. A tour of Hachette Books. And much more. In that vein, I have gathered some of my favorite NYC tips from YA authors, excerpted from my interviews with them, to share with you.

THE ELITE Author Jennifer Banash says:
- Go to the Strand--it's my fave bookstore and you can find a lot of ARCs there as well.
- Go to my favorite ice-cream parlor, Serendipity 3 and have a frozen hot chocolate--they're world-famous, and amazing.
- Go to the top of the Chrysler Building for the awesome view--it's less touristy than the Empire State, and personally I think the actual artichetecture of the building is much more beautiful.
(read the rest of Jennifer Banash's interview)

WILLOW Author Julia Hoban says:
- Visit Partners and Crime, the independent bookstore where I first found THE HOUDINI GIRL, and GAUDY NIGHT. It is a must for any visitor to New York, and especially for a lover of books.
(read the rest of Julia Hoban's interview)

WAITING FOR YOU Author Susane Colasanti says:
- Cones on Bleecker Street has excellent homemade gelato.
- The Angelika movie theater features all the hot indies, but you have to get there early for a good seat (which is fine since they have a nice café inside).
- Find the ultimate cupcakes at Crumbs, which has several locations. They have buttercream icing and come in a wide variety of delicious flavors.
- One thing I love to do is just walk around the West Village. There’s a lot of interesting history here and the brownstones are gorgeous. You can make your way west down Perry Street, Charles Street, or West 11th Street to Hudson River Park. It’s refreshing by the water. I love sitting there at sunset, watching the city lights blink on. If you go at night, look for a building across the river in Jersey City with a slanted top. It has cool light stripe shows!
(read the rest of Susane Colasanti's interview)

CYCLER Author Lauren McLaughlin says:
- If you like vintage clothing, Beacon's Closet on North 11th Street between Berry and Wythe is a must see (and also a key setting for (Re)Cycler).
- If you're looking to splurge on state of the art molecular cuisine (and if money's no object) WD50 is amazing.
- And if you're here on a Saturday, don't miss the Union Square Farmer's market. Amazing food and great people watching.
(read the rest of Lauren McLaughlin's interview)

DREAM GIRL Author Lauren Mechling says:
- I'd recommend going for lunch at the Angelika Kitchen, a healthy restaurant that specializes in hilariously glamorous hippies eating piles of veggies and seaweed, on 12th St and 2nd Ave.
- Then you can go right across the street to Momofuku Milk bar and load up on the most disgusting and delicious desserts known to mankind. I especially recommend their compost cookie.
- Then go uptown to the Neue Gallerie, a museum in an old mansion that specializes in early 20th c Austrian art. It's a wildly beautiful and stately place--every time I'm there, I feel like a ball is about to break out.
(read the rest of Lauren Mechling's interview)

Oh and one last tip: Don’t forget to sign up for Book Blogger Con (now officially affiliated with BEA). I think we should have a galley swap afterwards -- anyone?



See you there!

Friday Fabulous! (20)

What I am excited about this week (besides dystopian fiction obvs):

1. BEFORE I FALL Author Lauren Oliver's second novel is coming out in 2011. It's called DELIRIUM and she decribes it as a dystopian Romeo-and-Juliet story. Ummm.... MUST HAVE NOW! She's having a contest over on her blog for a signed copy of BEFORE I FALL, which I highly covet (and you should too!) that ends on Valentine's Day.

2. Peter over at Flashlight Worthy Book Recommendations asked me to contribute to a list of Best YA of 2009 as chosen by book bloggers. I chose LIPS TOUCH by Laini Taylor and DUST OF 100 DOGS by AS King, but you should head on over and check out the whole list.

3. SEA Author Heidi R. Kling is asking for your nominations for THE SMOOCHIES - the best kissing scenes in YA fiction in 2009. But please only go over if you are going to nominate Kizzy and Jack Husk from LIPS TOUCH ;) I do NOT want to see any more Katniss and Gale noms.

4. HarperTeen just posted the first chapters of Forget-Her-Nots by tenner Amy Brecount White (so excited for this one!) which goes on sale March 2nd. Read them at the HarperTeen website.

5. I'm not sure how many of you are aware that I've been working on developing my own picture book manuscripts for awhile now (ok...since 2004). I finally have a few in a shape I am really excited about, so submitting might be in my near future. Let's see!

6. Later on today I will be posting my tips for Book Expo America as part of the Book Blogger Con blog tour. I will tell you to wear comfortable shoes :)

Book Review: The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist

When Dorrit Weger turns 50, she has to leave her beloved dog behind and enter the Second Reserve Bank Unit. She’s hit the age (50 for women, 60 for men) where without a spouse or children or an essential career, she is considered “expendable” and her biological material is property of the state to use and redistribute as they see fit.

This is translated from the Swedish, and it pulsates with a very practical, Scandinavian flair. The premise is chilling, but the presentation often lulls the reader into a grudging sort of acceptance (which is the REALLY chilling part, if you think about it). The residents of the unit, including Dorrit, feel like they are very well treated and cared for (and aside from being human guinea pigs for drug experiments and donating their organs, they are) and many actually form close bonds with other people for the first time in their lives.

There are no real individual villains here either. Even the director of the unit is unusually patient and kind. Everyone is treated with respect, and you can’t really blame anyone for just doing their job. Sure, it sucks that people like authors or artists who chose to contribute to the planet’s cultural well-being rather than to contribute to its overpopulation are considered inferior, but they are after all well aware of what happens to them if they don’t conform to their society. They’ve had time to consider their options.

Although the novel’s plot holds a big surprise that pumps up the drama midway through and ratchets up the outrage quotient, I might have liked to see how the author would have dealt with an even more extreme example…someone who followed all the rules and was still screwed over. Like, for example, a 50 year old woman who is in a car accident with her husband and children, and when they all die, she is considered expendable and sent to The Unit. How would the residents and staff react then?

Another big question mark for me was the reach of the society. It wasn’t clear was if this was limited to Sweden or more widespread. We hear about women “stealing sperm” from men in their desperation to get pregnant, but we don’t hear about people trying to escape to other countries.

Still, despite this frustating lack of insight on the society at large and the overall passivity of characters who accept things the way they are instead of trying to change them for the better, I really liked the way the novel raised a lot of thought-provoking questions about the value and meaning of life and presented a scarily-plausible dystopian future.

THE UNIT is available now in paperback. Find out more about it on the publisher's website.

My rating: 4 Zombie Chickens – An Excellent Example of the Dystopian Genre

See index of all dystopian reviews on Presenting Lenore

Book Review: Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde

Welcome to Chromatacia – where you are what you see. Teen Eddie Russet is a red, pretty low on in the social hierarchy, but because his red perception is very high, his future seems bright. That is until he relocates with his father to the backwater village of East Carmine and has to contend with all sorts of weirdness including a Grey named Jane who is very rude and boldly defiant of the rules created by what she claims is a cruel regime that needs to be stopped. Will Eddie continue to conform to his strict society, or will his instinctive curiosity get the better of him?

The world building here is a treat. Although I can’t quite fathom how the human race has developed to such a point that an individual’s perception of color or lack thereof is the most important component in his or her identity, the concept itself is intriguing. Your perception of a color – and how much you perceive – determines your social rank, your marriage prospects, and your employment opportunities. Purples are highest, Greys are lowest. And yet, all members of the collective can be treated for any illness by being shown the right combination of color swatches. All seem to be affected by the drug-like effects of certain shades of green, and the only deadly disease – which kills any and all colors equally - is The Mildew.

The tonality of the story is unusual for a dystopia. While there are quite clearly darker aspects of this society, such as institutionalized mercy killings and the systematic weeding out of undesirables, Fforde uses his trademark satirical wit to lighten up the atmosphere. It’s probably the only time I laughed multiple times while reading something from this genre.

The story is told from the first person POV of Eddie Russet, so we only know as much as he knows. This means the story can be kind of confusing in the beginning, but the patient reader will be greatly rewarded by a rich story, quirky characters, and a fascinating vision of a future world.

Two sequels are planned: SHADES OF GREY 2: PAINTING BY NUMBERS and SHADES OF GREY 3: THE GORDINI PROTOCOLS. Can’t wait!

SHADES OF GREY 1: THE ROAD TO HIGH SAFFRON is available in hardcover now. Find out more about it at the author’s website.

My rating: 5 Zombie Chickens - The Ultimate Dystopian Experience

I’ll have an interview with Jasper Fforde and a book giveaway later in the month so be on the lookout for that!

See index of all dystopian reviews on Presenting Lenore

Tuesday (91) = Picture of Emmy, Dystopia Style

Emmy and her fellow cats live in a land frozen in eternal winter by an oppressive sorcerer crow minority who capture and sacrifice white cats to keep the snow coming. Will Emmy escape their evil clutches before it's too late?

It's a Dystopian February

While everyone else is cheerfully talking about love and Valentine's Day, I'm going to be depressing you all month with stories about oppressive societies, destroyed worlds and desperate people in terrible situations. ;) Still with me? Great! You must either be a fellow dystopian fiction fan, dy-curious, or suicidal. Welcome!

I've definitely noticed an upswing in interest in this science fiction sub-genre and many interesting titles have recently been released or are on their way. So what attracts readers to dystopian and apocalyptic fiction? Is it because it shows us that "there is always light in the dark" as My Friend Amy so eloquently argues? It is because we are curious about how bad things could get if we don't stop screwing up now like Chris of Book-a-Rama? Are we in it for the thrill, because stories of survival (or attempted survival) against all odds are inherently interesting?

And what do we classify as dystopian fiction anyway? Does the society have to be have been "aiming at utopia and missed" as Joni Sensel suggests? That's a narrower definition than I have. For the purpose of my personal list, I count as dystopian any future society that values the stasis of said society over certain individual human rights that we currently hold to be self-evident. Or as I propose in my article "What if?" (also interesting for my comparison of adult and YA dystopias) it's a dystopia if the author is asking “what if society was really, really frakked up?”

Oh and it doesn't have to be a society full of misery. In fact, depending on your point on view, it could look pretty utopian (see my article "Who's Dystopia is it Anyway?").

Since post-apocalyptic fiction is pretty closely related, except that usually there is a complete breakdown of society due to some cataclysmic event, I include it on my lists of dystopian fiction - because let's face it - there's nothing utopian about that (unless you are a libertarian, perhaps).

Looking for some recommendations to get you started or to further your addiction?

Here's my index of dystopian reviews that will be kept updated
A great list of select YA dystopias (with pictures of covers!) over at Bart's Bookshelf
Jen Robinson's more inclusive list of Futuristic, Speculative, Science Fiction and Dystopian Fiction for Young Adults
List of dystopias by type at The Book Smugglers
Rhiannon Hart's personal dystopia challenge with links to her reviews
Half a century of YA dystopias list
The Last Blog in the Universe group blog with articles and reviews
The Spectacle group author blog about speculative fiction

Stay tuned! I have lots of reviews, interviews, guest blogs, book previews, series overviews, and contests coming up this month, and even Emmy and Finn are getting in on the action...as you'll see tomorrow!

PS: Why not join the Dystopia Reading Challenge over at Parajunkee's blog? And then read with me :)

Reviews coming up this week:
Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde
The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist
The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Index of all dystopian/post apocalyptic fiction reviews on Presenting Lenore

Welcome to Dystopian February and August! This is an index of all my dystopian/post apocalyptic fiction reviews. I will add to this index as I post reviews through my dystopian theme months.

200+ books read!

Aguirre, Ann: Enclave (once known as Razorland) (YA, Series, Post Apocalyptic)
Albin, Gennifer: Crewel (YA, Series, Political Dystopia)
Anastasiu, Heather: Glitch & Override, Shutdown (YA, Series, Technological Dystopia)
Anderson, MT: Feed (YA, Standalone, Technological Dystopia)
Anthony, Joelle: Restoring Harmony (YA, Standalone, Post Apocalyptic)
Bachorz, Pam: Candor (YA, Standalone, Technological Dystopia)
Bachorz, Pam: Drought (YA, Standalone, Religious Dystopia)
Bacigalupi, Paolo: Ship Breaker (YA, Series, Environmental Dystopia)
Baggott, Julianna: Pure (Adult, Series, Post Apocalyptic)
Beckett, Bernard: Genesis (YA, Standalone, Technological Dystopia)
Bertagna, Julie: Exodus (YA, Series, Environmental Dystopia)
Bick, Ilsa J.: Ashes & Shadows (YA, Series, Post-Apocalptic)
Bobet, Leah: Above (YA, Standalone, Medical Dystopia?)
Bodeen, SA: The Gardener (YA, Standalone, Medical Dystopia - limited in nature)
Bosworth, Jennifer: Struck (YA, Standalone, Pre-Apocalyptic/Disaster)
Bowman, Erin: Taken (YA, Series, Political Dystopian)
Bracken, Alexandra: The Darkest Minds, In Time e-Novella, Never Fade (YA, Series, Supernatural/Politcal Dystopia)
Bradbury, Ray: Fahrenheit 451 (Adult, Standalone, Political Dystopia)
Brallier, Max: Can You Survive the Zombie Apocalypse? (Adult, Standalone, Apocalyptic)
Buckley, Carla: The Things that Keep Us Here (Adult, Standalone, Apocalyptic)
Butler, Octavia E.: Parable of the Sower (Adult, Series, Post Apocalyptic)
Bynum, Laura: Veracity (Adult, Standalone, Political Dystopia)
Carey, Anna: Eve & Once (YA, Series, Political Dystopia/Post Apocalyptic)
Carmody, Isobelle: Obernewtyn (YA, Series, Technological Dystopia/Post Apocalyptic)
Cass, Kiera: The Selection (YA, Series, Vague Dystopic Elements)
Chapman, Elsie: Dualed, Divided (YA, Series, Political Dystopia)
Cohn, Rachel: Beta (YA, Series, Medical Dystopia)
Collins, Suzanne: The Hunger Games & Catching Fire & Mockingjay (YA, Series, Political Dystopia)
Condie, Ally: Matched & Crossed (YA, Series, Political Dystopia)
Crewe, Megan: The Way We Fall (YA, Series, Apocalyptic)
Cronin, Justin: The Passage (Adult, Series, Post Apocalyptic)
Crowder, Melanie: Parched (Middle Grade, Standalone, Post Apocalyptic)
Dahlquist, Gordon: The Different Girl (YA, Standalone, Vague Dystopian Setting)
Dashner, James: The Maze Runner (YA, Series, Post Apocalyptic)
Derting, Kimberly: The Pledge (YA, Series, Political Dystopia)
DeStefano, Lauren: Wither & Fever & Sever (YA, Series, Medical Dystopia)
Doctorow, Cory: For the Win (YA, Standalone, Technological Dystopia)
dos Santos, Steven: The Culling (YA, Series, Political Dystopia)
Falls, Kat: Dark Life (Middle Grade, Series, Environmental Dystopia)
Fama, Elizabeth: Plus One (YA, Standalone, Political Dystopia)
Farmer, Nancy: The House of the Scorpion (YA, Standalone, Medical Dystopia)
Fforde, Jasper: Shades of Grey (Adult, Series, Political Dystopia)
Fisher, Catherine: Incarceron & Sapphique (YA, Series, Technological Dystopia)
Gill, David Macinnis: Black Hole Sun (YA, Series, Vague Dystopic Elements)
Goodman, Allegra: The Other Side of the Island (YA, Standalone, Environmental Dystopia)
Grant, Michael: Gone (YA, Series, Supernatural Dystopia)
Grant, Sara: Half Lives (YA, Standalone, Near Future Apocalyptic)
Gray, Eva: Tomorrow Girls Behind the Gates (Middle Grade, Series, Political Dystopia)
Griffin, Bethany: Masque of the Red Death (YA, Series, Post Apocalyptic/Plague)
Haddix, Margaret Peterson: Among the Hidden & Among the Imposters (Middle Grade, Series, Environmental/Political Dystopia)
Hagen, Bethany: Landry Park (YA, Series, Technological Dystopia)
Hall, Teri: The Line (YA, Series, Political Dystopia)
Hauge, Lesley: Nomansland (YA, Standalone, Gender Role Dystopia)
Helvig, Kristi: Burn Out (YA, Series, Post Apocalyptic)
Hirsch, Jeff: The Eleventh Plague (YA, Standalone, Post Apocalyptic)
Hoffman, Alice: Green Angel (YA, Series, Post Apocalyptic)
Holmqvist, Ninni: The Unit (Adult, Standalone, Medical Dystopia)
Holyoke, Polly: The Neptune Project (Middle Grade, Series, Dystopian Elements)
John, Antony: Elemental (YA, Series, Post-Apocalyptic)
Johnson, Elana: Possession & Surrender and Abandon (YA, Companion Novels, Political Dystopia)
Jordan, Hillary: When She Woke (Adult, Standalone, Political Dystopia)
Kacvinsky, Katie: Awaken (YA, Series, Technological/Social Dystopia)
Kang, Lydia: Control (YA, Series, Medical Dystopia)
Karp, Jesse: Those That Wake (YA, Standalone, Supernatural Dystopia)
Kincaid, SJ: Insignia (YA, Series, Technological Dystopia)
Kinch, Michael: The Blending Time (YA, Series, Environmental Dystopia)
Knutsson, Catherine: Shadows Cast by Stars (YA, Standalone?, Post-Apoc)
Kristoff, Jay: Stormdancer (YA, Series, Steampunk Dystopia)
Landon, Kristen: The Limit (Middle Grade, Standalone, Economic Dystopia)
Laybourne, Emmy: Monument 14 (YA, Series, Apocalyptic/Disaster)
Lloyd, Saci: Carbon Diaries 2015 (YA, Series, Near Future Post Apocalyptic)
London, Alex: Proxy (YA, Series, Political Dystopia)
Lu, Marie: Legend & Prodigy & Champion (YA, Series, Political Dystopia)
Lunetta, Demitria: In the After (YA, Series, Post Apocalyptic)
Mafi, Tahereh: Shatter Me (YA, Series, Supernatural/Political Dystopia)
Malley, Gemma: The Declaration & The Resistance (YA, Series, Medical Dystopia)
Mariz, Rae: The Unidentified (YA, Standalone, Corporate Dystopia)
Martin, CK Kelly: Yesterday (YA, Standalone, Post Apocalyptic/Technological Dystopia)
Meadows, Jodi: Incarnate (YA, Series, Utopia)
McCafferty, Megan: Bumped & Thumped (YA, Series, Social/Medical Dystopia)
McCarthy, Cori: The Color of Rain (YA/NA, Standalone?, Post Apocalyptic/Space)
McGinnis, Mindy: Not A Drop to Drink (YA, Standalone?, Post Apocalyptic/Environmental)
McLaughlin, Lauren: Scored (YA, Standalone, Social Dystopia)
Messner, Kate: Eye of the Storm (MG, Standalone, Environmental Dystopia)
Mitchell, J. Barton: Midnight City (YA, Series, Post Apocalyptic/Alien Invasion)
Ness, Patrick: The Knife of Never Letting Go & The Ask and the Answer & Monsters of Men (YA, Series, Gender Role Dystopia)
North, Phoebe: Starglass (YA, Series, Political Dystopia/Space)
Nunez, Sigrid: Salvation City (Adult, Standalone, Temporary Dystopia)
O'Brien, Caragh: Birthmarked & Prized & Promised (YA, Series, Environmental/Medical Dystopia)
O'Brien, Robert C: Z for Zachariah (YA, Standalone, Post Apocalyptic)
Oliver, Lauren: Delirium & Pandemonium & Hana e-Novella; Requiem (YA, Series, Medical Dystopia)
Pass, Emma: The Fearless (YA, Standalone, Post-Apocalyptic)
Pearson, Mary E.: The Adoration of Jenna Fox & The Fox Inheritance (YA, Series, Technological Dystopia)
Peikoff, Kira: Living Proof (Adult, Standalone, Religious/Political Dystopia)
Pfeffer, Susan Beth: Life As We Knew It & This World We Live In (YA, Series, Post Apocalyptic)
Price, Lissa: Portrait of a Starter e-Novella; Starters & Enders (YA, Series, Technological Dystopia/Post Apocalyptic)
Revis, Beth: Across the Universe & A Million Suns & Shades of Earth (YA, Series, Political Dystopia/Space)
Roberts, Jeyn: The Dark Inside (YA, Series, Apocalyptic)
Rosoff, Meg: How I Live Now (YA, Standalone, Post Apocalyptic)
Rossi, Veronica: Under the Never Sky, Through the Ever Night, Into the Still Blue (YA, Series, Technological Dystopia)
Roth, Veronica: Divergent (YA, Series, Political Dystopia)
Ryan, Carrie: The Forest of Hands and Teeth & The Dead-Tossed Waves & The Dark and Hollow Places; Hare Moon short story (YA, Series of Companion Novels, Post Apocalyptic)
Scott, Elizabeth: Grace (YA, Standalone, Political Dystopia)
Seifert, Christine: The Predicteds (YA, Standalone, Extremely limited dystopia)
Sheehan, Anna: A Long, Long Sleep (YA, Standalone, Post Apocalyptic/Technological Dystopia)
Shusterman, Neal: Unwind (YA, Companion Novel Planned, Medical Dystopia)
Simmons, Kristen: Article 5 (YA, Series, Political Dystopia)
Smibert, Angie: Memento Nora & The Forgetting Curve (YA, Series, Medical Dystopia)
Smith, Alexander Gordon: Lockdown, Solitary (YA, Escape from Furnace Series, Political Dystopia - but limited in nature)
Snyder, Maria V.: Inside Out, Outside In (YA, Series, Political Dystopia)
Spooner, Meagan: Skylark (YA, Series, Supernatural/Political Dystopia)
Spooner, Meagan (with Amie Kaufman): These Broken Stars (YA, Series, Corporate Dystopia)
Stasse, Lisa M.: The Forsaken (YA, Series, Political Dystopia)
Stead, Rebecca: First Light (Middle Grade, Standalone, Politcal Dystopia)
Stracher, Cameron: The Water Wars (YA, Standalone, Political/Environmental Dystopia)
Summers, Courtney: This is Not a Test (YA Standalone, Apocalyptic)
Tintera, Amy: Reboot, Rebel (YA, Series, Medical/Political Dystopia)
Trevayne, Emma: Coda & Chorus (YA, Series, Political Dystopia)
Wells, Dan: Partials (YA, Series, Post Apocalyptic/Political Dystopia)
Wells, Robison: Variant & Feedback (YA, Series, Limited Dystopia)
Wasserman, Robin: Skinned & Crashed, Wired (YA, Series, Technological Dystopia)
Westerfeld, Scott: Uglies & Pretties & Specials (YA, Series, Medical Dystopia)
Wiggins, Bethany: Stung & Cured (YA, Series, Medical Dystopia)
Winnacker, Susanne: The Other Life (YA, Series, Post Apocalyptic)
Winters, Cat: In the Shadow of Blackbirds (YA, Standalone, Historical Apocalyptic)
Young, Moira: Blood Red Road & Rebel Heart (YA, Series, Post-apocalyptic)
Young, Suzanne: The Program (YA, Series, Medical Dystopia-Mental Health)
Zevin, Gabrielle: All These Things I've Done & Because It Is My Blood, In the Age of Love and Chocolate (YA, Series, Semi-Post-Apocalyptic)
Zhang, Kat: What's Left of Me (YA, Series, Medical Dystopia)


Other recommended titles I've read but not reviewed (links lead to spotlight posts)

Atwood, Margaret: The Handmaid's Tale (Adult, Standalone, Gender Role Dystopia)
Berry, Max: Jennifer Government (Adult, Standalone, Corporate Dystopia)
Burgess, Anthony: A Clockwork Orange (Adult, Standalone, ?)
Doctorow, Cory: Little Brother (YA, Standalone, Technological Dystopia)
Dunn, Mark: Ella Minnow Pea (Adult, Standalone, Political Dystopia)
Duprau, Jeanne: The City of Ember (Middle Grade, Series, Political Dystopia)
Hegland, Jean: Into the Forest (Adult, Standalone, Apocalyptic)
Huxley, Aldous: Brave New World (Adult, Standalone, Political Dystopia)
Ishiguro, Kazuo: Never Let Me Go (Adult, Standalone, Medical Dystopia)
Jackson, Shirley: The Lottery (Adult, Short Story, Political Dystopia)
King, Stephen: The Stand (Adult, Standalone, Post Apocalyptic)
Lowry, Lois: The Giver (Middle Grade, Series, Political Dystopia)
McCarthy, Cormac: The Road (Adult, Standalone, Post Apocalyptic)
Mitchell, David: Cloud Altas (Adult, Standalone, Post Apocalypic elements)
Orwell, George: 1984 (Adult, Standalone, Political Dystopia)
Orwell, George: Animal Farm (Adult, Standalone, Political Dystopia)
Slesar, Henry: Examination Day (Adult, Short Story, Political Dystopia)
Tepper, Sheri: The Gate to Women's Country (Adult, Standalone, Gender Role Dystopia)


Anthologies

Buckell, Tobias S.: Diverse Energies (YA, short stories, Post Apocalyptic)

Secondary Literature

Wilson, Leah, ed.: The Girl Who Was On Fire (Essays about Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games) + The Girl Who Was On Fire - Movie Edition (incl. 3 new essays)

Parody of Dystopian Premises on Quirk Books

How many of these have you read?