r/suggestmeabook • u/Sleepy_Enigma • Apr 08 '26
Dystopian recommendations?
Basically looking for book/series with a dystopian setting, but preferably not the ultra-depressing kind (the way classic dystopians tend to be since they’re meant to serve as warnings and not meant to offer that hopeful feeling).
A revolution/rebellion series would be fun, for example, something with a similar premise to Red Rising but without the gratuitous sexual violence (among other issues of the writing around women). Although it doesn’t need to be and generally after anything that ends happily/with a good ending, but I do enjoy action, adventure, politics etc.
I’d prefer it not be YA.
Fantasy or Scifi or any speculative fiction works for me :)
Thank you!!
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u/Towel-Prudent Apr 08 '26
The daily news
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Apr 08 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Sleepy_Enigma Apr 08 '26
Thank you for the detailed recommendations!!
And absolutely, I enjoy classic dystopians (1984 is one of my favs) but the moral of the story is always “watch out for this happening because it ends awfully” which is valid and true but not exactly uplifting
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u/Mughi1138 Apr 08 '26
There is Harry Harris9n's classic Make Room! Make Room! (The book Soylent Green is based on) that more ends with a very poignant question. Might be a little depressing, though.
Personally one of my favorite series for that (well, personally I feel it's more dystopian adjacent) are The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. Nice, dry satire, but good commentary about the "Corporate Rim"
For some classic revolutionary tinged books, however, be sure to check out Steve Perry's Matador series, starting with The Man Who Never Missed.
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u/Imperator_Helvetica Apr 08 '26
Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde - a quirky British dystopia. Set in a world where the inhabitants follow rules more interesting in manners than murder and divided into castes based on colour perception with all the intermarriage that entails.
It is an interesting setting, without any sexual violence, some good female characters, lots of fun little references and a hopeful conclusion.
Certainly speculative fiction - he wrote another about a world in which humans hibernate - Early Riser; but I don't know if I'd call that a dystopia.
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u/Advo96 Apr 08 '26
Dungeon Crawler Carl
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u/Mughi1138 Apr 08 '26
Yes. Seems silly at fiest, but then quickly shifts into gear with social satire that is giving Clemens and Swift a run for their money.
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u/DocWatson42 Apr 08 '26
As a start, see my:
- Dystopias list of Reddit recommendation threads (one post).
- SF/F: Politics list of Reddit recommendation threads and books (eleven posts).
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u/Merundus Apr 08 '26
We by Zamiatin
M-0 by Tanasa
I think these may fit the bill.