What is Dystopian
Literature?
When I set out to write the
America II trilogy, I wasn’t thinking in terms of a genre, especially not a
genre within a genre. Sci-fi-speculative-futuristic-political-thriller-dystopian
and all those labels were something I hadn’t anticipated. I merely entertained
the idea: If societal trends that exist today continue full speed ahead, what
would the world look like in 2073?
Then someone reviewed my
book and called it dystopian. Someone else said it reminded them a little of Hunger
Games, a book I hadn’t even read. I’ve heard other writers refer to their book
in the same manner. So I did some research, and sure enough, America II falls
within the definition of Dystopian Literature, although, it really is vastly
different than Hunger Games, though it does contain some of the elements
commonly seen in Dystopian books.
With the onset of the
wildly popular The Hunger Games,
dystopian literature is now the fastest growing preference in young adult
fiction. Some experts argue the reason is because today’s young people are
disaffected with today’s culture. They see little hope on the horizon.
Such was the climate of
George Orwell’s 1984, written in 1948, a poignant story of a totalitarian
government, a few years following the end of World War II. People were
frightened of the growth of communism as well as the advent of the Atomic bomb.
Hysteria and fear were rampant. World War II vets, returning from their
service, could not get jobs.
C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of
Narnia, written post World War II, also explores this loss of hope in the world
as it is an allegory of the fall of mankind. Narnia was once Utopia (The Garden
of Eden) but became Dystopia, ruled by an evil Snow Queen.
With a stagnant economy,
housing crunch, and wide unemployment, not just in America but world-wide, I
wonder if we have not grown into another aura of paranoia regarding our future.
Hence, the resurgent popularity of
Dystopian topics.
Dystopia is derived from
the Ancient Greek and means a bad place. By definition, Dystopia is the
opposite of Utopia which is a derivative of the Greek word meaning place and
sounds like the English homophone (eutopia) which is derived from the Greek to
mean good or well. In combination then, Utopia, has come to mean a good place.
Utopia is often thought of as Heaven on earth, paradise today, where the world
lives in peace and no one dies of hunger. Where there is no such thing as
crime. In the classic, The Time Machine,
a scientist creeps into the future to see if the world can cure its ills. He
stumbles upon a seeming Utopia until he realizes human beings are being raised
as food for underground monsters.
According to Wikipedia,
Dystopian literature has these in common: idea
of a society, generally of a speculative future, characterized by negative,
anti-utopian elements, varying from environmental to political and social
issues.
Most Dystopian themes will
characterize society as oppressive or totalitarian. While the world seems dark
and unappealing to the reader, the minor characters or society sees nothing
wrong with the way things are. There is generally a character or characters
that is dissatisfied and wants things to change. Therein is the conflict, the
character pitted against society, like Don Quixote, flailing his sword at windmills.
Unlike most
Dystopian themes, and more like Chronicles of Narnia, America II: The
Reformation offers hope for an improved society. It also reminds the reader of
God’s continued interest and involvement in the affairs of His creation.
A native of Central New York, Linda Rondeau met and married
Steve Rondeau, her best friend in life, and managed a career in human services
before tackling professional writing. After thirty-four years of marriage, they
have relocated to Jacksonville, Florida, leaving rural America to live in
a city of one million.
While writing is her greatest passion, the more favorable temperatures of Florida allow her to follow another great passion--golf.
Linda is the wife of one patient man, the mother of three,
and the grandmother of nine.
An award winning author, L.W. Rondeau first book, The Other Side of Darkness (written
under Linda Wood Rondeau), released Fall 2012, and won the 2012 Selah
Award for best first novel. America II:
The Reformation is L.W.’s debut sci-fi book and is the first of a
futuristic, political thriller trilogy. A prequel is planned in the form of
serial editions.
Or visit L.W.’s website: http://www.lindarondeau.com
Thanks for having me on your blog today.
ReplyDeleteInteresting.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been a teenager for more than a decade, but I suspect that teens' attraction to dystopian literature also stems from a sense of empowerment, which has been a staple of young adult and children's entertainment since the beginning. The inept adults ruin everything and it's up to the scrappy can-do kids to take the helm. Everyone likes to see people they can relate to excelling at things they obviously can't (e.g., teenagers being thrown into a death match and duking it out with flair and bravado, which is exactly what would not happen in the real world). The dysoptian setting is more fun and freeing than, say, a high school or summer camp. There, the adults still hold the scepter, even if they are clueless. In a dystopian world, everyone's scrambling to survive, big and small alike. Kids, especially teens, like seeing their evil overlords (parents, teachers, cops, anyone in authority) brought low, and dystopian fiction gives them everything they want in a nice package.
ReplyDeleteI like to read dystopian works because in my view, no matter how bad things, get there is always hope in the future.
ReplyDeleteFaith—the hope of things not yet seen.
I write for teens, and as Christians, I think many of us forget that "having hope" is not a part of many secular low-income kids' futures. Reading about kids who are worse off than they are, who don't have enough to eat (just like them), living with adults who don't care and may not even be their birth parents...gives these kids a sense that they are not alone. That they can survive the worst.
Linda, I had to look up the word when I read your blurb in my email inbox. I've read your book and the Hunger Games and see the dystopic element in both. After reading your explanation, I figure Dark Eyes, Deep Eyes fits into both worlds--dystopian and utopian. Good article and good stuff to know. Thanks.
ReplyDelete