There are many theories out there about why people love dystopian-themed literature and movies so much. Are we, as a group, nihilistic? Or does seeing how bad it could be infuse us with hope and appreciation for our present situations? Whatever the reason, I’m no different. Here are my top three favorite dystopian books:
1. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. Literary fiction, but also so accessible. It made me think, hard, about all the rights and freedoms I take for granted. And the postscript at the end really provided a spectacular insight into the main character’s life.
2. I Am Legend by Richard Matheson. This was one of my first forays into the enchanted land of genre dystopian fiction. I fell in love, hard.
3. 1984 by George Orwell. A classic, of course. I read it in high school, and was completely blown away. It has a special place on my bookshelf now.
And my top three favorite dystopian movies:
1. I Am Legend. Yes, I know I already used I Am Legend for my book list, but I really loved the movie. I mean, come on, Will Smith and a German Shepherd? What’s not to love? Oh, and as an aside, I read that he loved the dog so much he actually adopted it after the movie was done. (The producers got it from a shelter and trained it specifically for that role.)
2. It’s not a movie, but how could I not mention The Walking Dead? I love everything about this TV show. In fact, I love it so much I’m going to pick up the comic books even though I haven’t read comics since I was about nine years old. Also, I’m Team Shane. Forever. (They made him super-crazy at the very end of season 2 only because they wanted to get rid of him. I’m certain of this.)
3. The Matrix. Isn’t this one on everyone’s list? I continue to be awed by the sheer genius that is this movie. Sadly, I didn’t care much for any of the sequels.
What about you? Which books and movies rank high on your list?
About Adriana Ryan
Adriana lives and writes in beautiful Charleston, SC. A huge fan of spooky stuff and shoes, she enjoys alternately hitting up the historic graveyards and outlet malls. World of Shell and Bone is her first book.
Buy World of Shell and Bone on Amazon now! (coming soon to other retailers!)
About World of Shell and Bone
In a world ravaged by a nuclear holocaust, Vika Cannon knows there are no guarantees: no guarantees of safety, no guarantees that your neighbor is not actually a spy for the government, and no guarantees you’ll be allowed to emigrate to a new life in Asia.
New Amana is dying. Food and water are scarce, and people suffering from radiation-caused mutations—the Nukeheads—are the new class of homeless.
Vika has just one purpose: to produce healthy progeny using a Husband assigned by the Match Clinic. Unhealthy children are carted away to Asylums to be experimented on, just as Vika’s little sister Ceres was, eight years ago. Parents incapable of producing healthy progeny are put to death in gas chambers.
When she’s assigned a Husband shortly after her twentieth birthday, Vika expects him to be complacent and obedient. But Shale Underwood has a secret. He is a member of the Radicals, the terrorist group intent on overthrowing the government. And Shale has information about Ceres.
As she learns more about the Rads’s plan, Vika finds herself drawn to Shale in ways she’d never imagined. When freedom calls in the way of a healthy pregnancy, will she betray her government and risk death for Shale and Ceres?
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5 comments:
Thanks for hosting me, Shauna! I'll be spreading news of the giveaway. :D
1984 still blows my mind every time I think about it. I love that book! I'm a Walking Dead fan too, and I'm so bummed it won't be on for awhile. :(
I just finished season 2 on Netflix, Lindsey, so I'm waiting to catch up with the rest of the world! They need to get season 3 up and soon! :D Thanks for weighing in!
Just an FYI: New Years AMC is running a marathon of every single episode! That's your chance to catch up!
Ooh, really?? I might have to have my in-laws Tivo them for me...no cable at our house. :D
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