Whether it’s the current political climate or just a resurgence in popularity, dystopian works such as “1984,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” and “Parable of the Sower” are flying off the shelves. What’s next for dystopian writing?
1A, a popular podcast and live segment on many NPR affiliates, recently aired a show asking how current events, national politics, and international relations are helping dystopian works appeal to an audience beyond those with an affinity for apocalyptic endings, and what will inspire the next generation of dystopian narratives. In this episode, you’ll hear opinions from these popular authors:
- Cory Doctorow Science fiction author, co-editor of the blog Boing Boing.
- K. Jemisin Bestselling author of the “Inheritance” series and the “Broken Earth” trilogy. She’s won the Hugo Award for the past two years.
- Paolo Bacigalupi Bestselling author of more than a half-dozen books, including “The Wind-Up Girl” and “The Water Knife”
- Omar el Akkad Award-winning journalist and author of “American War”
as they discuss what the future holds for dystopian future novels. You can read excerpts from books by these authors or listen to the show on the 1A.org website.
For a more in-depth look at both dystopian and utopian writing (and why they are often two-sides of the same coin), check out our course Great Utopian and Dystopian Works of Literature, where renowned professor Pamela Bedore explores similar questions through various works and provides even more examples of great works in this genre.
