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.
Other classic dystopian literature includes: Brave New World, Fahrenheit 451, and The Iron Heel.
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.
