Match BookDystopian books
Dystopian fiction imagines a society gone wrong, then follows the people trying to live in it or bring it down.
Each book shows whether it ends in hope or despair, which in this subgenre can go either way.
47 books, best known first. New to the dimensions? Here's what each one means.
1984George Orwellscience fiction · dark · moderate · ambiguous ending- BlindnessJosé Saramagoclassics · dark · slow burn · ambiguous ending
Fahrenheit 451Ray Bradburyscience fiction · dark · fast paced · resolved and happy ending
MockingjaySuzanne Collinsyoung adult · tense · fast paced · bittersweet ending
Ready Player OneErnest Clinescience fiction · adventurous · fast paced · resolved and happy ending
SteelheartBrandon Sandersonscience fiction · tense · fast paced · cliffhanger ending
The Handmaid’s TaleMargaret Atwoodscience fiction · dark · moderate · ambiguous ending
The Hunger GamesSuzanne Collinsyoung adult · tense · fast paced · cliffhanger ending- Wool OmnibusHugh Howeyscience fiction · eerie · moderate · cliffhanger ending
- Chain-Gang All-StarsNana Kwame Adjei-Brenyahscience fiction · tense · fast paced · bittersweet ending
Future Home of the Living GodLouise Erdrichscience fiction · dark · moderate · ambiguous ending- ShiftHugh Howeyscience fiction · tense · fast paced · cliffhanger ending
Station ElevenEmily St. John Mandelliterary fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
The Bone SeasonSamantha Shannonfantasy · dark · fast paced · cliffhanger ending
The book of MPeng Shepherdscience fiction · dark · moderate · ambiguous ending- The ChrysalidsJohn Wyndhamscience fiction · eerie · moderate · bittersweet ending
- The Dream HotelLaila Lalamiscience fiction · tense · moderate · ambiguous ending
- The Drowned WorldJ.G. Ballardscience fiction · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- The End of MenChristina Sweeney-Bairdscience fiction · tense · fast paced · resolved and happy ending
The Fifth SeasonN. K. Jemisinfantasy · dark · fast paced · bittersweet ending- The IntuitionistColson Whiteheadmystery · eerie · moderate · ambiguous ending
The PowerNaomi Aldermanscience fiction · dark · moderate · ambiguous ending- The Space MerchantsFrederik Pohlscience fiction · funny · fast paced · resolved and happy ending
The Windup GirlPaolo Bacigalupiscience fiction · tense · fast paced · bittersweet ending- WeYevgeny Zamyatinscience fiction · dark · moderate · ambiguous ending
- FirewalkersAdrian Tchaikovskyscience fiction · dark · fast paced · dark ending
- I Who Have Never Known MenJacqueline Harpmanscience fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
LakewoodMegan Giddingsscience fiction · tense · moderate · ambiguous ending- OutliersKate L. Maryscience fiction · tense · fast paced · cliffhanger ending
- Planet For TransientsPhilip K. Dickscience fiction · eerie · moderate · ambiguous ending
- SnowglobeSoyoung Parkscience fiction · eerie · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The Book of JoanLidia Yuknavitchscience fiction · dark · fast paced · bittersweet ending
The Country of Ice Cream StarSandra Newmanscience fiction · adventurous · fast paced · bittersweet ending
The gracekeepersKirsty Loganscience fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending- The ListenersJordan Tannahillscience fiction · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The Memory PoliceYōko Ogawaliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The New WildernessDiane Cookscience fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending- The TestSylvain Neuvelscience fiction · tense · fast paced · ambiguous ending
The unitNinni Holmqvistscience fiction · dark · moderate · dark ending
The Water CureSophie Mackintoshliterary fiction · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending- The Weapon Shops of IsherA.E. van Vogtscience fiction · adventurous · fast paced · resolved and happy ending
- DaytideChris Panatierscience fiction · tense · fast paced · ambiguous ending
- GeminiDylan Quinnscience fiction · tense · fast paced · ambiguous ending
- Lost Ark DreamingSuyi Davies Okungbowascience fiction · dark · moderate · ambiguous ending
The HierarchiesRos Andersonscience fiction · eerie · moderate · ambiguous ending- This World Is Not YoursKemi Ashing-Giwascience fiction · tense · fast paced · ambiguous ending
- Womb CityTlotlo Tsamaasescience fiction · eerie · moderate · ambiguous ending
More collections
- Fantasy books, by how they actually read (343)
- Science fiction books, by mood, pace and tone (158)
- Thrillers, sorted by pace, darkness and ending (213)
- Mystery novels, by mood, pace and tone (125)
- Horror books, by how dark and how fast (114)
- Literary fiction, by mood, pace and weight (78)
- Historical fiction, by mood, pace and ending (69)
- Young adult books, by mood, pace and tone (69)
- Contemporary fiction, by mood, pace and tone (36)
- Narrative nonfiction that reads like a story (127)
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