Dystopian worlds are ripe for thrillers. Worlds that are under the rule of corrupted governments and corporation control offer suspense and danger, showing a darker aspect of society as a whole. Some of these worlds are considered apocalyptic, while others are filled with diseases and violence.
While you read these entries of dystopian thrillers, consider which one of these novels you would want to live in or which ones you would be able to survive. Here are some of the best dystopian thriller books:
1984 by George Orwell
Set in a dystopian world ruled by warring states, this classic novel explores a surveillance state where Big Brother enforces control over thoughts, memories and information. We follow the main protagonist’s forbidden love affair as he tries to survive the world he lives in.
The book showcases a society where citizens lack freedom of expression, mass surveillance, worship of the leading party and the disappearance of people who speak their minds and are deemed a threat to the government.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
In a world where illegal commodities and contraband are burned, Guy Montag is a fireman his job is to burn these things including the houses that they were kept in. He has never questioned the destruction and ruin that he’s caused, he returns home to his wife.
However, when he meets his new neighbour, Clarisse, who introduces him to a world he never knew. A world in the past where people didn’t live in fear, nor spent their time in front of the television. This chance meeting changes everything for Montag, and he begins to question everything he has never known.
Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
Tender is the Flesh introduces readers to a dystopian world where a virus has rendered animals dangerous for human consumption. As a result, the government makes cannibalism legal. Marco never had to think about what he does for a living; he has too much going on in his life to do so. He works at a human meat processing plant.
That is, until one day when he is gifted a live quality woman. Although he knows that special interactions with the woman are forbidden, he soon finds himself treating her more and more like a human being.
The Children of Men by P.D. James
The world of Children of Men is a world without children, and a bleak future is unfolding. With the human race rendered infertile, the last generation is now grown, and society is descending into despair and self-destruction. An uninspired historian, Theodore Faron has embraced the apathy as he reflects on a future that is disappearing with each passing year.
However, everything changes when he is approached a charismatic woman seeking his help. As Theodore becomes entangled with Julian and her unlikely group of revolutionaries, he discovers newfound purpose and hope.
The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey
What happens when you use your award-winning research to clone someone? You have a clone named Martine. But what happens when the clone begins to have an affair with your husband that he replaced you with, and that clone is you?
This is what Evelyn has to reluctantly accept when her husband brings home a more docile version of herself. The Echo Wife is a dystopian thriller that kicks off when Nathan Caldwell dies and Martine and Evelyn have to clean up his mess.
The Marriage Act by John Marrs
In the near future, Britain, where a right-wing government enforces the Sanctity of Marriage Act, promotes marriage as the societal norm and punishing those who have opted to stay single. Four couples soon realize the challenges they face when the government surveils every aspect of their personal lives, monitoring their every word and minor disagreement.
The government is relentless in its pursuits of ensuring everyone conforms to the idea of love, honour and obedience, and employs every means at its disposal to enforce compliance.
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Jason Dessen, a college professor and loving husband and father, has his life shattered after being abducted and rendered unconscious by an unknown assailant. When he awakens, he finds himself in a different world where his life is not what he knows.
Stripped of the companionship of his wife and son, Jason realises he is not merely an ordinary man but a celebrated genius who has accomplished the impossible. In his quest to return home, he must confront his deepest fears and darkest aspects.
A Father’s Choice by Andy Graham
In Andy Graham’s gripping dystopian political thriller set in a future where greed and falsehoods dictate society. Corporal Rick Franklin, a dedicated soldier and family man, commits a tragic mistake that inadvertently transforms him into a reluctant hero, aligning him with an overthrown president.
As chaos looms over the country of Ailan, Rick seeks the aid of a former lover to protect his family and eventually stumbles upon a treacherous secret at the core of the Silk Revolution.
The Running Man by Richard Bachman
Stephen King under the name Richard Bachman penned a chilling dystopian world set in the year 2025. Ben Richards finds himself unemployed and desperate to provide medical care for his ailing daughter. With limited options, he takes a perilous path and becomes a contestant on the Network’s deadly Games, where the prize is immense wealth or certain death.
Now thrust into the spotlight of the Network’s highly-watched show, Ben becomes a target of the bloodthirsty masses. He must do whatever it takes to survive while battling the Network every step of the way.
Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
In this pulp Japanese dystopian thriller, Battle Royale is set in a ruthless authoritarian society where a class of junior high school students are forcibly taken to a deserted island. Stripped of their innocence they are armed and compelled to engage in a horrific battle to the death.
The objective is to get free, but only one can survive. Considered Lord of the Flies for the modern age, this book was met with contrary responses when it was first released only to be a runaway hit.
There we have it! Some great thrillers that are set in a dystopian future and have become classics in their own right. Have you read any of these dystopian thriller books? Do you have a favourite dystopian thriller? Comment below and let us know!