The best dystopian books of all time

What makes a compelling dystopian novel? Perhaps it's that we can imagine the same events unfolding around us with a growing sense of dread. Or maybe it's that we want to get away from our own life and times, in a twisted form of escapism. Whatever it is, dystopian fiction writers have a rich tradition of creating imaginative, prescient, and sometimes even satirical worlds we can fully immerse ourselves in.

From Nineteen Eighty-Four and The Handmaid's Tale to more modern nightmares like Gliff and Chain-Gang All-Stars, these novels are chilling visions of where humanity could end up if it all goes really, really wrong.

Below, we've compiled our definitive list of the best dystopian fiction of all time. And if you're still looking for more recommendations after you've worked your way through this collection, take a look at our piece on the best science fiction books to take you to new worlds, as well as our 100 must-read classics list for timeless reading inspiration.

We by Yevgeny Zamyatin (1924)

The novel that gave birth to Nineteen Eighty-Four and Brave New World? Perhaps. There's no denying the influence of this early dystopia in which, a thousand years after the world has been conquered, humanity lives in totalitarian 'harmony'. That is, until D-503, a mathematician who dreams in numbers, makes a discovery: he has an individual soul. 

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (1985)

You've seen the TV show. You've winced at the fancy dress costumes. Now read what is arguably the most pertinent dystopian novel of our times in which women's bodies are the battleground between a repressive state and an underground rebellion. Offred the Handmaid is our guide through this hellish vision of America's future, as she is forced to carry children for a high-ranking Commander and his wife. The cultural resonance of Margaret Atwood's novel continues to grow, and we also recommend her 2019 Booker Prize-winning sequel, The Testaments.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (1932)

Are you an Alpha, a Beta or a Gamma? Surely not a Delta... Geniocracy – intelligence-based social hierarchy – is the primary subject of some of the best-known dystopian worlds. In Aldous Huxley's landmark novel, World Controllers have created a utopian society where everyone is happy – or at least, taking happiness drugs. Our hero is psychologist Bernard who seems alone in his feelings of discontent, and longs to break free.

Gliff by Ali Smith (2024)

Ali Smith’s 2024 novel builds on Aldous Huxley’s vision in Brave New World. Set in a dystopian near-future, Bri and Rose are “Unverifiables”, persecuted by a government that treats them like an inferior class. The government seeks to exclude those who don’t conform, but Bri gradually attempts to disrupt this system from the inside with acts of small, everyday rebellion. Gliff is different in form and feeling from Smith’s Seasonal Quartet series, but just as thought-provoking.

The Machine Stops by E. M. Forster (1909)

E. M. Forster's sci-fi novel predicted the rise of the Internet and our dependency on it – which is pretty damn prescient considering it was written over 100 years ago. The omnipotent 'Machine' of Forster's creation provides a society driven below ground with its every need (it even has instant messenger.) But who created the Machine in the first place? You can probably guess. The only novella on this list, you can comfortably read The Machine Stops in a day, freeing up your evening to anxiously contemplate it.

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell (1949)

This is the book most people think of when they hear the word 'dystopia', with Orwell's bleak vision of a totalitarian world remaining relevant to this day (it's no coincidence that it shot straight to the top of the bestseller charts when Donald Trump was inaugurated as US President in 2017). You probably know the story: the year is 1984 and protagonist Winston is living in a world ruled by state interference, where even one's most intimate thoughts are a crime. Cue a love interest, and a scene with a rat that'll scuttle through your nightmares for weeks.

The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan (2023)

The best dystopian fiction is rooted in truth, and the basis for this novel is the impossibly high standards placed on mothers. Frida is a frazzled working mother who, in a moment of desperation, leaves her daughter at home to pop into the office. In the short time she is away, the neighbours turn her in to the state and she is taken to an institution to learn to be a ‘good’ mother. As in The Handmaids Tale, the stakes are high: if Frida fails the test, she risks losing her daughter forever. 

Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman (2001)

Malorie Blackman's award-winning novel holds a stark mirror up to real-world racism by imagining an alternative 21st-Century Britain beset by racial tension and eruptions of violence. Sephy is a Cross: dark-skinned and beautiful, living a privileged life. Callum is a Nought: pale-skinned and poor. Naturally, they fall in love – and all hell breaks loose, triggering a chain of events that forms the rest of the series. Noughts & Crosses grows in influence and stature with every year, and was brought to the screen in a powerful TV adaptation in 2020. 

It Can't Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis (1935)

A vain, unconventional, vehemently anti-immigrant demagogue wins the US presidency, promising poor and angry voters that he will make America prosperous once more. Sound familiar? Sinclair Lewis' satirical novel, written as Hitler and Mussolini grew in power, was meant as a commentary on European fascism but has since found terrifying resonance closer to home for American readers.

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (2023)

It reads like an episode of Black Mirror: a private prison company pits inmates against each other in a bloody, televised contest. These are modern gladiators, fighting to the death in the hopes of winning the ultimate prize: their freedom. Chain-Gang All-Stars is a timely exploration of the intersection of racism, corporate greed and mass incarceration in the prison system.

The Power by Naomi Alderman (2016)

In this Women's Prize-winning novel, women all over the world discover they have the ability to inflict pain with a mere flick of their fingers. At first it seems like this newfound power might redress current gender inequalities – but things take a dark turn. This is a brilliant, urgent examination of power and how it can be abused, and was recently adapted into an Amazon Prime Video series.

Fatherland by Robert Harris (1992)

What would the world look like if Hitler had won the Second World War? Robert Harris' gripping Fatherland paints this picture. Set in 1964, long after the Nazi war has been won, the discovery of a dead body leads to a revelation of a great conspiracy that could unravel the new world order. This is a powerful, chilling reimagining of history.

Silo by Hugh Howey (2014)

The first instalment of Hugh Howey's popular Wool trilogy now has a small-screen adaptation on Apple TV+. In the first novel in the series we are introduced to the subterranean city of Silo, where humanity struggles to survive against terrible odds while under strict governmental control. Leaving Silo is a crime punishable by death, but when Jules is sent outside of the city on a job, what she learns changes everything.

The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham (1951)

In a post-apocalyptic world, humanity has been blinded by a freak meteor shower. If that's not enough, a huge, venomous and locomotive plant species known as 'Triffids' roam the Earth – and they have a taste for human flesh. Will the plants successfully overthrow the humans? Wyndham's classic catastrophe novel and iconic storyline terrified a generation and has since inspired countless copycats.

Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut (1969)

Named after a real-life slaughterhouse where Kurt Vonnegut was held captive as a prisoner-of-war, Slaughterhouse 5 is an intimate anti-war masterpiece. Only Vonnegut could channel the horrific experiences he endured into a fictional novel: 'How nice – to feel nothing, and still get full credit for being alive', he writes.

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess (1962)

In a nightmarish future, teenager Alex is perversely rampaging with his gang of friends – think theft, murder and rape. That is, until the state authorities capture and attempt to 'correct' him through a series of therapies. But what is the nature of his reconditioning? Burgess' darkly-humoured novel, made all the more intriguing by its unusual dialect, explores the fragility of freedom in the face of repression.

The Time Machine by H. G. Wells (1895)

A time traveller from the Victorian era propels himself into the future to discover that Earth has become a utopia. But, when his time travelling device disappears, he has no choice but to venture down the deep, ominous tunnels in desperate search of home. H. G. Wells helped cement a whole new genre with his 1895 novel that questions everything we know about humanity and society. 

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (2011)

Whether you’ve seen the Steven Spielberg adaptation or not, you’ve probably heard of this cult classic. Set in a bleak near-future, Earth has been ravaged by famine, war and poverty and the only escape is OASIS – a sprawling virtual reality. Wade Watts spends all his time there, attempting to complete the scavenger hunt set by OASIS founder James Halliday, to inherit his life-changing fortune. For years, millions have searched in vain – but then Wade uncovers the first real clue... Laden with ‘80s video games and nostalgia, Ready Player One is a surprisingly entertaining read despite the bleak world it depicts.

Eve of Man by Giovanna Fletcher and Tom Fletcher (2018)

After a mysterious decline in female births, the first girl is born in 50 years. They call her Eve, and raise her alone in a tower with the fate of the human race resting in her hands. Three male suitors are selected, but when she meets commoner Bran, she begins to crave freedom. Eve of Man is the first in a trilogy from bestselling authors Giovanna and Tom Fletcher, with the final instalment coming out in May 2025. 

The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh (2018)

A family lives on an isolated island, having fled society to avoid a 'sickness' that seems mysteriously attached to men. When a boat of male stowaways lands on their beach, the sisters are fearful but eventually, through their own untethered curiosity, welcome them in. Without their father (whose whereabouts are also ominously unclear) to guide them, their newfound companions lead to danger. This extraordinary debut was longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2018. 

Anthem by Ayn Rand (1938)

Fans of The Hunger Games and The Divergent series will recognise many similar themes in this modern classic by Ayn Rand, an influential thinker who championed captialist principles and created the philosophy known as Objectivism. First published in 1938, the story explores a world where individualism is banned, and its inhabitants work as collectives, assigned their rightful place by The Council of Vocations. Our hero Equality 7-2521 knows he is different and attempts to find his own vocation and fall in love, in a story that prizes individualism and opportunity.

The Death of Grass by John Christopher (1956)

The Death of Grass is a hidden gem of a dystopian novel. It imagines a world where a plague destroys grass, thus decimating the food chain. The result? The collapse of civilisation. Our hero John Custance is on a mission to cross the country to reach his brother’s farm. But on his journey, he is forced to make brutal choices in the name of survival. This is a thought-provoking read that will make you think about the pressing and very human consequences of climate change.

Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut (1963)

The second Vonnegut novel to make the list is his entertaining and ironic take on the end of the world. Dr Felix Hoenikker, one of the founders of the atomic bomb, has died. As part of his legacy, he has left behind a lethal chemical weapon capable of freezing the entire planet. But where has he hidden it? The search for its whereabouts becomes a race against time to save humanity before it's too late. Behind the dark humour is Vonnegut’s deeper message about the danger of man’s relation to technology. 

China Dream by Ma Jian (2018)

When the lecherous Ma Daode is appointed director of the Chinese Dream Bureau, his plans for totalitarian rule are unravelled as sinister nightmares begin to invade his sleep, and eat away at his sanity. This is a dark but brilliant satire of totalitarianism, written by an author described by the Guardian as 'one of China’s greatest living novelists'.