Are you tired of seeing the same dystopian book recommendations everywhere? Because all I see are 1984, Brave New World, and The Handmaid's Tale. They are incredible books, but maybe you have already read them or just want more options other than the classics.
So, in this article, I'll share 5 obscenely good dystopian books that are lesser-known, which you can add to your TBR list! All of these books are amazing in their own right, and I hope you find something new.
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Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
During an epidemic know as ‘’Transition,’’ a deadly virus infects all animal meat, making it lethal for human consumption.
Soon, cannibalism was normalized and incorporated into society, with humans bred for consumption known as ‘’special meat’’
Marcos, torn between his job at a slaughterhouse and the state of the world, encounters a female human bred for consumption.
He eventually appears to develop feelings for her and begins having sex with her, which is regarded as one of the worst taboos in society..
Here are some quotes from the book:
“No one can call them humans because that would mean giving them an identity. They call them product, or meat, or food. Except for him; he would prefer not to have to call them by any name.”
“I don't get why a person's smile is considered attractive. When someone smiles, they're showing their skeleton.”
“She had the human look of a domesticated animal.”
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
In 2042, a groundbreaking discovery grants humans the gift of effective immortality, enabling them to reset their physical age while retaining their memories.
In addition, the Thunderhead, a near-omnipotent AI called the 'evolution of the cloud,' was created to be a benevolent guardian of humanity.
The AI united Earth under its care, solving numerous global challenges like climate change, mental illness, and discrimination.
However, it decides that death is still necessary for life to have meaning.
This leads to the establishment of the Scythedom, a group responsible for permanently ending lives.
Here are some quotes from the book:
“The longer we live, the quicker the days seem to pass. How troublesome that is when we live forever. A year seems to pass in a matter of weeks. Decades fly with no milestones to mark them. We become settled in the inconsequential drudgery of our own lives, until suddenly we look at ourselves in the mirror and see a face we barely recognize begging us to turn a corner and be young again.”
“Mortals fantasied that love was eternal and its loss unimaginable. Now we know neither is true. Love remained mortal, while we became eternal.”
“They will find whatever button will make you dance, and dance you will, no matter how hideous the tune.”
Unwind by Neal Shusterman
In a near-future dystopian United States, a second civil war erupts between the pro-choice and pro-life movements.
To find a middle ground, a bill is enacted, safeguarding children from harm until they reach the age of 13.
At this point, parents are given the choice to have their child undergo unwinding, a process that harvests their organs for others to use.
However, the catch is that 100% of the person must be used, leaving them technically alive in a "divided state."
The book explores the lives of multiple characters trying to escape this fate and confront a society that deems them as nothing but troublesome, believing they could be put to better use in someone else's body.
Here are some quotes from the book:
“...if more people had been organ donors, unwinding never would have happened...but people like to keep what's theirs, even after they're dead.”
″‘They can’t unwind me now—there are laws against unwinding the disabled—but if I got the operation, they’d unwind me the moment I was healed. This way I get to stay whole.’ She smiles at him triumphantly. ‘So you’re not the only one who beat the system.‘”
“Which is worse, Risa often wondered, to have tens of thousands of babies that no one wanted or to silently make then go away before they were even born”
I hoped you enjoyed this article and found some value. I'm curious, have you heard of these books before?
