An exploration into Dystopian Fiction and its influence

Dystopian fiction paints a futuristic society that is oppressed by tyranny - oft en apocalyptic. The novel’s world can be seen as prophetic for the direction of our own society or act as a warning; it oft en focuses on and exaggerates the negative and frightening elements of the world. The term dystopia is translated as a “not-good place” and was used as an antonym for utopia by John Stuart Mill in 1868. Dystopian fi ction has been a popular genre since the 20th century, and in recent times young adult dystopian novels have topped best-seller rankings, showing how the genre resonates with a large demographic of readers.