tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post1318823598559721608..comments2023-08-10T03:35:55.682-07:00Comments on The Prosers: The Trouble with Dystopians - Part 1Sheena Boekweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08227547053651725634noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-76777342489669281772014-04-10T11:51:37.840-07:002014-04-10T11:51:37.840-07:00That's a very good point, MaryAnn. I started t...That's a very good point, MaryAnn. I started to try to argue that the Hunger Games could theoretically happen - but then I realized what the issue was. None of these stories have that connecting moment that shows how or why our society devolved in such a way. Things like the Divergent trilogy have a founding even that brings out the worst in society - but that's not the same as showing the path of how current societal trends can degrade into a true dystopia.<br /><br />One truly egregious example based on that is Delirium. In the first book, we're never shown how or why society makes such a radical change to completely outlawing love. You can argue that we wouldn't see it because we're in first person POV from after the change, but I think this is one case in which a prologue would have been very useful. As it was, I spent the book unable to shake my disbelief that such a society could ever really come about.Sabrina Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06218305456791199409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-5223916191722990532014-04-09T23:44:03.576-07:002014-04-09T23:44:03.576-07:00LOL, that description fits every single YA dystopi...LOL, that description fits every single YA dystopian novel that I have read. <br /><br />I agree that there is something comforting about familiarity. I have my own predictable, comfort stories that I love and can never seem to get enough of. But yeah, imposing limits on writers because of supposed readers' preferences without ever giving readers other options is a little bit of faulty logic. I think this is where self-publishing will shine. I think we'll see a few new trends emerging from popular self-published works.<br /><br />One last thought, personally I don't feel like any of the YA dystopias should actually be called dystopias. They just use a dystopia-like setting, but stories like Hunger Games could easily work in a secondary fantasy world or historical or alternate history setting. To me, true dystopias like 1984 and Fahrenheit 451 should have themes that warn us of a dark possible future. They are more rooted in themes than setting, if that makes any sense at all.<br /><br />Excellent post. I'm looking forward to part 2. :)MaryAnn Popehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08618345950149423623noreply@blogger.com