Dystopian Fiction – Equal Opportunity Reader

[REVIEW] Manhunt, by Gretchen Felker-Martin

the cover of Manhunt, depicting two plums caught in a net, one bitten, is displayed on a tablet lying on a hardwood floor. A can of pepper spray, a pocketknife, and a defense strap can also be seen.

(Buy this book here.) (EDIT: I tend not to read other reviews before I write my own, and it’s come to my attention that there are a lot of trans readers and writers that have very pointed #ownnormal critiques of this book. In the interest of practicing what I preach, before you read this review,Continue reading “[REVIEW] Manhunt, by Gretchen Felker-Martin”

[REVIEW] Tender Is The Flesh, by Agustina Bazterrica, translated by Susan Moses

(Buy this book here.) (This book is one long content warning. If you’re sensitive to violence or gore, don’t read it or this review.) This book is disgusting. Let’s just start there. No, really. This Argentinian dystopian horror takes place in a very near future where it’s become impossible to eat animal meat due toContinue reading “[REVIEW] Tender Is The Flesh, by Agustina Bazterrica, translated by Susan Moses”

[REVIEW] Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, original text by Octavia Butler, adapted by Damian Duffy, illustrated by John Jennings

A Black woman's hand holds a tablet displaying the orange cover of Parable of the Sower in front of a speeding train window, passing by a grassy field. The book cover depicts a Black teenaged girl with long dreadlocks, half her face hidden, standing in front of stylized flames and mountains.

(Buy it on Bookshop here.) I just moved back to America, and man, it is weird. Watching the news from America in preparation for my return sometimes felt like watching a large angry monster run towards a cliff with someone you love strapped to their back, screaming. I haven’t lived in my country for 15Continue reading “[REVIEW] Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, original text by Octavia Butler, adapted by Damian Duffy, illustrated by John Jennings”

[Booklist] 1984 Is Trash: Dystopias From The Global Majority

An Asian woman with sunglasses and a ponytail stands with her back to the camera. She is wearing a stylish leather jacket with two cameo faces worked into the leather of the back, and more along the shoulders and gusset.

Why yes, I did wake up and choose violence today. Why do you ask? Let me first say that for the time, place and the politics of its day, 1984 was brilliant. It contained very pertinent criticism of post-WWII European governments, strong warnings about government surveillance and police states, and it revolutionized social science fictionContinue reading “[Booklist] 1984 Is Trash: Dystopias From The Global Majority”

[REVIEW] Moon of the Crusted Snow, by Waubgeshig Rice

(Find it HERE.) Evan Whitesky is a loving father, doting husband, and pretty good moose hunter who lives on an Anishinaabe reserve in Northern Canada. As he preps for the upcoming winter, a massive power outage cuts the reserve entirely off from the outside world. While Evan and his family are somewhat secure, partially becauseContinue reading “[REVIEW] Moon of the Crusted Snow, by Waubgeshig Rice”

[REVIEW] Vox, by Christina Dalcher

(Find it HERE.) Maybe today isn’t a good day to write about a dystopian novel in which hyper-conservative, racist, sexist ideals permeate the US, resulting in the election of a wannabe despot who encourages horribly oppressive policies necessitating an organized movement of diverse people working together to legitimately reclaim the country despite his last ditchContinue reading “[REVIEW] Vox, by Christina Dalcher”