This novel is a classic example of Rebels-in-Dystopia Sci-Fi. It has multi-layered conflict, tightly related to the themes and to the emotions of sympathetic characters. It starts out with an attractive opening: evocative setting description teasing us with an interesting character puzzle that keeps us reading through those tricky opening pages. Then we are presented […]
“Nightmare on Scuttler Island” by Chris von Halle
This is a YA Dystopian Fantasy that starts with children dumped into an abandoned setting, but soon takes a dark turn into “Lord of the Flies.” The basic premise is a bit of a stretch, but this is YA Fantasy, after all. The science element is downplayed, a wise choice in this case. The practicalities […]
“Splinter: Onyros Chronicles Book One” by D. K. Thorne
The story starts out with far too much technical explanation. The setting and the science are too complex for the average reader to understand. We are bombarded with surrealistic landscapes, or perhaps mindscapes. We are inundated with psychological technobabble. Switches from second person to first person and past to present can give an added edge […]
“Last Star Standing” by Spaulding Taylor
This is a great Sci/Fi Dystopian novel written by a polished writer with great chops that make the tale more interesting. Many dystopian stories are about a rebel growing up to become a leader. Along the way, it’s almost mandatory to spend some time in the autocrat’s jail. Well, this hero starts the story in […]
“Unfettered Journey” by Gary F. Bengier
This is a story about one man’s journey to discover whether he has free will. Also to find a meaning for his life, which pretty much amounts to the same thing. The author is a philosopher, the main character is a university prof and he searches at a university, so strap yourself in for an […]
“Kill Code” by Clive Fleury
Kill Code is a dystopian action tale, full of conflicts at several different levels. It even has a bit to say about the reality of reality. As opposed to virtual reality, of course. But authors have to be careful with VR scenes because they make it too easy for the author to manipulate the conflict. […]
“Aftan Whispers” by Phil Williams
“Aftan Whispers” takes place in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic society, where Tyler, a tradesman with a Pollyanna approach to human nature teams up with a Deni, cynical, self-destructive former slave to save…well…something: themselves, the world, who knows? Thus the success of the story revolves around the two characters, and the conflict is based on their different […]
“Midlight” – Autumn Grace
“Midlight” is a dystopian fantasy about a post-atomic-war world where the population has become nocturnal because of the radiation levels in the sunlight. And the relationships seem to have faded into the dark as well, with dysfunction being the order of the day. Or lack of order, in this case. And this lack of […]
“The Power Club” by Greg Gildersleeve
This story chronicles the struggles of Damon, a “powered” teenager who lives in a special enclave that protects those of his ilk and their families from contact with the “ords.” It immediately becomes obvious that these kids need protection from each other as well. In this vaguely dystopian setting, it seems that the Powers that […]
“Revolution 2050” by Jay Chalk
In this day and age, we once again need reminders that each generation must fight for its own freedoms or it will lose them. What better plotline to borrow than the original: Orwell’s 1984. A dystopian society, close enough to our own to be scary. A repressive regime. A disaffected lower-level Party member, afraid to […]