Dystopian literature is a genre of fiction that explores social and political structures in future or near-future societies where life and social structures are in calamitous decline. It is characterized by an imaginary place where life is extremely bad because of deprivation, oppression, or terror. Dystopian literature is often a response to utopian literature, which portrays a setting that agrees with the authors ethos, having various attributes of another reality intended to appeal to the authors audience.
Dystopian literature usually extrapolates elements of contemporary society and can be read as political warnings. Most authors of dystopian fiction explore at least one reason why things are that way, often as an analogy for similar issues in the real world. The history of dystopian literature can be traced back to the reaction to the French Revolution of 1789 and the prospect that mob rule would produce dictatorship. Until the late 20th century, it was usually anti-collectivist.
Some characteristics of dystopian literature include:
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Imaginary place: Dystopian literature is set in an imaginary place where life is extremely bad.
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Social and political structures: Dystopian literature explores social and political structures in future or near-future societies.
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Calamitous decline: Dystopian literature is characterized by a society in calamitous decline.
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Negative view: Dystopian works depict a negative view of "the way the world is supposedly going in order to provide urgent propaganda for a change in direction".
Examples of dystopian literature include Fahrenheit 451, The Handmaids Tale, and 1984.
