The term “dystopia” is used to describe a place full of disorder and chaos, typically ignited by political bodies in a particular story. It is the exact opposite of utopia, in which everything is desirable, and all citizens are happy. Then why do we find dystopia and post-apocalyptic stories so compelling?  Often, dystopia is an author’s way to comment on current political states in a different and unique lense. They also can act as a political warning. There are even stories that disguise themselves as utopias, but then reveal themselves to be dystopian. This shows intersectionality between utopia writing and dystopian writing.

One aspect of dystopian stories that I believe makes them compelling is the futuristic settings of some of them. The juxtaposition of technological advancement with some form of chaos that makes the story seem a little more realistic without pushing it too far. Plus, many of the ideas are so creative that it is surprising that many authors manage to reroute to very similar themes. Utopia often times can feel a little intangible because we have never lived in a world with no problems, but it is interesting to see various author’s ideas on what “perfection” is.