Veronica Roth's Favorite Dystopian Novels
That's what dystopian fiction offers. Each of these visions of the future is, in its own way, an acknowledgment of reality or an exploration of human nature. Some of them showcase our resilience, humor and capacity for love in a crumbling world; others show quite the opposite. Regardless, I drink from the well of dystopian fiction when I am desperate to see myself and my fellow man more clearly. Here are a few of my favorites.
Hum
In a world inundated with technology, a woman gets paid to undergo an experimental procedure to make her face unrecognizable to scanners. She uses the money to buy her family a weekend pass to an offline forest haven — at which point, things take a bit of a turn. Phillips expertly captures the barrage of advertisements and digital noise that has become so normalized, as well as the loneliness and disconnection that our dependence on devices can foster. Her main character's longing for kinship, silence and meaning has never felt more relatable.
Read our review.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'Spartacus: House of Ashur' to premiere on Starz this winter
July 27 (UPI) -- Starz has narrowed the premiere window for Spartacus: House of Ashur to "this winter" and released a new teaser for the eagerly awaited period drama. Nick E. Tarabay will reprise his role of Ashur from 2010's Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Spartacus franchise creator Steven S. DeKnight is the showrunner for the latest chapter. "What if he lived, and the Romans rewarded his treachery with the gladiator school where he once bled? Welcome to the House of Ashur. No longer a slave, Ashur has clawed his way to power, owning the same ludus that once owned him," a synopsis for the show said. "But ruling a band of merciless gladiators is child's play compared to surviving the savage world of Roman politics -- a cutthroat game in which betrayal isn't a sin, it's currency." The cast will also include Tenika Davis, Graham McTavish, Jamaica Vaughan, Jordi Webber and Jaime Slater.
Geek Tyrant
22 minutes ago
- Geek Tyrant
How Dark Gritty Reboots Paved the Way for Today's Lighter Escapism in Cinema — GeekTyrant
For years, Hollywood loved its dark, grounded reboots. But times have changed, and so have audience tastes. A recent video essay by Pyramid Peak takes a deep dive into why the bleak tone of early 2000s blockbusters has shifted toward something lighter, more hopeful, and even escapist, like Superman . After September 11, 2001, American audiences gravitated toward stories that reflected their fears and uncertainties. Movies embraced gritty realism, and no franchise exemplified that better than Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy. 'You can imagine just how incredible it was to see this in 2005 for the first time audiences saw a Batman who looked like he belonged in our world and faced dangers that felt almost too real. 'Needless to say Batman Begins was a massive success to critics and general audiences the movie's dark and gritty tone felt like a breath of fresh air.' Following that, other franchises leaned hard into the 'realistic' approach, turning comic book worlds and action sagas into moody character studies. But that was 20 years ago, and as Pyramid Peak explains, that tone no longer resonates the same way: '20 years later the reboot doesn't pack the same punch. So what happened to the dark and gritty era? Right now we're living in a world of constant noise a million channels of conflicting information are all shouting at once. 'That overwhelm might inspire stories where the hero is someone who cuts through the chaos sees the bigger picture and finds a clean focused solution a narrative where all the threats are secretly connected and one brave person untangles them giving us the simple clarity we crave.' This shift is more than just stylistic. It's a reflection of our cultural mood. Back then, villains were symbolic. Today, the issues feel personal and systemic. As Peak notes, future stories might even tackle wealth inequality head-on. 'If another global recession makes wealth inequality the popular issue of the day, the real enemies might be the rich, the powerful the out of touch elite. We could see a resurgence of stories about the common person rising up against unchecked greed and corruption and a generation dealing with the housing crisis and endless inflation would connect with the hero who's dealt a crappy hand but make something of it.' The era of gritty antiheroes might be behind us, replaced by characters who bring clarity in chaos or challenge corruption head-on. In other words, escapism is evolving, and Hollywood will follow wherever our cultural compass points next.
Geek Tyrant
22 minutes ago
- Geek Tyrant
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Unveils STRANGER THINGS Collab Board Game – Welcome to the Hellfire Club — GeekTyrant
If you've ever wanted to roll dice with the Hellfire Club, now's your chance. Dungeons & Dragons and Stranger Things are teaming up for an official crossover board game that blends the world's most famous TTRPG with the Netflix phenomenon that helped bring it back into the spotlight. Say hello to Stranger Things: Welcome to the Hellfire Club , an all-new adventure built on the D&D 5e ruleset, launching October 7th. This new collab is perfect for both veteran adventurers and newcomers to the tabletop scene. The game takes inspiration straight from Stranger Things , giving players the chance to dive into four of Eddie's lost adventures. Designed for 3–5 players, with characters at levels 1–3, it's an awesome way to kick off a short campaign or introduce your friends to the magic of D&D — all with a nostalgic Hawkins flavor. Think of it like the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons starter set, but with a pop-culture twist. It captures the spirit of D&D while adding that signature Stranger Things vibe we know and love. The physical edition of Welcome to the Hellfire Club comes packed with everything you need for an immersive tabletop experience. For $49.99, here's what you'll find inside: Dungeon Master's Screen Double-Sided Hellfire Club Poster 91 Cards for Spells, Magic Items, and Monsters 72 Player Character and Monster Tokens 2 Double-Sided Poster Maps 15 Character Sheets 4 In-World Handouts Combat Tracker Notepad 11 Dice Quick Start Guide 4 Adventure Booklets 1 Play Guide Booklet All of it is wrapped in retro 80s aesthetics to capture that classic Stranger Things look. If you prefer to play online, the Digital Adventure Pack has you covered. It includes quickplay maps, a Quick-Start Video, pre-made characters for D&D Beyond, and digital versions of the adventures for the DM to run. The digital-only version costs $19.99, but you'll need a Master Tier subscription on D&D Beyond to host games. For those who want the best of both worlds, the Ultimate Bundle combines physical and digital editions, plus an Upside Down Digital Dice Set and Upside Down Digital Map and Sticker Pack. Normally priced at $69.98, it's currently available for $59.99 if you pre-order. Stranger Things: Welcome to the Hellfire Club launches on October 7th, just in time for some spooky season adventures in the Upside Down. It uses the updated 2025 revision of D&D 5th edition, so it's also a great way to get a feel for the newest tweaks to the game. Whether you're a seasoned DM or new to rolling dice, this set looks like an epic way to join the Hellfire Club.
