My slight digression on dystopias (or is that dystopians?) got me to thinking about how dystopia books could actually be split into different categories, so I decided to give it a shot (including False Utopia because it is a type of dystopa), Disagreements? Additions? Feel free to leave comments!
Fight The Man
This is your typical "overpowered government being overthrown by a group of rebellious teens" type of story. It has existed for as long as the Little Guy had negative feelings about the Big Guy. The world sucks, and the main difference between your Fight The Man and False Utopia is that in Fight The Man everyone knows it sucks but are powerless to stop it (also, everything is gritty and dirty). Here are some examples:
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Worldshaker by Richard Harland (this one is both Fight The Man and False Utopia, because it has two main characters, each at both extremes. See Technology Girl and Tribal Boy for more details on instances of this.)
Wool by Hugh Howy
The Host by Stephanie Meyer
What Used to Be
One way or another the Big Thing has already happened. People died by the thousands, our knowledge and use of technology have been lost for at least a hundred years or more. Usually there are ruins of skyscrapers in the background at all times during the story. Sometimes the characters live underground and discover the surface world, or live on the surface and discover a technological underground base. Zombies are sometimes a part of these stories, but the requirement is that zombies have to be part of the characters lives since birth. If it was only in the last few days/weeks/years that zombies came about (like The Walking Dead), then it technically counts as part of the Apocalypse genre. Examples of What Used to Be are:
Envlave by Ann Aguirre
The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
The Maze Runner by James Dashner (I only read book 1, but I suspect it belongs in this category.)
Wither by Lauren DeStefano
Angelfall by Susan Ee
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Mayberry
Green Angel by Alice Hoffman
Daybreak-2250AD by Andre Norton
Z for Zachariah by Robert C. O'Brien
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Blood Red Road by Moira Young
It Takes a Wizard (don't know the author, it's a manga though.)
The False Utopia
Everything is great, everyone gets along, everything is usually white, shiny, and well lit.
Until it all comes crashing down, of course (usually with the power of love for some reason). This sometimes includes fighting The Man, but the difference is that the False Utopia includes the implied "Wake up, sheeple!" Examples include:
Uglies by Scott Westerfield
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Matched by Ally Condie
Starters by Lissa Price
Feed by Matthew Anderson
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Monday, April 20, 2015
What I Read in 2015: First Quarter.
Or: It's Still Winter, Shouldn't There be Snow?
For something different this year I decided to add the descriptions of the books when I'm not feeling lazy. There weren't a whole lot during this period because it Februruary and March were a flurry of editing rather than reading for me. Also, due to some feedback, I will be spacing these out over time rather than as one lump sum at the beginning of the year.
January
Two for the Money by Janet Evanovich
This one I got halfway through because I realized I had read it before. At first I wasn't sure if I was supposed to read book two or book three next, so I went with book two. I've reread books that I haven't read in years, but this was the first time I reread one that I didn't remember reading. It was weird, I didn't know what was going to happen in the story, but I got a really strong sense of deja vu while reading it. I sorta hazily remember the end, so after that I lost the inertia to read it, especially when I was grabbed by...
Libriomancer by Jim C Hines
Isaac Vainio is a Libriomancer, a member of the secret organization founded five centuries ago by Johannes Gutenberg. Libriomancers are gifted with the ability to magically reach into books and draw forth objects. When Isaac is attacked by vampires that leaked from the pages of books into our world, he barely manages to escape. To his horror he discovers that vampires have been attacking other magic-users as well, and Gutenberg has been kidnapped.
I bought this one by accident. An author's blog had an interview of the author and the story intrigued me. On Amazon I meant to click "Send Sample" but hit "Buy Now" by mistake, which I've always worried about, but it's never happened until now. Amazon has a 24 hour grace period to return Kindle books but, since I was interested anyway, I decided to keep it.
BEST MISTAKE EVER!
Libriomancer is a breath of fresh air in the stale urban fantasy genre and continuously had me bouncing in my seat every time the character used something from a book, like a TV show making references to things I enjoy.
The only reason I haven't gotten the sequel yet is because I haven't decided what format I want it in.
Flee by Miranga Kavi
I can fly.
I have to keep it a secret.
Everything was fine, until I met him.
I can’t stay away…
Aurora Lockette has a supernatural ability she hides from the world. Gavyn Dhaval is a newly famous actor that shies away from the spotlight. When Aurora and Gavyn literally collide in a fender bender on her first day of law school, they are irresistibly drawn to each other.
When Aurora’s secret is revealed, she has no choice but to abandon Gavyn to go into hiding to escape the media frenzy. A secret society of gifted humans contacts her to warn of dark forces that seek to destroy her and everyone she loves.
Aurora must try to understand who and what she is while she fights to protect herself and her loved ones from a hidden, sinister force.
I already spoke about this one in my 20% Rule post, which I wrote last year. To recap, however: If your book starts with "I can fly" then you'd better be flying. Despite my 20% rule, I read 25% of the way through. Also, the old cover for the book was way better looking than the generic shirtless (and mostly headless) torso.
A short list for an entire month, but I spent much of January free time working on a cross stitch and reading Calvin and Hobbes.
Feburary
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.
This is a good example of a terrible book when 7 out of 10 of the top-rated reviews are one star. I had my doubts for a long time. Long enough for a used paperback copy to show up in my favorite bookstore. Gag, I wish it hadn't. Everyone talks like they have monocles glued to their faces. When they're not at the Yale/Harvard/Oxford library they're sipping wine, playing chess, or doing yoga. I did do something with this book that I have never done before though. When I decided to stop at 20% I looked up a plot summary to see if it would get good later and if I was missing out. Dancing and horseback ensue, as well as more nothing. Glad I missed out on this snoozefest.
Summer Knight by Jim Butcher
Randomly decided to reread Dresden Files book 4 because books 4-10 are always a bit hazy in their order for me.
March
Enclave by Ann Aguirre
New York City has been decimated by war and plague, and most of civilization has migrated to underground enclaves, where life expectancy is no more than the early 20's. When Deuce turns 15, she takes on her role as a Huntress, and is paired with Fade, a teenage Hunter who lived Topside as a young boy. When she and Fade discover that the neighboring enclave has been decimated by the tunnel monsters--or Freaks--who seem to be growing more organized, the elders refuse to listen to warnings. And when Deuce and Fade are exiled from the enclave, the girl born in darkness must survive in daylight--guided by Fade's long-ago memories--in the ruins of a city whose population has dwindled to a few dangerous gangs.
This one is a good example of being in a specific mood for a book. About six to nine months prior I had given it a try. I only got about 6% of the way through before going "guhhhh..." It wasn't because it was a bad story, I really enjoy YA dystopian novels. Rather, at that moment I was reading about the dark they lived in, and how hungry they were, and how dangerous it was. I wasn't in the right mindset and, frankly was a bit burned out on my favorite genre. When I picked it up again, however, it pulled me right in and I loved every moment of it. I actually whined out loud when it ended on my Kindle at 76% because I still craved more (it apparently included a short story).
It's not "for fans of the Hunger Games." That term gets thrown around entirely too much, like how, ten years ago, "for fans of Harry Potter" was abused like crazy. Hunger Games is more "fight The Man," dystopia. Enclave is more "rediscovering what once existed."
Best of all, though, is that it didn't get stale. Halfway through everything changes. I can't wait to read book two as I want MOAR.
This is all, of course, I got over giggling every time I heard the main character's name. "Tee hee, Deuce."
So what else did I do during March?
Editing Dusted
Dusted
Dusted
Dusted
Also some Crystal Witch, but that's still a long way off.
For something different this year I decided to add the descriptions of the books when I'm not feeling lazy. There weren't a whole lot during this period because it Februruary and March were a flurry of editing rather than reading for me. Also, due to some feedback, I will be spacing these out over time rather than as one lump sum at the beginning of the year.
January
Two for the Money by Janet Evanovich
This one I got halfway through because I realized I had read it before. At first I wasn't sure if I was supposed to read book two or book three next, so I went with book two. I've reread books that I haven't read in years, but this was the first time I reread one that I didn't remember reading. It was weird, I didn't know what was going to happen in the story, but I got a really strong sense of deja vu while reading it. I sorta hazily remember the end, so after that I lost the inertia to read it, especially when I was grabbed by...
Libriomancer by Jim C Hines
Isaac Vainio is a Libriomancer, a member of the secret organization founded five centuries ago by Johannes Gutenberg. Libriomancers are gifted with the ability to magically reach into books and draw forth objects. When Isaac is attacked by vampires that leaked from the pages of books into our world, he barely manages to escape. To his horror he discovers that vampires have been attacking other magic-users as well, and Gutenberg has been kidnapped.
I bought this one by accident. An author's blog had an interview of the author and the story intrigued me. On Amazon I meant to click "Send Sample" but hit "Buy Now" by mistake, which I've always worried about, but it's never happened until now. Amazon has a 24 hour grace period to return Kindle books but, since I was interested anyway, I decided to keep it.
BEST MISTAKE EVER!
Libriomancer is a breath of fresh air in the stale urban fantasy genre and continuously had me bouncing in my seat every time the character used something from a book, like a TV show making references to things I enjoy.
The only reason I haven't gotten the sequel yet is because I haven't decided what format I want it in.
Flee by Miranga Kavi
I can fly.
I have to keep it a secret.
Everything was fine, until I met him.
I can’t stay away…
Aurora Lockette has a supernatural ability she hides from the world. Gavyn Dhaval is a newly famous actor that shies away from the spotlight. When Aurora and Gavyn literally collide in a fender bender on her first day of law school, they are irresistibly drawn to each other.
When Aurora’s secret is revealed, she has no choice but to abandon Gavyn to go into hiding to escape the media frenzy. A secret society of gifted humans contacts her to warn of dark forces that seek to destroy her and everyone she loves.
Aurora must try to understand who and what she is while she fights to protect herself and her loved ones from a hidden, sinister force.
I already spoke about this one in my 20% Rule post, which I wrote last year. To recap, however: If your book starts with "I can fly" then you'd better be flying. Despite my 20% rule, I read 25% of the way through. Also, the old cover for the book was way better looking than the generic shirtless (and mostly headless) torso.
A short list for an entire month, but I spent much of January free time working on a cross stitch and reading Calvin and Hobbes.
Feburary
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.
This is a good example of a terrible book when 7 out of 10 of the top-rated reviews are one star. I had my doubts for a long time. Long enough for a used paperback copy to show up in my favorite bookstore. Gag, I wish it hadn't. Everyone talks like they have monocles glued to their faces. When they're not at the Yale/Harvard/Oxford library they're sipping wine, playing chess, or doing yoga. I did do something with this book that I have never done before though. When I decided to stop at 20% I looked up a plot summary to see if it would get good later and if I was missing out. Dancing and horseback ensue, as well as more nothing. Glad I missed out on this snoozefest.
Summer Knight by Jim Butcher
Randomly decided to reread Dresden Files book 4 because books 4-10 are always a bit hazy in their order for me.
March
Enclave by Ann Aguirre
New York City has been decimated by war and plague, and most of civilization has migrated to underground enclaves, where life expectancy is no more than the early 20's. When Deuce turns 15, she takes on her role as a Huntress, and is paired with Fade, a teenage Hunter who lived Topside as a young boy. When she and Fade discover that the neighboring enclave has been decimated by the tunnel monsters--or Freaks--who seem to be growing more organized, the elders refuse to listen to warnings. And when Deuce and Fade are exiled from the enclave, the girl born in darkness must survive in daylight--guided by Fade's long-ago memories--in the ruins of a city whose population has dwindled to a few dangerous gangs.
This one is a good example of being in a specific mood for a book. About six to nine months prior I had given it a try. I only got about 6% of the way through before going "guhhhh..." It wasn't because it was a bad story, I really enjoy YA dystopian novels. Rather, at that moment I was reading about the dark they lived in, and how hungry they were, and how dangerous it was. I wasn't in the right mindset and, frankly was a bit burned out on my favorite genre. When I picked it up again, however, it pulled me right in and I loved every moment of it. I actually whined out loud when it ended on my Kindle at 76% because I still craved more (it apparently included a short story).
It's not "for fans of the Hunger Games." That term gets thrown around entirely too much, like how, ten years ago, "for fans of Harry Potter" was abused like crazy. Hunger Games is more "fight The Man," dystopia. Enclave is more "rediscovering what once existed."
Best of all, though, is that it didn't get stale. Halfway through everything changes. I can't wait to read book two as I want MOAR.
This is all, of course, I got over giggling every time I heard the main character's name. "Tee hee, Deuce."
So what else did I do during March?
Editing Dusted
Dusted
Dusted
Dusted
Also some Crystal Witch, but that's still a long way off.
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