Top Ten Tuesday is an original blog meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is “Top Ten Historical Settings You Love/ Ten Historical Settings You’d Love To See or Top Futuristic Books You Love/Ten Futuristic Societies I’d Love To Read in Books — basically this week is all about the past or the future….spin it however you choose!” So this week’s topic made me a little nervous. As someone who picks up a lot of fantasy, I don’t often stray into historical or “futuristic” reads. While making a list of books I’ve read that take place in the future, it occurred to me that I would not want to be a part of the large majority of these worlds, thus this week’s topic was born. Covers linked to Goodreads.
1. Benny Imura series by Jonathan Maberry – I am a big fan of zombies, but let’s be honest, I wouldn’t want to live in a world where the dead come back to life and try to eat me. While I’d like to imagine I’d come out of a disaster like this wielding a katana Michonne-style, it’s very likely I’d be dead in less than a week.
2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – Hmm, live in a world where the people in power force children to kill each other? I’m going to have to say no. I’m even a bit (a lot) wary about this whole Hunger Games theme park. The people making it do realize the book is about children whose only means of survival is to kill one another while the powers that be trivialize it like it’s a form of entertainment…kind of like a theme park.
3. Unwind Dystology by Neal Shusterman – This “future” world really creeps me out. I can’t even properly talk about it. Here’s the Goodreads summary: “The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child ‘unwound,’ whereby all of the child’s organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn’t technically end.”
4. Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis – This takes the concept of a drought to an extreme. Everyone is desperate for a water source and will do anything to get one. Lynn fights to keep control over the pond her mother and her have been protecting for years. Just thinking about this book makes me a little thirsty.
5. 1984 by George Orwell – So technically 1984 has come and gone, but this book should still be included in “futuristic” fiction. Where do I even start with this one? Big Brother, the Thought Police, brainwashing, Orwell’s dystopian novel is both thought-provoking as well as down-right frightening.
6. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld – I wasn’t a big fan of this first book and so I never got around to finishing the series, but the concept of this one is really interesting. Teens undergo operations in order to turn them into “Pretties” and give them perfect problem-free lives. Sounds too good to be true? It is.
7. The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness – Imagine life on this planet has come to an end and the only way to save humanity is to start again on another planet. Imagine this planet has a few interesting effects on the population. Men’s thoughts are no longer silent, every thought they think is heard by everyone. Even though I’m a woman and my own thoughts would be safe, I would not like to be stuck in a world where I could hear everything men think. I could probably be a little snarky here, but I’m going to choose not to 😉
8. The Program by Suzanne Young – This novel is truly frightening. In this world depression is treated like an infection, teens are monitored for signs they may be unhappy and any suspicious behavior results in these kids having their memories wiped out in order to give them a better life free of their unhappiness. The concept for this one literally makes me feel ill.
9. Starters by Lissa Price – I really didn’t enjoy this book when I read it several years ago, but the premise has always stayed with me. Imagine renting your body out to someone else. They get to be you for a period of time and when you return to your body you have no memory of how they used it. Ugh. So creepy.
10. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury – I love this book, but I think it goes without saying (yet here I am saying it) that living in a world where people hunt down and burn books would be one of my worst nightmares.
Which literary societies would you not want to be a part of? What topic did you choose this week? Let me know in the comments and be sure leave a link to your own TTT post, so I can visit.
Great list Alicia! I can totally understand why you wouldn’t want to live in some of these societies. They’re brutal!
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Thanks, Chrissi. They don’t call them dystopian/postapocalytic novels for nothing, that’s for sure.
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I misread your topic and thought you wanted to live in the time of Unwind. Ha! How dreadful! Check out my list here
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Lol, wouldn’t that be something. I think that book gave me nightmares, I still remember this one scene with a baby that still gets to me.
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I’ll have to find the one about drought: sounds interesting. I did futuristic settings too (Bradbury features heavily: the man was a genius).
https://wildeonmyside.wordpress.com/2016/02/02/top-ten-fictional-futuristic-societies/
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Not a Drop to Drink was really good, I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. Taking a look at your now and I love your avatar picture!
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I know what you mean about the Hunger games theme park, anything to make money but yeah what you said. Somewhat ironic perhaps? And The Program- I haven’t read those yet but the idea intrigues me, and I don’t think I’d want to live there either!
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The whole concept really rubs me the wrong way, but I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. The Program is a really interesting read and really brings up some interesting questions about how we deal with mental illness.
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I would probably die if I would to live in the 1984 setting 😭
Great list!
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I’d either die or quickly be arrested, hard to tell. Thank you!
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I didn’t really enjoy Uglies either, but the concept is indeed fascinating. I’d want no part of it either… And hearing every man’s thoughts? NO THANKS. I’m pretty sure I would not want to hear most of it. Great post Alicia!
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I think I would have enjoyed Uglies more if I had read it when it first came out, but as it were, I think all the dystopian novels I read before it spoiled its uniqueness. Right?! Can you imagine how quickly a relationship with someone would be ruined if you could hear the guy’s thoughts?
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That’s possible… Oh yes, any relationship would be ruined immediately!
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These all sounds like terrible worlds to live in. There are a few of these books I want/need to read though.
Thanks for sharing!
Amanda
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Oh yeah, no thank you to any of these. All of these are interesting reads, so I hope you get a chance to pick some up.
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Great topic! I really enjoyed the Uglies Series but no I definitely would not want to live in that society!
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I’m glad you liked the series, but yeah, I could not survive a world like that!
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Excellent list of truly wonderful dystopia-and I agree that no one sane would want any part of any of these.
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Thank you so much. Yes, I can’t imagine why any of this worlds would be appealing.
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I just laughed out loud at what you said about the Chaos Walking trilogy… I totally agree that I wouldn’t want to hear all of men’s thoughts. I like your take on this topic, I totally agree that I wouldn’t want to go to any of these, or at least the ones that I have read.
here’s my TTT!
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Oh, no no no, please spare me, I like to at least imagine there are decent men in the world. It’s funny, I had a hard time thinking of “futuristic” societies I wanted to live in, I guess we’re rather cynical when it comes to the future.
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YES – I found someone who feels the same way as I do about The Hunger Games!! I always feel like the odd man out when it comes to this series. I only read the first book, and UGH. I have nothing nice to say about it.
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Oh, no, don’t get me wrong, I’m totally a fan of the series, I just have issues with the way its been marketed as a form of entertainment rather than a commentary on how children are impacted by war.
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I like your version of the theme this week. And I am so glad that I am not the only one that would prefer to not live in a district of Panem. To live where kids kill kids on national tv, not exactly what I want. And the chances of being drawn for the games. And the conditions they had to live in. Yeaaaa I think I will pass.
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Thank you. I’ve heard a few people say they’d like to live in this world, but I don’t think they’ve quite thought it through.
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This is a really interesting take on this topic. I love it!
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Thank you so much, I’m happy to hear it!
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Great list and spin on the topic! I definitely would not want to be part of a few of those worlds!
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Thanks! Yes, let’s hope none of these come to fruition.
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I like the twist! And yeah, Panem and the world of Unwind are definitely places I would nope out of so fast.
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Thank you. Both of those are just so frightening. With my luck, I’d end up a tribute and in the other, no wait, I was a perfect child 😉
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I’ve only read The Hunger Games on this top ten list. Base on all the summaries, they are all pretty horrific settings. I’m most intrigued by The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness. Ness is one of my favorite authors. No, you didn’t sound snarky at all, not one bit. 😉 But, I totally would have liked you to be. Humor me Alicia…DO IT! Be fabulously witty.
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You love Patrick Ness too?! What is your favorite book by him? The Chaos Walking trilogy is what made me fall in love with his writing. No, Lonna, I will not be snarky, I’m showing some self-control here…or at least the illusion of it.
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The first is always the most memorable. My first book by Ness is A Monster Calls. I experienced a family member going through cancer treatment, and eventually lost to that cursed, God awful disease. So, I thought he captured it so poignantly–the desperate feeling of hope. I love his lyrical prose.
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A Monster Calls is so powerful. I actually need to get my hands on a copy so I can reread it before the movie comes out.
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There is a movie?! I’m getting my Kleenex ready.
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Here is the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r1Kniofm5Y There is an October release date.
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It’s a short trailer, but boy, the yew tree (hand/branch) is spot on. Thanks for sharing this with me Alicia.
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I wouldn’t like to live in any of these worlds either!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2016/02/02/top-ten-tuesday-42/
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You couldn’t pay me enough to live in these worlds!
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Me either!
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1984 and Fahrenheit 451 are the two of the best classics ever, aren’t they? Of course, our modern THG is just as good. 😀 I never read Uglies because the premise had me completely disinterested. Rot and Ruin and Not A Drop to Drink are on my TBR. They sound scary enough. 😀
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I love Orwell and Bradbury’s works so much, I ought to reread them really. Uglies was okay, but I wasn’t too impressed. Rot and Ruin is my favorite zombie series and Not a Drop to Drink was quite the surprise.
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I should reread them too, it’s been such a long time since I read them. I don’t think I’m
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I should reread them too, it’s been such a long time since I read them. I don’t think I’m gonna read Uglies anytime soon, though. I just have zero interest in that series.
Rot and Ruin and Not A Drop to Drink have been sitting on my TBR for so long, I’d almost forgotten about them. 😛 I must get to them soon.
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Definitely agree with 1984 being scary I mean the fact it’s pretty much based on what could have happened at the time- pretty freaky! I do love a bit of Orwell 🙂 I love how you’ve set out this week’s topic Alicia!
Here’s my TTT @ Emma’s Bookery if you would like to check it out, have a great day 🙂 xo
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It’s definitely interesting that this was the future Orwell could imagine. Thank you so much!
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I wouldn’t want to be part of any of these societies either! Great list! Here’s my TTT. Happy reading!
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They’d probably make really good settings for a nightmare though. Thank you!
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This is such a cool twist on the topic! I definitely agree with you on all of these, even the ones I haven’t read yet. The Hunger Games theme park REALLY BOTHERS ME. It’s like they’ve missed the entire point of the series and it’s kind of a disgusting idea anyway. Ugh. Even a Twilight theme park would make more sense lol!
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Thank you, I’m glad you like it. Yes, that’s basically how I feel about the theme park, disgusted. This isn’t a magical world like Harry Potter, it’s a dystopia, tell me someone has pointed this out to them! Haha, that would probably make more sense.
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Love the twist on this week’s theme! 🙂 My TTT
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Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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Not a Drop to Drink scares me the most because, to me, it’s one of the most believable dystopians. Can you imagine the chaos that would reign if there was a limited water supply? God no!
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It isn’t too hard to imagine, e.g., the California drought and Flint, Michigan.
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Great list – I like what you did with the topic! I wouldn’t want to live in any of these futures either!
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Thank you so much, I wasn’t sure how I was going to approach this week’s topic, but I like the topic I settled on.
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