Comments on: Adventures in Dystopia

By: The Resurgence of the Dystopian Novel: But Now it is for Teens | Going Beyond Survival in a School Library

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 07:01:07 +0000

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By: Mary

Mary — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 22:32:59 +0000

Very intriguing topic. As one who chooses to write about history, I want to believe that some people still believe we can learn from the past. I sympathize with young people who face a future laced with impending disaster. If we can fulfill our craving for the next big thing and constant thrills through books, perhaps we can find a way to live in the present.

By: Monica Edinger

Monica Edinger — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 18:16:56 +0000

I meant The Time Machine. Main character is called The Time Traveler. Sorry.

By: Monica Edinger

Monica Edinger — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:53:51 +0000

I just listened to The Time Traveler which seems very much to be H. G. Well’s dystopic response to the tail end of the Industrial Revolution.

By: Beverly

Beverly — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:42:19 +0000

Perhaps it’s because it gives teens the chance to be a hero. In the past and present, teens have been either burdened with the (often pedestrian) responsiblities of being an adult, or disenfranchised from both the children’s and the adult world. In dystopias, the slate is wiped clean for a new world order, in which young people are allowed to have power — and HAVE to be heroic to survive, not to mention save your loved ones. Also, it’s the sheer concept of the future taking a huge turn. Whether because of enviromental or deliberate disasters, the scenarios are both possible and compelling. Don’t forget that todays’ teens will have to survive in a world after we are gone.

By: Vicky Alvear Shecter

Vicky Alvear Shecter — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:41:43 +0000

Intriguing questions. I wonder how much of this” locating our disquiet in the future” (wonderful phrase!) is a reflection of being in the midst of an information/hi-tech revolution. The world already looks very different than it did just 10 years ago (technology-wise). Did people in the midst of the Industrial Revolution also create dystopian stories as a way to manage their fears of an unfamiliar/uncertain future?