Novels have the capacity to reflect some great and attractive aspects in order to captivate readers’ imaginations. The major purpose of novels is to engage readers through enthralling human themes while reflecting the modern realm of thoughts.
The dazzling works by some great authors in the category of dystopian fiction offer a unique exposure to readers into terrifying futures, both near and far. By presenting alarming forthcoming, authors of dystopian fantasies want readers to reconsider the world we inhabit with the purpose of creating a better tomorrow. Dystopian fantasy books fascinate us as they draw our attention to the features of our own world in a petrifying manner.
Various elements are included in such narratives to augment readers’ curiosity, such as societal elements, environmental, religious, political, and technological as well. In this corner of the literary universe, readers find thin or blurred lines between facts and nightmares. On the contrary, this art of fiction offers a unique entrance to the fans of dystopian fantasy into a world which is unforgiving, and you’ll never miss a chance to capture the exclusive facets of this unimaginable world. The future is a bleak place, and you can’t even imagine what it is all about that is so terrific to be felt.
Do you want to know the thrilling themes of dystopian fantasy? Well, there are a number of themes that are impossible to ignore for anyone who has a craze for such fantasies. These themes include oppression, the struggle for survival, and rebellion; however, all these themes are associated with a mad world where the line between reality and haunting visions blurs.
So, are you ready to take this inconceivable ride, allowing you to know the elements that define the genre of dystopian fantasy? If yes, then this blog will not let you down. Let’s begin with 5 important characteristics of a dystopian society!
You may also like to read about: Why Medieval Fantasy Is So Popular
5 Characteristics of a Dystopian Society
Here are 5 characteristics of dystopian fiction:
Propaganda: It is basically a tactic through which citizens of a society are controlled. There is always a centralized authority in dystopian societies that is responsible for such behaviors towards their citizens. In order to control them, propaganda is a form of facet that is used to suppress the individuality of citizens. This type of propaganda is often known as totalitarian governance; however, it is all about subduing the individual rights of people, such as controlling their freedom.
Loss of Individualism: In dystopian societies, people are not allowed to have expectations on a broader level, because they mainly live in the dehumanized state or condition. There is no individuality and dissent in their lives, as these are seen as bad for them to behold. They’re only permissible to uniform expectations from the authorities, and this is the only right they have while living in such futuristic societies.
Constant Surveillance: Apart from other terrible characteristics, there is one more in this list that is about to offer a constant surveillance to the citizens of a dystopian society. People who live in these places are perceived to be under consistent shadowing or investigation for their basic necessities also.
Societal Decline: Can you even imagine that a dystopian society is supposed to have a banished and distrusted natural world? Well, this is what makes a dystopian society a terrible place to live. The world in decay is the perfect example to represent a place with dystopian settings. In this kind of world, there are social, mental, and environmental morals.
The Fear of the Outside World: Fear of the outside world is a common characteristic of a dystopian place. People who live in such societies can never predict anything because nothing is predictable, and they can make an unexpected turn anytime and anywhere in dystopian settings.
The Visual Elements of Dystopia
In dystopian fiction, authors want to portray a sense of unease, fear, and hopelessness, for which different visual elements are included to create such horror visuals full of fear and futility. To convey a dystopian atmosphere and mood, the authors of dystopian fiction like to depict a sense of oppression among the people who used to live there. It is true that these visual elements add a sense of fear among readers who love to read books on dystopian fantasies with futuristic details.
Some visual elements that are commonly seen and admired by the enthusiasts of dystopian stories include:
Decay and Ruins: This visual element is included in dystopian stories to give readers an essence of feeling abandoned. Usually, authors of fiction books in dystopian category refer to crumbling infrastructures as well as overgrown streets. Abandoned and reckless buildings are also the attractive dystopian visual features.
Military Presence: Among other visual features of dystopia, military presence holds an immense importance because it adds a touch of control and horror, such as armed patrols enforcing law and order.
Graffiti and Propaganda: Fans of dystopian fantasies are fond of rebellious messages conveyed through visual narratives, including messages scrawled on the walls.
Industrial Oppression: Smokestacks, oppressed factories, left-out buildings, and some visual elements as part of dystopian fiction books.
What is a Dystopian Fantasy?
Dystopian fantasy refers to an imaginary place where people lead dehumanized and often fearful lives. This fantasy is also termed anti-utopia and is a popular subgenre of science fiction; however, it is often seen as speculative fiction.
If you see the young adult market in relation to literary space, dystopian fantasy has a great prominence because the market is found teeming with these fantasies. In such stories, authors depict either an individual fighting against oppression or a group of individuals coping with adverse and dehumanized conditions collectively, as a society.
Majority of dystopian fantasy stories are set in non-specified worlds, in relation to time and geography. The dystopian settings are unimaginable, but all the elements are close to darkest of times. The space depicted by authors in dystopian fantasy novels is usually set in a future that is dark, oppressive, and dismal.
3 Types of Dystopia
There are three basic visions of hell on earth, which we call a dystopia. These are here explained below:
Orwellian: This is the first type of society where autocratic totalitarian people rule while the people with no elite powers have to suffer all the limitations in terms of their choice, speech, and minorities. This dystopian setting is violent, and people face constant surveillance and consistent censorship. Control of minds is also very common in such environments.
Huxleyan: This system is controlled by democratic, capitalist, and technocratic people. Speech platforms are restricted, but not to the extent of Orwellian.
Kafkaesque: This society is ruled by bureaucratic people, where control of the populace is done through putting them into surveying lands, standardizing measuring, and tracking movement.
“Wrath of an Ancient Queen” by Vito Pesce – Best Example of a Dystopian Fantasy
As one of the best finds in the dystopian fantasies, “Wrath of the Ancient Queen” by Vito Pesce is a masterful concoction that takes you to the suppressed lands where people are dying and asking for mercy. But the world is on the verge of devastation because the Ancient Queen is back with her wrath to take revenge on all the culprits. She has already commanded her forces not to have mercy on anyone, as no one can be safe from their terrifying might.
In this anti-utopian landscape, people lead dehumanized lives, paving the way for an apocalyptic showdown. Presenting different themes in this dystopian fantasy, Vito Pesce invites readers to experience heart-stopping battles, oppressed individuals, ruins everywhere, and the fear among people of external forces. Basically, this fantasy novel explores the eternal battle of the Ancient Queen with her offenders. Due to her wrath, readers will discover the unresolved mysteries that push characters into unexpected twists and turns.
The entire plot is based on the dystopian elements while offering a post-apocalyptic showdown for the fantasy enthusiasts.
For all the dark fantasy lovers, “Wrath of the Ancient Queen” is definitely a great and perfect read that blends all the elements of fiction and fantasy along with thrilling features of dystopia. So, don’t waste your time and get this amazing fantasy, and believe that you’ll never be able to put it down.
Final Thoughts
In this dark fantasy world, there is a section that mainly targets small dystopian literature. In contemporary settings, young people’s interest in dystopian fiction books is increasing. This small dystopian literature allows fans of dystopian fantasy to explore futuristic societies and imaginary places with dehumanized patterns.
Vito Pesce offers a great passage for all the people who have a fondness for exploring dystopian fantasy through his book, “Wrath of the Ancient Queen”. So, don’t miss out this chance and grab it now!
