Russell, Rachael, and Rachel discuss the April Reading Challenge to read a dystopian or alternate history novel. Oppressive governments, controlling factions, structured existence and more, we discuss the tropes and themes that define this often bleak, but always profound genre. **Correction: George Orwell died 6 months after the release of 1984, not before.

Books/Authors we discuss include:

• “Zoo” by James Patterson, Michael Ledwidge
• “1984: The Graphic Novel” by George Orwell, adapted/illustrated by Fido Nesti
• “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood
• “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley
• “The Giver” by Lois Lowry
• “Legend” by Marie Lu
• “Divergent” by Veronica Roth
• “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins
• “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros
• “Parable of the Sower” by Otavia E. Butler
• “Red Rising” by Pierce Brown
• “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline
• “The Last Christian” by David Gregory
• “Automatic Noodle” by Annalee Newitz
• “The Electric State” by Simon Stålenhag
• “The Dream Hotel” by Laila Lalami
• “Our Missing Hearts” by Celeste Ng
• “The City of Ember” by Jeanne DuPrau
• “The Long Walk” by Stephen King
• “The Shadow Road” by K.D. and Kurt Kirchmeier