Dystopian literature is a subgenre of fiction that explores societies characterized by oppressive and often dehumanizing conditions. Dystopian societies often reflect futuristic or alternative versions of contemporary societal conditions. The goals of dystopian literature are to criticize the abuse of power, the overpowering of society over the individual, and the fragile notion of individual freedom.

Dystopian fiction is a popular subgenre of literary fiction with enduring appeal because it evokes the fears that naturally come with being individuals within a society. The conflict between society and the individual is timeless. Stories as far back as the Bible depict visions of dystopia: The Garden of Eden is a utopia, and Earth after the Fall is a type of dystopia. Dystopian fiction as it is contemporarily understood was popularized by George Orwell’s 1949 novel 1984, a title that depicts a future in which the “thought police” can read people’s minds and target individuals who even think critically toward the government. Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, published in 1985, depicts a dystopia in which a patriarchal society enslaves women and forces them to bear children. In each of these novels, the government falls under the control of authoritarians who exert control over their populations and restrict individual freedoms.