Literary Dystopia

The etymology of the word dystopia originates from the Greek δυσ- or dys-, a prefix meaning bad or abnormal, and τόπος, or topos, meaning place. Following this, the simplest meaning of a dystopia is a "bad place." More specifically, a dystopia is a society that disintegrating under its own human weight. Dystopic fiction describes a world in a contemporary or futuristic setting with incredible problems, such as an overbearing state, pollution, disease, negative technology, and overall dehumanization. Authors, artists, and filmmakers frequently utilize the characterizing elements of a dystopia to comment upon the milieu in which they live.

The most well-known literary example of dystopic fiction would be Nineteen Eighty-Four, or 1984, written by George Orwell in 1949. However, this genre was being developed well before Orwell's novel was published. One of the earliest and most important examples is Yevgeny Zamyatin's We from 1921. Franz Kafka published two of his most well-known works shortly thereafter, The Trial in 1925 and The Castle in 1926.

British First Edition Cover.


Early cover depicting Oceania metropolis, featuring the omniscient Big Brother posters, and a notable Anti-Sex League sash on Julia in the foreground.

Contemporary cover designed by Shepard Fairey of Obey / Giant / Propaganda graphic design empire. He incorporates his own symbols into this cover, such as the Andre the Giant face in the stars at the corners. Same exact color scheme he always uses.