The 5 Must-Read Series From Today's Hottest Genre

Culture

The genre of dystopian fiction in literature is not new (The Giver, 1984). But it's certainly trending now, with apocalyptic TV shows and grimly movies everywhere you look. Perhaps it is human nature that we can't help but wonder, "What if...?" 

Here are five of the best dystopian fiction book series, based on their bestseller statuses.

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The series of three books takes place in the fictional dystopian Panem, a nation of 13 districts plus the capitol. Each year, one boy and one girl from each district are randomly selected to fight to the death in the annual "hunger games." This is a wildly popular series not only because of the intense plot, but also because of the character interactions and relationships throughout the book. The feature film of the second book, Catching Fire, will be in theatres November 22.

2. Divergent by Veronica Roth

This series takes place in a grim and future Chicago, where there are five factions that dictate one’s outcome in life. The factions are Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful) and Erudite (the intelligent.) Each faction must work to uphold their values in the society, and all 16 year olds take a test to determine what faction they will devote the rest of their lives to. The third book in the series comes out this fall and a film is expected by 2014.

3. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Imagine a world in which society is impossible to understand because you don’t know where you are or why you are there. Thomas is sent up mysteriously in an elevator to the "Glade" and he doesn’t know why. He must work to remember so he can understand what it all means.

4. Delirium by Lauren Oliver

This series takes place in world where love is forbidden. But when you turn 18, you can have a procedure that disables all emotion. What happens, though, when you actually fall in love?

5. The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

This series is set in a society where teenagers can get an operation to make them physically attractive. In this way, the world is free of hate or discrimination because everyone is the same, at least when it comes to appearance.