The cathartic nature of horror is widely-talked-about across the book internet, but I haven't seen that same discussion extended into dystopian fiction. While some might consider dystopian a brand of horror in itself, there are clear differences between the two. Horror typical works to confront the self, but dystopian always is focused on greater societal issues.

The reason these books feel so timely is not that their authors are gifted with some sort of clairvoyance, but because they are deeply rooted in reality. Authors of dystopian and apocalyptic fiction are simply looking at current events and asking "what if". And, the results of their thought experiments are often uncanny in their parallels to current society, because it's not hard to imagine the repercussions of our actions when we actually sit down and confront them.

While not everyone might feel this way, for me, there's some comfort in the knowing. And, even more so, there's comfort in knowing that I'm not the only one looking out at the world and seeing that something has broken. It's a strange kinship, that's for sure, but kinship nonetheless.

So, if you too, find solace in facing our potential futures, here are some new dystopian/apocalyptic novels coming out this spring...

All Better Now by Neal Shusterman (Out Now)

What if: all "negative" emotions were suddenly erased from the world?

From the author of the Scythe series, comes a new sci-fi series where a virus wipes out all of humanities negative feelings. But, as people "recover" the economy begins to collapse, leading politicians and billionaires to try and race to find a "cure". This one confronts how much our economies depend on consumerism marketed towards "happiness".

Brother Brontë by Fernando A. Flores (Out Now)

What if: literacy was actually completely outlawed?

I can't give much away here, but this one tackles a lot. Set in a Texas border-town, Brother Brontë confronts a world where literacy has officially been outlawed and theirs rampant violence against women. But, it's also up to them to to lead a rebellion. Oh, did I mention it also features a technocracy and a focus on "government efficiency".

All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall (Out Now)

What if: climate change threatened our collective history?

All the Water in the World was actually inspired by the work of historians and museum curators in Iraq and Leningrad and all they've done to protect their collections from war. It follows a group of researchers trying to build a new society in a flooded world, while also protecting the world's history. But, as they rush to survive the failure of NYC flood protections, they're forced to weigh their new realities against humanity's history.

Wake Up and Open Your Eyes by Clay McLeod Chapman

What if: your MAGA relatives were actually being possessed by the media?

Wake Up and Open Your Eyes is a "social horror" novel, so it straddles the line into dystopian, while also bringing in some supernatural horror elements. This story follows a young man, whose family starts falling into the traps of the far-right media to the point of literal possession. It directly confronts the feeling of hopelessness many of us feel watching our loved ones descend into hatefulness.

A Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (March 4, 2025)

What if: even our fail safes start to fail?

When I was in college, we had a guest artist come give a talk about her work photographing the world seed bank. Since then, I have been absolutely fascinated by the knowledge that the world's "fail-safe" is just out there in the literal middle of nowhere. A Wild Dark Shore, exists in a future where even that contingency plan is being threatened by rising tides. Asking the question of when should our focus shift from the greater good to our personal preservation?

Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid (March 4, 2025)

What if: the future was run by a single, blood-thirsty monopoly?

I, unfortunately, wasn't one of the chosen few who received an early copy of this one, but I know it is going to change my very being, because it feels like the dystopian novels of old (i.e. the 2000s). Fable for the End of the World is set in a world where society is at the whims of a single corporation, to which many individuals are in massive amounts of debt. But, obviously, the corporation has come up with a great way to rid folks of that debt–sacrificing their children to a televised "assassination spectacle" à la The Hunger Games.

The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica (March 4, 2025)

What if: organized religion promises an "escape" from the apocalypse?

Let me caveat this blurb by being very clear that I will not be reading this book. I do not like splatterpunk, excessive violence, or graphic depictions of torture–which is exactly what this book promises (per current Goodreads reviews). But, if you're wanting ideological extremism and a world (and it's women) descending deeper into their violent natures, this one's definitely should be your go-to.

The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami (March 4, 2025)

What if: the lines between our selves, technology, and the government disappeared entirely?

The Dream Hotel explores a future in which government surveillance extends to our dreams, gathering data for algorithm that can predict an individual's "risk" to society. Unsurprisingly, this leads to women trying to prove their innocent against the word of biased data. This one places the relationship between sweeping technological "advancements" and societies fall Fascism front and center.

When We Were Real by Daryl Gregory (April 1, 2025)

What if: our entire world was a digital simulation?

When We Were Real presents a reality in which nothing is in our control. In fact, our "reality" isn't even real, but rather an elaborate, widespread simulation. This one's a bit more on the lighthearted side of the genre. It still leans into the existentialism of knowing that your life is being dictated by an uncontrollable entity, but also the small activism in deciding to live anyway.

The Compound by Aisling Rawle (June 25, 2025)

What if: televised violence was the only thing left to distract the masses?

In an increasingly violent world, is it surprising that our reality television would also become... well... increasingly violent? The Compound follows a young woman who is a contestant on a popular reality television show where folks compete for modern luxuries and avoid getting banished to the outside world. This one has an eerie take on influencer-culture, consumerism, and the commodification of our everyday lives.