V for Vendetta
by Alan Moore
Standing Strong:
Dystopian Novels of Survival and Resilience
In dystopian fiction authors often reflect our deepest fears and most pressing concerns. What happens when power is concentrated in the hands of the few? Will technology take control? “I’ll be back.” ~The Terminator, directed by James Cameron. I couldn’t resist. Will the government erase women’s rights? How does humanity survive in a dehumanizing environment? Will society break down? What is the price of conformity and complacency? Will religious corruption dominate? How do societies handle scarcity of resources? There are so many questions.
“You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.” – The Man, The Road by Cormac McCarthy
“People shouldn’t be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people.” – V, V for Vendetta by Alan Moore:
These narratives transport us to bleak and oppressive worlds where governments hold absolute power, resources dwindle, and society teeters on the brink of collapse. Dystopian literature, with its stark portrayal of authoritarian regimes, environmental degradation, and social inequalities, serves as a powerful lens through which we examine the darkest corners of human nature and the potential consequences of unchecked power. Themes of survival, resilience, and the fight for freedom resonate with readers, offering both cautionary tales and glimpses of hope in the face of adversity. As we delve into the heart of dystopian worlds, we are confronted not only with chilling scenarios but also with profound reflections on the fragility of society and the enduring spirit of humanity.
V for Vendetta
I still remember watching “Red Dawn”, crying as the brothers are finally taken down. Directed by John Milius, this alternate history teaches its readers/viewers about resilience and patriotism, the importance of freedom, and the need to defend it.
Authors who write dystopian realities have the choice to lead the reader down many paths. My favorite happens to be the survivor and the resilience of that survival. Characters like Ender Wiggin from Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Thomas from The Maze Runner by James Dashner, and Offred from The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, all have an unending resilience that outlasts almost our own beliefs as they find resourcefulness, and adaptability while navigating their worlds.
Survival is not just about physical endurance, but also about the strength of the human spirit.
Through the stories of such fantastic characters, we witness the power of resilience in the face of oppressive regimes, environmental catastrophes, and societal collapse. These tales teach us that even in the darkest of times, hope, courage, and the will to endure can lead us through the most harrowing of circumstances. As we readers navigate our own realities, these narratives inspire us to find inner strength, stand up against injustice, and never lose sight of the importance of freedom and humanity. Where the future can seem uncertain, dystopian literature serves as both a warning and a beacon of resilience, reminding us that even in the direst circumstances, we can find the will to survive.
In Drayton’s Discoveries, the primary protagonist Herman Drayton is described as having his legs amputated during his tour in NASA. His nurse, Folki, a Lokan species with huge eyes and multiple arms and born to water but land capable, is providing nursing to Herman’s Alteric wife Jor.
The Maze Runner
by James Dashner
Here is a short sample of resilience, giving birth on a planet with few resources, relying on limitations and unknown fears of an inter-species birth.
Foki arrived all multiple arms waving with purpose.
“Let us listen to the baby and find out how it feels about the birth…Gahh.” Foki’s dry rasp ended with her short throat clearing. Jilla pressed a liquid drink into the nurse’s suction cupped tentacle and Foki downed it as she pressed a health meter into Jor’s abdomen. Simultaneously, she wiped Jor’s forehead and held her hand.
“Did you know Herman…Gahh…was once a big liar?” Foki told Jor, instantly distracting her with an untold story of his earlier life. “It’s true. He complained about the pillows…Gahh, the lighting, the room temperature, the empty water pitcher, the nurses…Gahh, the doctors, and just about every single thing…Gahh…one can complain about when you are trapped in a bed for an entire year…Gahh.” Foki listened to the baby and looked at a chrono on the table. She smiled and nodded to Jor. “He spent an entire year…Gahh…complaining about anything that stood between him and walking…Gahh. But not once, not ever, did he complain about the pain.” She let her tentacle smooth over the abdomen in a circular motion. “That big…Gahh…liar.”
She winked at Jor, and they smiled at each other. Within seconds, Jor was comforted, and the baby calmed as well. The contractions began to flow regularly and between the four of them, the birth began in earnest.
An hour later, with Foki’s multi-tasking and comforting Jor as she recounted Herman’s life in a hospital, the birth was complete, and mother and child were recovering. The infant was lying on her mother’s chest and both mother and grandmother waited for the shifting to take place. Although for the last few centuries, Alteric children were born via test tube practice, the race understood, that in the newborn Alteric, the wee body would need to shift at least once, as all females do, to recover from the harsh changes that took place moving from inside the mother to out.
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JL Nich, Science Fiction Fantasy Author
