One for the Books: Postapocalyptic dystopias

A dystopia is an anti-utopia, the opposite of an ideal community; it’s an extremely alarming situation or a complete breakdown of society. Often in novels such a scenario is postapocalyptic; it springs up after a catastrophically destructive disaster or apocalypse. I’ve been looking at several novels set in such conditions, and I found two recent examples that have good, solid storylines. They’re based on entirely different scenarios, but both create a firm character base, and both are traveling “quest” adventures with fast-moving plots and plenty of excitement.

“Moon of the Turning Leaves” by Waubgeshig Rice is a nicely written novel set in upper Ontario, Canada. The characters are indigenous Anishinaabe. The author learned of this culture through his father, so all the references ring true.