This was such an intriguing discussion, and something that I've never considered before! In my head I have always grouped post-apocalyptic and dystopian fiction together, regardless of the societal structures and political context in the novels. Your thoughts on nature were really interesting, again, something I'd never thought of before!
@@SpinstersLibrary I'm still not completely sure. It's set in 2023 and there is a "government" or "company" that control the South. They made a virus that affected the natural world so there are loads of badlands and "monsters". My MC is torn on whether to leave it all and go North to her homeland where nature is thriving and adapting, or whether to stop this company and rescue all of the people she was "Prisoner" with. I don't know if any of that made sense.
Thank you for the explanation of these two categories. My Roadside Picnic sounds like more of dystopian than post-apocalyptic. I love the soviet setting, which however is not emphasized enough i think. Maybe these are the influences from the author's worldviews or just Andrei Tarkovsky giving this book another dimension.
Really enjoyed the video I have struggled with defining my first book The Deadwood Chronicles: The Crimson Cage as it is a survival story of a group of girls in a world that would enslave them, but also shows a government that needs to be stopped within more civilized settlements within the world. It has polictical elements but also takes part in a world where survival is an everyday task. I would love to send you a copy if you would be interested in reviewing it and giving me your opinion on which genre you believe it is. Great video 😊
I love that you did this video. I have my own thoughts on what I believe the differences is between these two genres. But I love hearing other peoples thoughts and I dont see to much of that on here.
Spinster's Library Honestly, I don’t know how to exactly put it into words ... But in my head I understand how it sits with me... (If that even makes sense..lol) Post Apocalyptic to me is of course prior to the end of a world and the start of a plague killing the world off ... etc and dystopian to me can be set in any genre and really is during or after the cause of the end of the world whatever it may be. But Dystopian can also be during the rebuild of the world or people settling into the new environment.... I hope my wording made sense. :) But I really do find this topic fascinating because so many people have different thoughts but some people truly just dont know
Nice video. I still have tons more to read in both. But I think you described it perfectly. Two of my favorite books are The hunger games and the giver. I thought it was interesting that you mentioned nature as both those stories used it in different ways of suppression.
Dystopie does not need an apocalyps. Often after an apocalypse the sociaty becomes dystopian, but there is no need and i would like to see a post apocalypic book that is utopian.
Great video, Now I'm thinking about the books I read and the Video Games that cover dystopian (Final Fantasy 7 & Bioshock Infinite) or post-apocalyptic (Metro series & The Last of Us) settings very well.
I don't play many video games myself, but I can imagine that post-apocalyptic settings make for really interesting games since the whole survival aspect can be made really immersive
I wrote and published a book thats semi post apocalyptic and semi dystopian. WWIII and numerous disasters made Earth crumble... but society still functions, somewhat. America, democracy, the United Nations, all still exist, albeit corrupt and weakened. Dystopic factions want to turn humanity into a global empire under a massive government control. Of course, I don't go to much into detail on the politics of it, as its generally a middle-grade book, so it focuses mainly on the 11-year old protagonist. it also makes fun of annoying tropes- like a parody. It also takes place 200 years into the future. I am working on a prequel that will also be middle grade, and feature a 12-year old boy in a crime-riddled American city, 100 years before the first book and just before the onset of WWIII. That will be semi-dystopian. I have always loved the idea of semi-dystopian, or a book that takes place as a dystopia is coming to power, but not fully in power yet.
I've never given this much thought. Before watching your video, I would've said that some dystopian fiction is set after the apocalypse (I'm thinking of The Road by Cormac McCarthy, for instance), but now I'm not sure!
Many dystopian novels mention some apocalyptic event in their past, but others don't, so I think those two can be on the same timeline but don't have to
interchangeably? what the hell have happened in last 5 years? the terms are polar opposites postap is grime dirt wastelands survival mutans horrors and it focuses on humanity, how people band together share kindness and survive in these terms dystopia is clean slick apple white\grey with pretty people dressed in pretty uniforms everywhere and it focuses on horror, on how unfit people are removed by big brother and stuff, how books are burned, how emotions are eradicated, how underpeople suffer, how animals are eradicated
@@SpinstersLibrary would you make a video which starts "hot and cold are usually synonyms and are used interchangeably"? even just mere FIVE years ago no one would even think to make a video explaining self evident. what has happened?
![What even is a classic and why you're wrong about it [CC]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/JP1HBBJ8vaU/mqdefault.jpg)
This was such an intriguing discussion, and something that I've never considered before! In my head I have always grouped post-apocalyptic and dystopian fiction together, regardless of the societal structures and political context in the novels. Your thoughts on nature were really interesting, again, something I'd never thought of before!
Thank you so much! The two genres are definitely very close together, but to me they have a different feel
I am writing a novel at the moment, and I was finding it difficult placing it, into either of these genres. Thank you for the video!
Glad it was useful! Which genre would you place your novel in?
@@SpinstersLibrary I'm still not completely sure. It's set in 2023 and there is a "government" or "company" that control the South. They made a virus that affected the natural world so there are loads of badlands and "monsters". My MC is torn on whether to leave it all and go North to her homeland where nature is thriving and adapting, or whether to stop this company and rescue all of the people she was "Prisoner" with.
I don't know if any of that made sense.
Sounds like your novel will become dystopian if she decides to stay and post-apocalyptic if she travels north! Interesting concept.
@@SpinstersLibrary Thank You! x
You did a good job. Thank you for the video. I am currently writing a post apocalyptic fiction.
Great video, this is a distinction I hadn't thought much into before! What a time in the world for this video 😂
Haha I know, worst timing for me to run this readathon! But it's been in the planning for a while :)
@@SpinstersLibrary aha no it's actually great!
Thanks for this clear explanation.
When i say i'm writing about post apocalyptic fiction, it's very common to hear reactions such as "ah, i love dystopias!"
Thank you for the explanation of these two categories. My Roadside Picnic sounds like more of dystopian than post-apocalyptic. I love the soviet setting, which however is not emphasized enough i think. Maybe these are the influences from the author's worldviews or just Andrei Tarkovsky giving this book another dimension.
Really enjoyed the video I have struggled with defining my first book The Deadwood Chronicles: The Crimson Cage as it is a survival story of a group of girls in a world that would enslave them, but also shows a government that needs to be stopped within more civilized settlements within the world. It has polictical elements but also takes part in a world where survival is an everyday task. I would love to send you a copy if you would be interested in reviewing it and giving me your opinion on which genre you believe it is. Great video 😊
very helpful for my A level English literature course
Glad it was helpful! Good luck with your A Levels
I love that you did this video. I have my own thoughts on what I believe the differences is between these two genres. But I love hearing other peoples thoughts and I dont see to much of that on here.
What is your personal definition? Would love to know
Spinster's Library Honestly, I don’t know how to exactly put it into words ... But in my head I understand how it sits with me... (If that even makes sense..lol) Post Apocalyptic to me is of course prior to the end of a world and the start of a plague killing the world off ... etc and dystopian to me can be set in any genre and really is during or after the cause of the end of the world whatever it may be. But Dystopian can also be during the rebuild of the world or people settling into the new environment.... I hope my wording made sense. :) But I really do find this topic fascinating because so many people have different thoughts but some people truly just dont know
Nice video. I still have tons more to read in both. But I think you described it perfectly. Two of my favorite books are The hunger games and the giver. I thought it was interesting that you mentioned nature as both those stories used it in different ways of suppression.
Yes, they are both really good examples of that!
This is so interesting!
Thank you!
Dystopie does not need an apocalyps.
Often after an apocalypse the sociaty becomes dystopian, but there is no need and i would like to see a post apocalypic book that is utopian.
Both are a lot of fun!
True!
Great video, Now I'm thinking about the books I read and the Video Games that cover dystopian (Final Fantasy 7 & Bioshock Infinite) or post-apocalyptic (Metro series & The Last of Us) settings very well.
I don't play many video games myself, but I can imagine that post-apocalyptic settings make for really interesting games since the whole survival aspect can be made really immersive
I wrote and published a book thats semi post apocalyptic and semi dystopian. WWIII and numerous disasters made Earth crumble... but society still functions, somewhat. America, democracy, the United Nations, all still exist, albeit corrupt and weakened. Dystopic factions want to turn humanity into a global empire under a massive government control. Of course, I don't go to much into detail on the politics of it, as its generally a middle-grade book, so it focuses mainly on the 11-year old protagonist. it also makes fun of annoying tropes- like a parody. It also takes place 200 years into the future. I am working on a prequel that will also be middle grade, and feature a 12-year old boy in a crime-riddled American city, 100 years before the first book and just before the onset of WWIII. That will be semi-dystopian. I have always loved the idea of semi-dystopian, or a book that takes place as a dystopia is coming to power, but not fully in power yet.
Great video!
I've never given this much thought. Before watching your video, I would've said that some dystopian fiction is set after the apocalypse (I'm thinking of The Road by Cormac McCarthy, for instance), but now I'm not sure!
Many dystopian novels mention some apocalyptic event in their past, but others don't, so I think those two can be on the same timeline but don't have to
interchangeably?
what the hell have happened in last 5 years?
the terms are polar opposites
postap is grime dirt wastelands survival mutans horrors
and it focuses on humanity, how people band together share kindness and survive in these terms
dystopia is clean slick apple white\grey with pretty people dressed in pretty uniforms everywhere
and it focuses on horror, on how unfit people are removed by big brother and stuff, how books are burned, how emotions are eradicated, how underpeople suffer, how animals are eradicated
...did you watch the video? The entire video is about exactly that distinction.
@@SpinstersLibrary
would you make a video which starts "hot and cold are usually synonyms and are used interchangeably"?
even just mere FIVE years ago no one would even think to make a video explaining self evident. what has happened?
It's called an introduction. Because then I go on to explain the difference in great detail.
@@SpinstersLibrary
you are missing the point