Books matching: socioeconomic inequality
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- #1
Save:In "The Body Scout," Lincoln Michel presents a near future New York City where corporations control professional baseball, games are played in massive stadiums, and the world is plagued by pandemics, wealth inequality, and climate change. The story follows an investigation by an adopted brother into the mysterious death of a ball player, leading him through the ruins of New York City filled with dystopic elements like smog, underground tenements, and ocean walls. The book marries the tropes of cyberpunk and noir, reinventing familiar themes with a science fiction twist, creating a fast-paced and entertaining read that explores new ideas and fresh concepts.
When I couldn’t fall asleep, I counted the parts of the body. I used the outdated numbers. What they’d taught me back in school when only the ultrarich upgraded. Two hundred and six bones. Seventy-eig... - #2
Save:'Spellmaker' by Charlie N. Holmberg is the second installment in the 'Spellbreaker Duology' and continues the story with a mix of magic, mystery, and romance set in England in 1895. The plot unfolds with a combination of action scenes, investigation of murders, and a focus on the development of the characters' magical abilities. The writing style is described as clear and exciting, maintaining suspense without over foreshadowing, making it engaging for readers who enjoy historical fantasy with elements of suspense and romance.
Elsie Camden sat on the edge of her bed, reading over something she most certainly was not supposed to have. Folded lines crossed it, one down and three across, the creases growing thin from how often...
(Also, see 100 recommendations for the series Spellbreaker Duology ) - #3
Save:'Florida' by Lauren Groff is a collection of short stories, many of which are set in Florida and explore themes of motherhood, womanhood, and self-discovery. The stories feature vivid character development and unique, thoughtful plots, with recurring themes of hurricanes, snakes, and existential dread. Groff's writing style is praised for its lyrical prose, detailed descriptions of settings, and its ability to capture the essence of Florida's atmosphere and wildlife.
I have somehow become a woman who yells, and because I do not want to be a woman who yells, whose little children walk around with frozen, watchful faces, I have taken to lacing on my running shoes af... - #4
Save:Munmun by Jesse Andrews is a young adult fantasy novel set in an alternative reality where a person's physical size is determined by their wealth, known as munmun. The story follows Warner and his sister Prayer, who are littlepoors living in a world where inequality is based on size and economic status. Warner's journey to scale up and improve his life is filled with dark humor, social commentary, and satirical elements. The book features unique world-building, imaginative storytelling, and a thought-provoking exploration of socioeconomic issues, making it a compelling and original read for mature teens.
I want to see if this makes you laugh. A middlerich kid stepped on our house and crushed my dad to death. Then that same year a cat attacked my mom at the dump and snapped her spine. Okay there. That’... - #5
Save:The Wall by John Lanchester is a dystopian novel set in a future Britain where a massive wall has been built around the country to keep out refugees and immigrants due to rising sea levels caused by climate change. The story follows Kavanaugh, a young Defender tasked with guarding the wall and repelling the Others, who constantly try to breach it. The narrative explores themes of survival, duty, generational divides, and the impact of climate change on society, all portrayed through the perspective of ordinary individuals facing extraordinary circumstances.
The writing style in The Wall is vivid and fast-paced, making it a compelling page-turner that delves into the bleak and realistic consequences of environmental disaster and societal divisions. Lanchester's narrative captures the physical and mental challenges faced by the characters, the relationships formed among the guards, and the overall atmosphere of a dystopian world where young people are conscripted to defend their nation against a desperate outside world.
It’s cold on the Wall. That’s the first thing everybody tells you, and the first thing you notice when you’re sent there, and it’s the thing you think about all the time you’re on it, and it’s the thi... - #6
Save:In a near future American Southwest plagued by drought and water scarcity, "The Water Knife" by Paolo Bacigalupi weaves a tale of suspense, mystery, and dystopia. The story follows characters like Angel Velasquez, a water knife, journalist Lucy, and Texan refugee Maria as they navigate a world where water has become the most valuable commodity, leading to intense battles over water rights and survival. Bacigalupi's writing style paints a vivid and realistic picture of a society on the brink of collapse due to environmental disasters and human greed, with elements of crime noir and techno-thriller adding depth to the narrative.
The sweat of a woman bent double in an onion field, working fourteen hours under the hot sun, was different from the sweat of a man as he approached a checkpoint in Mexico, praying to La Santa Muerte ... - #7
Save:The book, 'The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America' by Richard Rothstein, delves into the systemic racial segregation imposed by the American government through various covert tactics. It explores how federal, state, and local government policies, such as racial zoning, subsidies for builders to create whites-only suburbs, and tax exemptions for institutions enforcing segregation, contributed to racial segregation, wealth, and income inequality. Rothstein meticulously documents the history of discriminatory housing practices and the detrimental impact they had on Black Americans over several generations. The book provides a compelling narrative on how racism is deeply woven into societal systems, shedding light on the deliberate actions taken to perpetuate segregation.
WE THINK OF the San Francisco Bay Area as one of the nation’s more liberal and inclusive regions. If the federal, state, and local governments explicitly segregated the population into distinct black ... - #8
Save:In 'New York 2140' by Kim Stanley Robinson, the story unfolds in a future where New York City is submerged due to rising sea levels caused by global warming. The narrative follows a diverse array of characters navigating this new reality, showcasing their different responses to the crisis and exploring generational differences. The book focuses heavily on world-building, painting a realistic picture of a flooded New York City, while also delving into themes of survival, capitalism, and the impact of climate change on society. Despite some critiques of contrived character interactions and heavy-handed political messages, the novel is praised for its well-written narration and the multi-actor audio version.
“Yes, and lots of businesses do go bankrupt. But the ones that don’t haven’t actually sold their thing for more than it cost to make. They’ve just ignored some of their costs. They’re under huge press... - #9
Save:'Death's End' by Liu Cixin is the final installment in the 'Remembrance of Earth’s Past' series, exploring grand concepts of humanity's destiny in an uncaring universe. The narrative spans from the cultural revolution to 18 million years in the future, delving into the inescapable darkness of the vision while raising questions about morality and the bleak nature of the universe. The author masterfully progresses from one event to its inevitable consequence, leading to a mind-blowing conclusion that challenges readers to think about the dark questions posed by the storyline.
presents a mix of hard science fiction and anthropological ideas, with each installment in the series showcasing a unique tone and direction. 'Death's End' changes themes and storylines multiple times, highlighting human survival as a species and focusing on the grandest scale of the trilogy. The narrative inspires with its raised stakes, despite losing some relatability found in the previous books, and provides an epic conclusion that is unlike any other science fiction novel.
His sense of time was very accurate: The tremor came the moment he expected it, a powerful, violent quake that seemed to originate from deep within the earth. The vibrating silver candelabra hummed, a...
(Also, see 100 recommendations for the series Remembrance of Earth’s Past ) - #10
Save:'We Set the Dark on Fire' by Tehlor Kay Mejia is a dystopian novel set in a society where men have two wives, a primera and segunda, with specific roles. The story follows Daniela Vargas, who is hiding her poor background and illegal immigration status to attend a prestigious school for high-class women. When Dani is blackmailed into spying for the resistance, she must navigate a complex web of secrets, relationships, and societal expectations. The book explores themes of social inequality, LGBTQ representation, and female empowerment against the backdrop of a politically charged world.
By the time the sound of shattering glass in the courtyard alerted the campus to the presence of intruders, she was dressed and ready. For what? She wasn’t sure. After a childhood of heavy-footed mili...
