Greatest Dystopian Books Ever Published
The surge of dystopian-themed books or novels with elements of dystopia is undeniable. It’s the beguiling, thrilling, and provocative storylines that catch people’s attention, giving brilliant, well-thought-out, well-structured, and well-written narratives that readers couldn’t help but get enthused and hooked with every plot.
Hence, it is not surprising that one of the best-selling novels are dystopian literature. In actuality, the top recorded best-selling book of all time in “Wikipedia” listing is a dystopian novel.
As I looked into various sources from “World Atlas” to “Goodreads,” including “New York Best Sellers” and “Amazon,” top five of which are creative writing with characteristics of a dystopia. I included books that may not necessarily be complete dystopian literature but have anti-utopian elements.
So, without further ado, here are the best-selling dystopian books of all time.
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Don Quixote
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Although published only in Spanish, “Don Quixote” by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra is the best-selling novel of all time with 500 million copies sold, and an English translation is already available, according to news media outlets and online bookstores.
It comes third, the “Bible,” being the most sold-out book from time immemorial, as also stated by the “World Atlas” website. The Spanish novelist released the first part of the book in 1605, and the second one in 1615. That’s why for recent notes and news, it is often unlisted as the best-selling novel.
Acknowledged by many authors and prestigious literary historians as the most influential masterpiece of literature, “Don Quixote” is also highly recognised as the fundamental of modern novels.
The author specified it as a “novel” on its genre, but book readers and critics described it as parody, comedy, romance, and morality. Nevertheless, I’m sure of one thing, and that is, it has elements of dystopia. That is why I included it on my list.
Genre – Novel with elements of dystopian
Pages – 1, 023 pages
Goodreads rating – 3.9/5
My rating – 8.99/10
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A Tale of Two Cities
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Next to the list is “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens. The recorded novels sold is 200 million, making it the second best-selling book of all time. “World Atlas” reported that several critics, including Peter Thoneman from “Oxford University,” apparently dispute the figure. However, “Goodreads” listed it down as its number one best-selling dystopian books of all time.
Though the number is controversial, facts about it on the public domain coupled with the fact that it is among the required reading lists of universities almost everywhere and different editions have been published by many publishing houses for over a century, since its printing date in 1895.
So it’s possible, and at the same time, plausible.
Genre – Dystopian Literature
Pages – 489 pages
Goodreads rating – 3.84/5
My rating – 8.84/10
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Also See: 7 Best Series in Dystopian Genre For Young Adults
The Lord of The Rings
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This J.R.R. Tolkien novel published in 1954 is one of the top five best-selling books recorded by “World Atlas,” and number two by “Goodreads.”
It’s not only a blockbuster film but its success roots back to the original plot from Tolkien’s brilliant mind and prowess in creative literary writing with 150 million total of books sold.
Genre – Dystopian Literature
Pages – 1, 216 pages
Goodreads rating – 4.50/5
My rating – 9.75/10
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The Little Prince
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French aristocrat and writer Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s “The Little Prince” is one of the most popular and best-selling dystopian books of all time with estimated novels sold of 140 million to 150 million from its publishing date in 1943.
The translations of this book have reached three hundred sixty-one languages and dialects with numerous adaptations in forms of arts and media, including television, radio plays, opera, live stage, film, ballet, and audio recordings.
Genre – Dystopian Literature
Pages – 93 pages
Goodreads rating – 4.31/5
My rating – 9.65/10
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Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone
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Fighting on the fifth spot with J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” in the best-selling books of all time is J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” published in 1997.
“World Atlas” recorded a total of 107 million books sold, and “LA Times” reported the sales to be over 120 million copies.
Genre – Dystopian Literature
Pages – 309 pages
Goodreads rating – 4.47/5
My rating – 9.95/10
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The Hobbit
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As mentioned, 1937 “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien is vying for the fifth spot against Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” as the best-selling dystopian book of all time. With other sites declaring the latter as the fifth and the foremost as the sixth.
Four sites, including “MSN,” reported of 140.6 million approximate copies sold while “World Atlas,” recorded 100 million.
Genre – Dystopian Literature
Pages – 365 pages
Goodreads rating – 4.27/5
My rating – 9.45/10
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Also See: Best 9 Spiritual Novels For Dystopian Fans
Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland
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The notable story of “Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland” by Lewis Caroll is another best-selling book of all time, marking 100 million copies sold.
This classic novel, published in 1865, is famous for its fantasy-adventure genre but has elements of dystopia.
Genre – Dystopian Literature
Pages – 365 pages
Goodreads rating – 4.27/5
My rating – 9.45/10
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Dream of The Red Chamber
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Making it to the 100 million-mark is this Chinese novel by Cao Xeuqin, which comes with an English translation by Chi-che Wang.
“Goodreads” included it in its best-selling list of dystopian novels, and “World Atlas” also included it on its top eleven list.
Genre – Dystopian Literature
Pages – 352 pages
Goodreads rating – 4.13/5
My rating – 9.25/10
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And Then There Were None
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Mystery legend author Agatha Christie’s 1939 novel, “And Then There Were None,” is also topping the list of dystopian books with the most number of sales.
“Guinness Book of World Records” once declared Christie as the best-selling author worldwide, and this book, in particular, earned around 100 million copies.
Genre – Dystopian Literature
Pages – 264 pages
Goodreads rating – 4.26/5
My rating – 9.47/10
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The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
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This 1950 novel of C.S. Lewis, which also became a box-office hit film, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”, is joining in the list of best-selling dystopian books of all time with over 85 million copies sold and twenty-nine language translations, according to a report by “Telegraph UK” in 2010.
It’s on the seventh spot in the “Goodreads” best-selling list of dystopian books.
Genre – Dystopian Literature
Pages – 206 pages
Goodreads rating – 4.22/5
My rating – 9.44/10
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She: A History of Adventure
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H. Rider Haggard’s 1887 classic novel entitled “She: A History of Adventure” made it to the list of best-selling books with dystopian-themed plots.
In a report by “The Independent” in 2010, Haggard’s book had sold out 83 million copies, making it to the top ten most sold-out novels of all time.
Genre – Dystopian Literature
Pages – 317 pages
Goodreads rating – 3.58/5
My rating – 9.60/10
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Also See: Must-Read Novels Based on Feminism in Dystopian Genre
Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets
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The second novel of J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter Series,” “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” has sold out 77 million copies, and has more than seventy language translations across the globe, according to the report of “Hypable” in 2012.
Genre – Dystopian Literature
Pages – 341 pages
Goodreads rating – 4.42/5
My rating – 9.92/10
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Harry Potter Series – Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Books
Previously, the “FanSided” website reported in 2016 that the third to the fourth books of “Harry Potter Series” by J.K. Rowling’s have recorded roughly 65 million copies sold each.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
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Genre- Dystopian Literature
Pages – 435 pages
Goodreads rating – 4.57/5
My rating – 9.93/10
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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
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Genre – Dystopian Literature
Pages – 734 pages
Goodreads rating – 4.56/5
My rating – 9.92/10
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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
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Genre – Dystopian Literature
Pages – 870 pages
Goodreads rating – 4.50/5
My rating – 9.90/10
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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
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Genre – Dystopian Literature
Pages – 652 pages
Goodreads rating – 4.57/5
My rating – 9.93/10
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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
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Genre – Dystopian Literature
Pages – 759 pages
Goodreads rating – 4.62/5
My rating – 9.98/10
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The Alchemist
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Paulo Coelho’s best-selling and extremely popular novel, “The Alchemist,” may come off as quest, adventure, and fantasy, but overall, it touches dystopian elements, making it to our list of most sold-out dystopian books of all time.
It comes close to J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter Series,” which is 65 million.
Genre – Dystopian Literature
Pages – 197 pages
Goodreads rating – 3.87/5
My rating – 9.85/10
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Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984)
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Joining in the list of best-selling dystopian novels of all time is the award-winning classic masterpiece of the late notable author George Orwell, “Nineteen eighty-four,” sometimes written in its numerical form.
This 1949 novel has recorded 30 million copies sold. In the recent list of best-seller books of Amazon, Orwell’s 1984 is the topmost.
Genre – Dystopian Literature
Pages – 237 pages
Goodreads rating – 4.18/5
My rating – 9.25/10
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The Hunger Games
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The ever famous blockbuster film “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins is also a top-rating dystopian novel, making it to the best-selling books of all time with 29 million copies of novels sold.
Genre – Dystopian Literature
Pages – 374 pages
Goodreads rating – 4.33/5
My rating – 9.88/10
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Catching Fire
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“Catching Fire” is the second book of “The Hunger Games Trilogy” of Suzanne Collins, which sold 21 million copies from its publishing date in 2009.
Genre – Dystopian Literature
Pages – 391 pages
Goodreads rating – 4.29/5
My rating – 9.80/10
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Mockingjay
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Chronologically the last book in the trilogy of “The Hunger Games” is “Mockingjay,” which comes close to Catching Fire’s copies sold with a million difference. This third book of Collins series registers 20 million copies sold.
Genre – Dystopian Literature
Pages – 390 pages
Goodreads rating – 4.04/5
My rating – 9.05/10
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Animal Farm
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On 20 million-mark of copies sold is another classic masterpiece of the highly acclaimed author George Orwell, “Animal Farm,” which “TIME” and the modern library listed as one of the well-celebrated dystopian books.
Genre – Dystopian Literature
Pages – 122 pages
Goodreads rating – 3.94/5
My rating – 9.70/10
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The Plague
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Albert Camus “The Plague” has sold over 12 million books since its publishing date in 1947. This gripping story of the horrifying resilience and survival of mankind in confronting death has earned readers’ attention.
Genre – Dystopian Literature
Pages – 308 pages
Goodreads rating – 4.00/5
My rating – 7.47/10
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Fahrenheit 451
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This 1953 dystopian classic of Ray Bradbury, “Fahrenheit 45,” is also a best-seller of all time with 10 million copies sold since its publishing date. The provoking idea of people repressed from using or reading books or any literary works.
Genre – Dystopian Literature
Pages – 227 pages
Goodreads rating – 3.99/5
My rating – 9.85/10
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The Giver
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Included in the list is Lois Lowry’s creative literary writing, which also made to the big screen, is “The Giver,” which recorded the same sales as of Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451” book. It’s one of those novels that initially starts with a seemingly utopian setting but end up in dystopian.
Genre – Dystopian Literature
Pages – 208 pages
Goodreads rating – 4.13/5
My rating – 9.13/10
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Also See: Fan Of “The Handmaid’s Tail”? Then These Dystopian Books are for you
The Handmaid’s Tale
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According to “Washington Post,” Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” has totalled to 8 million copies sold since its publishing date in 1985.
Genre – Dystopian Fiction Literature with Romance
Pages – 314 pages
Goodreads rating – 4.11/5
My rating – 9.95/10
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Harry Potter Book Series
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For the best-selling dystopian book series, “Harry Potter Series” is leading the pack with approximately 500 million copies sold for its seven books franchise from its first published date in 1997.
Genre – Dystopian Genre
Pages – 4, 100 pages (7 books)
Goodreads’ average total rating – 4.53/5
My average total rating – 9.93/10
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Twilight Book Series
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Apparently, none of Stephen Meyer’s novels in her “Twilight” series has singularly made it into the list of best-selling dystopian books of all time, but its four-book “SAGA” sold a total of 120 million copies since 2005.
Genre – Dystopian Genre
Pages – 2, 449 pages (4 books)
Goodreads’ average total rating – 3.62/5
My average total rating – 9.96/10
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The Hunger Game Book Series
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Unlike the “Twilight” book series, each of the three books in “The Hunger Games Trilogy” of Suzanne Collins made to the top best-selling dystopian books of all time. It also didn’t fall short in its three-book package sold-out, which reached more than 100 million copies.
Genre – Dystopian Genre
Pages – 1, 155 pages (3 books)
Goodreads’ average total rating – 4.22/5
My average total rating – 9.58/10
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Divergent Book Series
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It looks like Veronica Roth’s book series has a similar outcome of Stephen Meyer, none of the novels in Roth’s “DIVERGENT TRILOGY” has singularly made it to the list of best-selling dystopian-themed books of all time.
However, as a three-book package, it has roughly 35 million copies sold since its publishing date in 2011.
Genre – Dystopian Genre
Pages – 1, 538 pages (3 books)
Goodreads’ average total rating – 3.95/5
My average total rating – 9.15/10
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Main Image Source : Pixabay
Also See: 6 Top-Reads in Dystopian Books Based On Tyrannical Government
