5 Reasons We Need Dystopian Fiction

Before I begin… While I believe dystopian fiction is important (and thus I wrote the Chasing Liberty trilogy) my trilogy is now unavailable in paperback. If you are dying to own a copy of the trilogy today, there is only one way to get it. You’ll have to contact me! I have two complete sets that I can autograph and send to you. I’ll explain more later about that and a giveaway.

Do you find dystopian fiction to be exciting and adventurous or depressing? Or maybe it’s a bit of both.

I find it invigorating and inspirational to follow a lead character who recognizes something is wrong with the world–with the culture–and who is willing to do something about it despite the personal costs. We do not live in a perfect world and we each have a responsibility to do something about it.

Reason #1: Dystopian fiction can be inspiring. It can motivate a person to take a hard look at the world around them and encourage them to make a difference.

So while my trilogy is currently unavailable (in paperback) I am excited to announce that it will soon be re-released. I’ve revisited the stories and the characters (Dedrick, Liberty, Dr. Supero…) and brought them alive again in my mind. And I can’t wait to share the new covers and some special opportunities.

If you read through to the end of this, I’m also going to ask you to do something. And I’ll tell you about a chance to win the new trilogy.

Before I give reason #2 for why we need dystopian fiction, I’d like to share how this trilogy came about… because I never really planned to write a dystopian.

I was in the middle of writing and rewriting another book when inspiration for the Liberty trilogy struck. It wasn’t a single factor so much as a compilation of things that bothered me. I’d been watching and reading the news…

• Scientists are experimenting on human embryos (Is nothing sacred? Where do we draw the line?)
• Special interest groups insist that tiny fish are more important than farming families (Look it up if you don’t believe me!)
• Other groups radically push the population-control agenda (Who cares that every person on the planet could fit into the state of Texas with over a thousand square feet per person?–Do the math.)
• We all know that we can be tracked with our phones, and our cars, and through every online search and action. (I’m still shocked every time I see random ads in my FB feed for bizarre things that I research for stories.)
• And who doesn’t notice and lament the moral decline our culture is experiencing?

I love our country and don’t want to see her fall. But if we lose focus on the things that matter—faith, family, and freedom—we’ll go the way of Rome and every other once-glorious nation.

Reason #2: Dystopian fiction can help us to realize what we have, what is valuable to us, and what we stand to lose.

So love of my fellow man and my country prompted me to throw myself into research, and I discovered actual special-interest groups that are influential in our country and the world. All the warped ideologies in my story come from this research. Yes, there are actual groups that think humans are the scourge of the earth.

The more I learned, the more I realized I needed to write this dystopian story about a possible future for America.

Reason #3: Dystopian fiction can help us to visualize, draw conclusions, and consider where we are headed if we continue down the same path.

I only meant to write one book and return to my other stories. I wanted to end Chasing Liberty by showing a seed of change being planted. But I couldn’t stop thinking about it. What exactly is this freedom we should be fighting for? Can one person possibly make a difference? The other two stories in this trilogy came to life very quickly.

The Liberty trilogy is set in the near future. The technology, science, and ideologies are real. The main character, Liberty, has grown up in a society that has done away with faith, family, and freedom. Needless to say, the average citizen’s concept of right and wrong is sorely lacking.

We see this every day, on the news and in our neighborhoods and schools. The sense of right and wrong has diminished considerably, even compared to ten years ago.

And while this is true, it is also true that God is not dead. God does not sleep or hide. He continues to offer His gifts, His truth, and holiness to those who long for it.

Raised in this godless society that has elevated the earth above man, Liberty had never learned about God and moral truth. Yet she has a moral compass that guides her.

We all have this moral compass, even though we often ignore it. Liberty doesn’t ignore it. Her choices make life harder for her at times, and she definitely stands out among her peers, but she wants to be faithful to the inner voice. And this makes a huge difference in her life.

Reason #4: Dystopian fiction shows that no matter how dark the world around us becomes, we each still have that inner voice and it’s important to follow it–not just important for our own life, but for the world around us.

Teens and adults have responded to the characters in this book and to the themes of the trilogy. It’s been called an action-packed thrill ride, phenomenal, and a must-read.

“Chasing Liberty by Theresa Linden is a futuristic look at what our culture might become if we keep on the same trajectory as we are presently heading. Though I dearly hope we have enough sense and compassion to avoid such a catastrophe, I can connect the dots which drew the picture Linden is pointing to. As in the books, 1984 and Brave New World, where the authors pointed to an extreme version of the worst elements in society, the danger is real, even if only in part. Such authors speak to us through fiction and remind us of an important truth about ourselves.”       ~Ann Frailey, novelist and screenwriter

This trilogy is aimed at young people, new adults, and adults who enjoy a character-driven story and a thought-provoking plot. It is also very relevant to today.

While some books recommended for young adults contain content that you wouldn’t want your teens to read, these do not. I wanted to write something that anyone could enjoy. My mom has even read and loved them! I won’t post her reviews though, because she might be partial. 🙂 But I will share one more review and then I’d like to show you a new book cover!

“I just finished the book, it was excellent. It is a hypothetical of what could happen to this country and the world when government controls you from cradle to grave and how a young woman by the name of Liberty is chasing just that liberty and freedom. It is a must read as this book takes you further in what happens to a society that is government run than the book Agenda 21 by Harriet Parke and Glenn Beck.”   ~Joe Goldner, co-host at The Truth Is Out There-Voice of the People Radio Show!

The trilogy will be re-released with the new covers June 27, 2018. The ebooks are available now but the paperbacks are not. Remember, I have on hand two autographed sets of the trilogy with the original covers, which I will offer at a reduced price. Contact me here.

And now… here is one of the new covers:

If you want to see the other two covers, visit my author website. You can probably also find them on Amazon because the ebooks seem to be available now, even though I’ve set the release date as June 27th.

This trilogy starts off pretty gloomy, I admit, but it ends on a note of hope and encouragement. Like Frodo in the Lord of the Rings and Mother Teresa on the streets of Calcutta, one person can truly make a difference in the world.

Reason #5: A good dystopian fiction brings home the message that you are responsible for the culture and you can make a difference in your own unique way.

 

Thank you for reading this through to the end. And now I’ve got a challenge for you.

Can you imagine if every person in the world stepped outside, picked up a piece of garbage, and threw it away? In some neighborhoods you might not have far to walk to find it, but others you would. But with that one effort, imagine how much cleaner our world would be.

But how do you change a dark culture that has allowed science and technology to advance without comparable developments in ethics, that has allowed a government to grow too big and controlling, that has allowed morals to fall so low that faith is no longer welcome in many situations?

 

I challenge you to do something.

• Pray. It’s easy. You can do it anywhere, anytime, and for any reason. Remember God is always in control and He is waiting for us to turn to Him.
• Be holy. Make the right choices every day, even if it leads to a few inconveniences. Think of the example you set for others!
• Speak up. Talk to people about important issues. Even if you don’t agree, respectful dialog can accomplish a lot.
• Share my trilogy! Don’t you think that’s a great idea? Or at least share this blog post if you think it makes a good point others need to hear.
• If you’re a parent, educate your children about important issues. Talk about them often.
• Be a responsible citizen, not just by voting but by staying informed and making your voice heard on important issues. Write editorials and blog posts!
• Show your faith. Live your faith. Stand up for values.
• And don’t underestimate the power of fiction. Stories are the basic way we make sense of our world. Unconsciously, our brains organize the information we receive every day in essentially the same form as a story. (I have more to say on this but I’ll share it another time).

And now, I leave you with a quote from Saint Catherine of Siena. This young woman who lived in the Middle Ages influenced popes, cardinals, and princes. She negotiated peace between countries, wrote books on spiritual matters, and was declared a Doctor of the Church.

Saint Catherine of Siena did all this before her death at age thirty-three.

You can contact me or sign up for my author newsletter here.

If you’ve read this trilogy already, please let me know what you think of it! And if you have someone you’d like to share it with, let me know that too. Share it in the comments for your chance to win a complete set of the trilogy with the new covers. #DystopianTrilogy #Giveaway #CommentToWin

Contest details: simply comment on this blog post and you are entered to win. Winner will be selected by Contest Winner Picker on the release date: Wednesday, June 27th. The winner will be announced in my newsletter and on my blog. The three books of the trilogy will be shipped to the winner within a day or two after that!

Please spread the word! Thank you!

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Today is the release day and we have a #WINNER: Michelle Crosbie!!!

Congratulation, Michelle! I will get the complete trilogy in the mail to you as soon as possible! You commented that you think the trilogy would be perfect for your son. I hope he enjoys it!