All That's Left in the World

Dystopian literature is fiction that explores a world which is often a distorted reflection of our own. By exaggerating certain social, political, or environmental problems, dystopias highlight flaws already present in our world, showing what could happen if those problems went unchecked. Often, a monumental shift has occurred, such as a pandemic, disaster, or an evil group of people or a corrupt government that has redefined the world entirely. Central to these novels is the need for survival, as the characters are surrounded by violence, death, and constant threats to their lives. With the world stripped of things like safe and efficient governments, structure, and rules, these novels can explore core human emotions and how people act when they lose everything they valued.

One of the primary emotions explored through dystopian literature is romance and love. As a result, dystopian romance has become an important subgenre in examining the value that love holds, as it gives people support, comfort, and a reason to survive when they have lost most of what matters. In The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey, Cassie Sullivan is left on her own after her family is killed during an alien invasion. She falls in love with Evan, only to discover that he is being controlled by the alien species. Despite this, they build trust, relying on each other to survive and navigate their world. Similarly, in The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, protagonist Katniss has lived a life of isolation, adamant that all she cares about is protecting her younger sister. However, when she is forced into a fight for survival in the titular Hunger Games, she realizes that she needs to rely on Peeta, the boy from her home, in order to survive. Throughout the trilogy, Katniss learns the value of relying on Peeta and others to fight back against the restrictive Capitol, the dystopian government that rules the country through force and enslavement. In these novels, the characters are forced to survive in a world that has stripped away everything that they love, similar to how Andrew and Jamie struggle through the post-apocalyptic world of All That’s Left in the World. After they lose their family and friends, Andrew and Jamie find each other and rely on their relationship to allow them to survive in a hostile world. They help each other physically, allowing them to escape the dangers of Fort Caroline and the bullet wound that nearly kills Jamie, as well as emotionally, as they learn to value the importance of human connection to find happiness in their destitute environment.

All That’s Left in the World provides a unique perspective on dystopian romance through its portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters. Much of the literature that dominates the dystopian space is heteronormative, exploring the love between a male and female character. However, Andrew—who identifies as gay—provides queer readers with the unique opportunity to see themselves reflected in dystopian fiction. Similarly, Jamie struggles with his own sexuality, ultimately deciding that what he feels for Andrew is love and not caring what that means for his identity. Through these characters, Brown provides representation for LGBTQ+ people, giving them space within the world of dystopian fiction.