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.