The podcast episode delves into the curious allure of dystopian novels, a genre once immensely popular in the early 2010s, now witnessing a revival. Nicole argues that these stories provide more than mere escapism; they allow readers to navigate their own feelings safely within fictional settings. Referencing studies on storytelling's role in human evolution, the episode underscores how such narratives foster empathy and offer glimpses of hope and perseverance. By examining both classic and upcoming dystopian titles, Nicole provides listeners with insightful perspectives on engaging with fiction as a therapeutic endeavor.****Book News and RecsGoodreads Dystopian Novel<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2899-brave-new-worlds-75-recent-upcoming-dystopian-fiction-books?ref=Soapbox_2025_Mar_Blog_2899" target="_blank"> List</a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28954189-scythe" target="_blank">Scythe</a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214331246-sunrise-on-the-reaping?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=wEZ5f1F1Jh&rank=1" target="_blank">Sunrise on the Reaping</a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/genres/samantha-shannon" target="_blank">Samantha Shannon</a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/218695937-the-dream-hotel?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=jwhCzZpqmG&rank=1" target="_blank">The Dream Hotel</a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/207293815-sky-full-of-elephants?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_8" target="_blank">Sky Full of Elephants</a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50358031-leave-the-world-behind?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=D6mfV5UCSy&rank=1" target="_blank">Leave the World Behind</a>****Resources My <a href="https://signalhorizon.com/its-all-fun-and-games-until-dystopia-becomes-reality-horror-and-the-dystopian-now/" target="_blank">Signal Horizon</a> article on Why We Read Dystopian NovelsConnect with me on Insta, Blue Sky, LinkedIn at The Nurturing Librarian****Looking for more book recs? Check us out on<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13492305-thenurturinglibrarian" target="_blank"> goodreads</a>Music: "Almost Bliss" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License</a>

Dystopian reads may seem like the last thing you need right now but these stories provide more than mere escapism; they allow readers to navigate their own feelings safely within fictional settings and maybe see a pathway forward.

Why You Need a Dystopian Read Right Now