Calling Bullshit on Dystopias

Marlon and Jake dive into the world of dystopian fiction, unpacking what truly makes a dystopia—and whether some of the genre’s biggest ideas hold up under closer scrutiny. Along the way, they discuss why some dystopias feel more believable than others, how our understanding of these stories changes over time, and the real-world parallels that make them resonate long after the final page. Tune in as they explore how history, power, and human nature shape the worlds we imagine.

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• The Giver by Lois Lowry
• Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle
• The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow
• The Last Man by Mary Shelley
• 1984 by George Orwell
• Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban
• Pilgermann by Russell Hoban 
• The Road by Cormac McCarthy 
• Lord of the Flies by William Golding
• Pincher Martin by William Golding
• Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler