End of the world books, steampunk and dystopian literature

Source: deviantart.net

The most popular trends among young adult fiction this summer include end of the world books, steampunk and dystopian literature. While none of these are necessarily new, each has been a niche genre among books for young adults for ages. They’re all at the forefront of the book world right now, possibly because of the fascination with the prophecies associated with 2012, Nostradamus’ prophecies and the end of the Mayan calendar.

Steampunk originated during the late 1980s and early 1990s. It typically incorporates elements of horror, sci-fi, fantasy, alternate history and speculative fiction. The name is derived from the settings that characterize steampunk—eras where steam power were widely used. These can include the Victorian era, as well as fictional, post-apocalyptic times and alternate histories. They often contain futuristic innovations and technology that people from each era may have envisioned. Popular authors who delved into these techniques include Jules Verne and H.G. Wells.  

Technically considered a subgenre of science fiction, end of the world books are concerned with the end of civilization, resulting from an apocalyptic event or existential catastrophe such as a nuclear war, pandemic, extraterrestrial attack, natural disaster, supernatural phenomena, zombie outbreak or some other cataclysmic event. They've become a very popular theme among books for young adults over the past year.

Dystopian literature and end of the world books are very similar. Dystopia is the opposite of utopia—a society characterized by squalor, poverty, oppression, dangerous conditions, and often times, a struggle to survive. Dystopian novels usually extrapolate elements of contemporary society and integrate political messages and thought-provoking circumstances. End of the world books are typically set during or directly after the apocalyptic disaster, which is common with dystopian novels as well.   

What books from each of these genres have in common most recently are strong, feisty female leads empowered by the struggles they encounter in their world, whether it’s a post apocalypse world or an otherworldly setting. Good examples of this among dystopian literature include The Hunger Games and Revealing Eden.