The difference between dystopian and post-apocalyptic fiction

Really enjoyed the video I have struggled with defining my first book The Deadwood Chronicles: The Crimson Cage as it is a survival story of a group of girls in a world that would enslave them, but also shows a government that needs to be stopped within more civilized settlements within the world. It has polictical elements but also takes part in a world where survival is an everyday task. I would love to send you a copy if you would be interested in reviewing it and giving me your opinion on which genre you believe it is. Great video 😊

You did a good job. Thank you for the video. I am currently writing a post apocalyptic fiction.

Thanks for this clear explanation.

When i say i'm writing about post apocalyptic fiction, it's very common to hear reactions such as "ah, i love dystopias!"

interchangeably?

what the hell have happened in last 5 years?
the terms are polar opposites

postap is grime dirt wastelands survival mutans horrors
and it focuses on humanity, how people band together share kindness and survive in these terms

dystopia is clean slick apple white\grey with pretty people dressed in pretty uniforms everywhere
and it focuses on horror, on how unfit people are removed by big brother and stuff, how books are burned, how emotions are eradicated, how underpeople suffer, how animals are eradicated

I wrote and published a book thats semi post apocalyptic and semi dystopian. WWIII and numerous disasters made Earth crumble... but society still functions, somewhat. America, democracy, the United Nations, all still exist, albeit corrupt and weakened. Dystopic factions want to turn humanity into a global empire under a massive government control. Of course, I don't go to much into detail on the politics of it, as its generally a middle-grade book, so it focuses mainly on the 11-year old protagonist. it also makes fun of annoying tropes- like a parody. It also takes place 200 years into the future. I am working on a prequel that will also be middle grade, and feature a 12-year old boy in a crime-riddled American city, 100 years before the first book and just before the onset of WWIII. That will be semi-dystopian. I have always loved the idea of semi-dystopian, or a book that takes place as a dystopia is coming to power, but not fully in power yet.

Great video!

This was such an intriguing discussion, and something that I've never considered before! In my head I have always grouped post-apocalyptic and dystopian fiction together, regardless of the societal structures and political context in the novels. Your thoughts on nature were really interesting, again, something I'd never thought of before!

Both are a lot of fun!

Nice video. I still have tons more to read in both. But I think you described it perfectly. Two of my favorite books are The hunger games and the giver. I thought it was interesting that you mentioned nature as both those stories used it in different ways of suppression.

This is so interesting!

I love that you did this video. I have my own thoughts on what I believe the differences is between these two genres. But I love hearing other peoples thoughts and I dont see to much of that on here.

Great video, Now I'm thinking about the books I read and the Video Games that cover dystopian (Final Fantasy 7 & Bioshock Infinite) or post-apocalyptic (Metro series & The Last of Us) settings very well.

I've never given this much thought. Before watching your video, I would've said that some dystopian fiction is set after the apocalypse (I'm thinking of The Road by Cormac McCarthy, for instance), but now I'm not sure!

I am writing a novel at the moment, and I was finding it difficult placing it, into either of these genres. Thank you for the video!

Great video, this is a distinction I hadn't thought much into before! What a time in the world for this video 😂