With the film adaptation of the bestselling trilogy The Hunger Games in production, the boom in teen dystopian fiction is undeniable.
But where does this interest in bleak and brutal futuristic societies come from?
I spoke to two young adult dystopian writers to find out why the genre is so important, the importance of strong heroines, and the pervasiveness of fascist dictatorships.
Maria V. Snyder is author of Outside In, published by Harlequin Teen
Alison Stewart is author of Days Like This, published by Penguin Books Australia
This podcast was first broadcast on 2SER FM, 107.3
On the weekly book show Final Draft (Monday 24 October 2011)