|
|
|
|
EDITOR'S NOTE
Doomsday Scenarios
by Brandi Scardilli
 When Anthony Aycock told me he wanted to write about The Handmaid’s Tale for this issue (page 14), of course I said yes. It’s important to talk about this iconic book because it hits a little too close to home for so many women. I decided to write a companion article about libraries and dystopian literature (page 17) because I wanted to understand why readers are so drawn to it, even when the real world feels chaotic and dangerous. What became apparent after talking to librarians is that reading about a fictional dystopia can be a self-test for how you would survive after a real apocalypse. It’s a safe way to explore a very scary concept. And you can do it in a safe space—the library.
The Handmaid’s Tale is still a genre staple (and a tinderbox for controversy) 40 years after its publication. My personal favorites are the Matched trilogy by Ally Condie and The Giver by Lois Lowry. (I’m one of maybe three people in the world who actually liked the 2014 movie adaptation; Jeff Bridges was perfect.) You’ll learn about some other beloved dystopian titles in my article.
Happy Reading!
 |
Brandi Scardilli is Editor of Information Today and Newsbreaks. Send your comments about this article to itletters@infotoday.com.
|
|
|
|
|
|
