However, some early examples that are often cited include:
* Plato's *Republic* (c. 375 BCE): While not a full-fledged dystopia, Plato's work envisions a society ruled by philosopher-kings where individual freedom is limited and social classes are rigidly defined.
* Thomas More's *Utopia* (1516): This work describes an ideal society, but its structure and social control measures can be interpreted as dystopian by some.
* Jonathan Swift's *Gulliver's Travels* (1726): This satirical novel features several societies that are grotesquely distorted and controlled, which foreshadow dystopian themes.
Modern dystopian fiction gained significant traction in the 20th century, with authors like:
* Yevgeny Zamyatin's *We* (1921): Often considered the first true dystopian novel, it depicts a totalitarian society where individuality is suppressed.
* Aldous Huxley's *Brave New World* (1932): This novel explores a future society where happiness is artificially engineered, but at the cost of individual freedom.
* George Orwell's *Nineteen Eighty-Four* (1949): Perhaps the most famous dystopian novel, this work portrays a surveillance state where thought and language are strictly controlled.
Ultimately, it's up for debate who wrote the first dystopia, as the concept has evolved over time. However, the authors listed above played significant roles in establishing and popularizing the genre.