I like stories where the system decides what a person is for.
The rules are posted.
The process is running.
Everything looks organized.
Meanwhile the people inside it are getting sorted, rewritten, and made useful to it.
The Trial. Severance. Stuff in that lane.
I put together a short PDF on that shelf — what fits, why it works, and a few good places to start.
What I mean by system horror
Not every dystopia fits. I mean stories where the institution, process, or system is the actual source of dread. Not because it breaks down. Because it keeps functioning. That’s usually the version I end up liking most.
Sample titles:
The Trial — The process has already won.
Severance — The system doesn’t just control people. It gets into them.
You get the idea.