Today I learned

[james_davis_nicoll]

that in the UK, the film version of Watership Down was rated a children's movie when it was first released. Interesting.

Comments

[roseembolism.livejournal.com]

I'd say they're a bit more dystopic, but the constant post-W.W. III setting refrain in 70s YA made for its own special grimdarkness.

And, it's hard to beat say, Williamson for sheer utter cynical grimness. Even in the "happy" ending to the Tripod trilogy, he had things going right back the way they were.