One of the contenders for the first dystopian novel is 'We' by Yevgeny Zamyatin. It's significant as it presents a highly controlled and regimented society. It influenced later dystopian works like Orwell's '1984'. It shows a world where individuality is sacrificed for the so - called greater good of the collective, with strict rules governing every aspect of people's lives.
Some consider 'The Iron Heel' by Jack London as an early dystopian novel. It's important because it was one of the first to depict a future society ruled by an oppressive oligarchy. It showed how the rich and powerful could subjugate the masses, and it was ahead of its time in terms of predicting certain social and economic trends that could lead to a dystopian future.
There are different opinions on the first dystopian novel. However, if we look at the basic elements of dystopia like a bleak future, loss of freedom, and oppressive systems, works like 'Gulliver's Travels' by Jonathan Swift also have dystopian elements. It shows different societies with various forms of absurdity and oppression, which can be seen as early examples of dystopian thinking.