[Stor-All]

I'm not sure if this would go here or in the Science Fiction section, so please feel free to move it if you feel it should go elsewhere.
I just finished this book, and was extremely impressed by it for two reasons. 1-The fact that it was written over 50 years ago but could still be read like a newspaper speaking about todays society. 2-It took the thoughts that I had in my head (about how some people will do basically whatever certain people tell them - e.g. the entire Pop culture) and put them into some sort of logical sequence of events.
Other thoughts on the book?

[trentdick2882]

If you're interested in dystopian novels you should check out We by Zamyatin. It was written before 1984 by a russian guy and is similar to 1984. I actually think it's better than 1984, but I haven't read that in a while so I'm not sure. The way it is written is beautiful.

[Gravity's End]

1984 is an excellent book. While it is a bit dated in certain ways, you're right in that it is certainly timely for certain parts of modern society and culture.

It's also interesting to compare the socio-political climate during which Orwell wrote the book, and that of the true 1984 (and the whole Reagan era). Though the lies and duplicities weren't as obvious and pronounced as those in the book, they were still there. Just think of the Iran-Contra hearings (and how Reagan didn't "recall" that whole period), Reagan's appropriation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." in spite of the fact that even a cursory review of the lyrics reveals that it is NOT a patriotic song, and so on.

By the way, back in the 1970's David Bowie wanted to do a whole album based on 1984, but Orwell's widow wouldn't sign the authorization. Still, he did a few songs inspired by the book, notably "1984" and "Big Brother."

[trailhound]

I didn't know that this was what dystopia signified. Interesting term.

I have fleeting recollections of a book, "Keep the aspidistra flying". This is the mood that it evoked for me. Would anybody know who the author is? I've a suspicion it might be Orwell himself!

Another (though definitely non-SF, unlike 1984) book I recall that had the same sense was the Clockwork Orange

And I'm presuming Brave New World is definitive dystopia, am I correct in that?

[lemming]

You are absolutely correct in that.

As a reader, though, the dystopia presented in Fahrenheit 451 is my favorite (or anti-favorite).

[Sef]

1984 literally terrified me. I remember reading the second half of the book in one sitting, totally scared by the extent of the state's tactics and the depiction of their effectiveness on Mr. Smith. I've done a lot of reading but never had such a visceral reaction as I did with 1984. Did anyone else have a similar experience?

[kaseryn]

Yep, after reading the ending to 1984 i felt like someone had torn my guts out. Brave New World is brilliant too.. absolutely brilliant but i'd recommend nearly anything by Huxley.. he had some very interesting idea's on society and what we should be doing to steer it in a better direction. Wasn't Soylent Green based on a book too? That was great too.. :)

[kaseryn]

tsk.. too many too's in there lol

[Aik Haw]

A book I recommend to people as, looking from a psychological and sociological perspective, what he states:-

(a) actually works, don't be surprised, corporate companies use this technique to keep the various departments on edge. His statement of "War is Peace" is actually true, as perpectual war has the same effect as perpectual peace. Also, the way the state stop martyrdoom is indeed an excellent technique to stop rebellion.

(b) is the most stable form of governance. Some nations at one point or another came very close to having a stable governance, except like he said, the leaders had the false assumption that they gained power to help the people, and this is what stopped the transitional jump over to the ultimate stability.

(c) is an excellent analysis of human nature. The prole will never rebel, you need someone not of a prole to stir things up. This is true throughout human history. Throughout China's 7000 year history, the very knowledge that the "proles" will never rebel resulted in a governance where all the "elites" were immediately put into government service and given the best of the best. For this, the Chinese dynasties tend to span over periods of 400 to 500 years before collapsing, and the collapse is usually not caused by "proles" being unhappy, but some elites being unhappy.

(d) still a potential future for humanity unless humans can find a way to unite under a common banner and not distrust each other.

[Sp00nie]

I read 1984 - certainly a disturbing book! i wish i could say that humans will never be that bad, but i know we might.