1984
By George Orwell
Genre: Science Fiction
Publication Date: 1949
Number of Pages: 266
Geographical Setting: Great Britain (called Airstrip One in the book)
Plot Summary: Winston Smith lives in a world of constant war and total government control. He works at the Minitrue, where his job is to rewrite history in the official language Newspeak to be in alignment with what the Party, headed by Big Brother, wants. Despite his dedication to his job, Winston begins having rebellious desires toward Big Brother. His first act of rebellion is to write in a journal, where he believes he cannot be seen by the telescreen used to monitor him. This thoughtcrime, he is sure, will be punishable by death if he is caught. After receiving a love note from fellow worker Julia, he realizes that she is a thoughtcriminal as well. They begin a love affair, trying to keep out of the ever-watching eyes of Big Brother and his many spies. However, their secret cannot remain secret forever and they are taken to be rehabilitated with cruel methods to be placed back into society.
Science Fiction Appeal and Characteristics:
Setting: This book is set in the future (or it was when it was written!), in a reality different from our own with technologies that were yet unheard of.
Dark Tone: There is a dark, somber tone that sets the mood for the seriousness of the book.
Leisurely Pace: Ideas drive the plot of this story, making it a slower read. The foreign world the characters live in is described in great detail before the plot picks up.
Moral of the Story: There are deep political, social, intellectual, and ethical questions that drive the story.
Rebellion: The main characters rebel against a world where their freedom of thought and action have been taken away. The reader feels united with the characters in their cause.
Connection to Characters: The reader feels empathetic towards the characters and can imagine how he or she would feel if this story were reality.
Title Read-a-likes:
The Summer Before the Dark / Doris May Lessing
The Comedians / Graham Greene
A Clockwork Orange / Anthony Burgess
Author Read-a-likes:
Octavia Butler
Aldous Huxley
Arthur Koestler
I haven't read this book, but I heard it being compared to 2013. Edward Snowden told us about the government spying on us, like the big brother in this book. When this book was written 1984 seemed like a long way away and now it is history. It is amazing what people were thinking 65 years ago about the future. I remember in the 80's people were talking about flying cars by the year 2000.
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