Nineteen Eighty-Four
An appropriate follow up to The Comedians in terms of having a not so secret police state. I don't think I'd ever read this classic and it was very different to what I thought it would be. Very cleverly written and chillingly prescient of technological advances (although I think Big Brother relied on manpower rather than computers) and the subjugation of many of us under the thumb of nationalism and a xenophobic desire to beat other in wars. Although I guess in 1948 some of that is not so prescient the desire for continuous warfare must have been at odds with the willingness to wage war just after WWII. After all, isn't that why Europe was formed as a virtual state. And the use of Britain as a US air base rang true in the 70s and 80s. One prediction which has seemingly come back in many areas of the world is the desire to see fellow humans suffer and die. Stonings and public executions in wide swathes although not so long ago really that we had that as an alternative to the telly. What surprised me most was the effort put into causing suffering for our hero (maybe he wasn't quite that) and although that is explained it seems like a hell of a lot of effort especially as he's not really seen again in his previous society. There again it makes the story and explains the ending and the very ending that is implied. Compelling reading both as a story and commentary on our times.
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