Publisher Description
An Apple Books Classic edition.
What happens when feelings get in the way of order? What is the price of perfecting society? Yevgeny Zamyatin’s We, like many of the dystopian novels that came after it, plays on our fears of being watched and controlled, of human emotions being criminalized. A lively critique of authoritarianism, We holds the honor of being the first book banned by the Soviet government. Zamyatin managed to get a copy of his novel to the United States, where it was published in 1924.
We is set in a future world where there are no individual names—only numbers. The book opens with D-503 sharing the news that the spaceship he’s been building is complete. The United State, which rules Earth, can now find other planets with which to share their “mathematically infallible happiness.” But then, D-503 meets I-330, and despite not being assigned to her, he falls in love. It makes no sense: I-330 smokes, drinks, encourages imagination—all very illegal acts that would result in public execution. So, what will D-503 say when I-330 asks for help with mounting a rebellion against the United State? Pick up a dystopian novel that predates bestsellers like 1984, The Handmaid’s Tale, and Brave New World.
Customer Reviews
Amazing!!
Fabulous, brilliant mind!
We
I have always found novels written by Russian authors rather intense. This one, “We” by Yevgeny Zamyatin is no different. In fact, not having real sufficient knowledge of Russian writers, I have never heard of this writer.
Released in 1924, the book is an early glimpse of Communist rule under Lenin and Stalin. Lenin died in 1924. The Russian people have always, it seems to me, under the thumb of authoritarian rule. This book represented a dystopian look into their future (and maybe ours in the United States).
The United State, was attempting to consolidate its power over the minds, the last human frontier, and behavior of its citizens after the 200 Years War, the victory of the sum over the individual and originality.
A big part of that effort was the building of the Integral, a rocket ship that would allow its developers to see all that is below them on Earth. In charge of the its development was D503, a mathematician with a soul. The state did not allow the killing of individuals, except when that killing was done by the State. The State may kill many if it considers them a hindrance to its advancement.
D503, seems to have it efforts to launch the Integral interrupted by I330, an operative that appears subversive to the State. It is her efforts to put D503 in touch with past history through the Ancient House.
The aim of the State is to control happiness and thoughts of originality. Happiness can be controlled by structuring every aspect of human behavior. People who live in glass houses should not and cannot throw stones, without being seen.
The inhabitants of the United State are controlled by the Well-Doer, The Cube, the Gas Bell and the Guardians, the preservers of non-freedom (happiness).
It is a book about what is called Big Brother- - - - the Well-Doer; the Cube, the patriotic area of assembly; the Gas Bell, an execution chamber; the Guardians, state spies, who can be anyone.
Worth the time
Great book, simple read, still relevant to our society