Debate to end all debates.

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It seems every time someone mentions 1984 or Brave New World in the "What are you reading" threads, a debate ensues on which is better/worse. So let's take a census on what OT thinks. For me, BNW > 1984.

 

[DerHoggz]

It has been years since I have read them, but off the top of my head BNW wins.

Orgy porgy

 

[paste]

Same here. I recently started reading We but only got half way before taking an uhhh "extended break" from it. Never grabbed me like 1984 or BNW did.

 

[DerHoggz]

What is We, I thought the option in the poll meant whatever?

 

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What is We, I thought the option in the poll meant whatever?

"George Orwell averred that Aldous Huxley's Brave New World (1932) must be partly derived from We."

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I think both books got some inspiration from We. But man does Orwell have a chip on his shoulders.

Here's another "review" he wrote about We.

“[Zamyatin’s] intuitive grasp of the irrational side of totalitarianism—human sacrifice, cruelty as an end in itself—makes [We] superior to Huxley’s [Brave New World].”—George Orwell

 

[iamlowsound]

I like them both, but 1984 has always been my favourite of the two.

lowsound

 

[jmattbassplaya]

I just read We's plot synopsis. Sounds awesome! I can easily see how it influenced Orwell and Huxley.

 

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What is We, I thought the option in the poll meant whatever?

Also, I added We more as a pre-emptive strike from that one hipster who's gonna complain about it not being on the list.

 

[96tbird]

I just began WE a couple days ago. Free download on wordpress. Because of time i just finished "Third Entry"
http://literaturepdf2.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/yevgeny-zamyatin-we.pdf

Edit: oh yeah Orwell vs. Huxley: i find 1984 better. I like how the world is stuck at a post world war II culture that is in serious decay. The so called utopia claimed by BB really never happened. Bleak.

 

[Milk]

1984. I read Brave new world, i have it in fact. But I don't remember much. I remember forcing myself to finish it.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Brave New World is one of my favorite books, and it's one of several books that really pushed many of my beliefs in regards to social structure, economics, wealth inequality, corporate influence, human sexuality, education, government's role in society, drug use, and so much more. It truly was the first novel that made me view reality without rose-shaded lenses.

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

1984 for me. I haven't read We, will need to check it out.

 

[Gorn]

BNW was more sci fi so that wins for me. But 1984 is also great.

 

[MatticusMania]

Also, I added We more as a pre-emptive strike from that one hipster who's gonna complain about it not being on the list.

How about Anthem?


I dont see why one has to be better than the other.
I thoroughly enjoyed both 1984 and Brave New World.

 

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I just read We's plot synopsis. Sounds awesome! I can easily see how it influenced Orwell and Huxley.

I still don't see Orwell's gripe about BNW "partly being derived from We" when 1984 had many idea's and scenes [DEL]copied[/DEL] derived from We.

How about Anthem?


I dont see why one has to be better than the other.
I thoroughly enjoyed both 1984 and Brave New World.

This is why I allowed multiple voting option in poll!

 

[MatticusMania]

I still have to read We. Maybe I'll order it from Amazon.

 

[Gorn]

The dystopian future genre in general is usually pretty great.

 

[MatticusMania]

The dystopian future genre in general is usually pretty great.

It is. The opposite makes for interesting reading as well.

To you guys who've read and enjoyed Brave New World... have you read Huxley's 'Island'?
Its a pretty good read as well, though its not dystopian.

 

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I have heard Island is basically the complete opposite of Brave New World lol.

 

[Ziltoid]

They're very different. I like them both. I also like We, The Giver, 451, etc.