1984

by George Orwell

1984 is a fictitious society created by Orwell and portraying his view of what would happen after WWII. It is set in the year 1984, which to his time period was far in the future but to us has now past. The story follows a man named Winston Smith, a member of this futuristic society. He's more intelligent than most others, and soon realizes just how messed-up his world is. The society operates entirely on propaganda and a concept known as doublethink, where someone tells you a lie, you tell yourself the lie, and you believe it all within an instant. There is an appropriate quote that has embedded itself into my brain and I think it basically sums up the purpose of this society: "He who controls the past controls the future; he who controls the present controls the past."

However, the tale has some truly questionable content. I'd suggest it for readers of a maturity level of at least fourteen or fifteen, probably older, but definitely not much younger. It is a very good tale, though, and interesting to see the perspective of someone who thinks that the portrayed society would be the future. Personally, I think the entire society is depriving mankind of its humanity, but you'll just have to read it for yourself, I suppose.