1984 George Orwell

1984 is George Orwell’s terrifying vision of a totalitarian future in which everything and everyone is slave to a tyrannical regime lead by The Party.

Winston Smith works for the Ministry of Truth in London, chief city of Airstrip One. Big Brother stares out from every poster, the Thought Police uncover every act of betrayal. When Winston finds love with Julia, he discovers that life does not have to be dull and deadening, and awakens to new possibilities. Despite the police helicopters that hover and circle overhead, Winston and Julia begin to question the Party; they are drawn towards conspiracy. Yet Big Brother will not tolerate dissent – even in the mind. For those with original thoughts they invented Room 101. . .

Other well known utopias and distopias: Plato – The Republic, Thomas More – Utopia, Tommaso Campanella – The City of the Sun, Frances Bacon – The New Atlantis, Edward Bellamy – Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887, Jack London – The Iron Heel, Evgeny Zamiatin – We, George Orwell – Nineteen Eighty-Four, Aldous Leonard Huxley – Brave New World