03/09/2025
This year I decided to work through a large back catalog of classic sci-fi that I never got around to reading. While I had seen the movie, I had not read the book. It’s sad we didn’t get anymore from Orwell since he died right after releasing this book. There is no question how powerful this book is and how the message resonates as much today as it did then.
The one thing I found fascinating is the style of the book felt so much more modern than other books I have read from that time period. Sure, some of the technology was a bit dated, but the way things were presented. Seeing everything from Winston’s point of view was so powerful, as was his transformation through the end. I think really the psychological impact is so incredibly strong. It shows how the relentless abuse of someone to believe a lie eventually can be forced once you remove everything else from that person’s life. Programming.
I’d say the only part of the book I felt dragged was when he gets the book and starts reading it. When he starts repeating the same information to Julia, I felt in that part, the telling was a bit too much. Of course, once you are that invested into a novel, you will just read it at that point.
I also loved the throw back line about the clocks near the beginning, which is a nod to Brave New World.
In terms of my own writing, this absolutely is an influence into my novel. I don’t think you can write dystopian without this being one of the pillars you step off of.
