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Post by 321boom on Feb 6, 2005 17:49:57 GMT
I got this book out of hte school library while I was browsing (boy was that a browse). I found Neinteen Eghty-Four by George Orwell.
This is by far the scariest book I have ever read (I though Animal farm was scary).
The front reads:
"A powerful cry for freedom of thought and expression, Neinteen Eighty-Four continues to haunt the imagination with its startling images of totalitarian terror."
The concept of it haunts me (as well as everything else). I wonder what inspired George Orwell to write this. It makes me think of hte russian Revolution (or any dictatorship). No freedom of speech, just one man or organisation controling everything while the poeple are absolutely powerless.
What do you think of the book? Does it scare you?
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Gizmo
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Post by Gizmo on Feb 6, 2005 17:57:14 GMT
Ive not read it but I know its a great read, it also sporned off some of the best tv shows ever.
room 101.
big brother. (although this one is debatable)
And it is scary from what little I know of it.
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Post by RSM on Feb 6, 2005 18:17:36 GMT
The concept doesn't really scare me, it'll happen eventually so why worry about the inevitable.
Still, I liked the way vocabulary was streamlined.
It would be double plus interesting to see Robert Frazer make a post in a world like that.
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Post by 321boom on Feb 6, 2005 18:37:58 GMT
The concept doesn't really scare me, it'll happen eventually so why worry about the inevitable. We can't tell what happens in future. What do you mean?  |
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Post by RSM on Feb 6, 2005 18:40:22 GMT
Oh nothing, don't worry about it. Now wheres my nerve stapler?
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Post by supersonicjim on Feb 6, 2005 19:50:49 GMT
So I'm guessing you got the German version?
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Ed
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Post by Ed on Feb 6, 2005 20:16:40 GMT
The concept of it haunts me (as well as everything else). I wonder what inspired George Orwell to write this. It makes me think of hte russian Revolution (or any dictatorship). No freedom of speech, just one man or organisation controling everything while the poeple are absolutely powerless. The Russian Revolution didn't immediately lead to dictatorship. Stalin didn't really ascend to powers until the 20s. But yes, Stalin's Russia, North Korea and other Communist/fascist states show how totalitarianism can work. 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' is pretty much a perfect totalitarian state. Orwell was a disenchanted Communist and wanted to show the world what totalitarianism would really produce. Disturbed more than scared I'd say. I think it's compelling and fascinating, one of the greatest books ever written. |
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JJ
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Post by JJ on Feb 6, 2005 20:52:00 GMT
Nope I've never read the book, but I did read V for Vendetta and saw Equilibrium recently. Both are apparently influenced by/similar to it.  |
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Gizmo
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Post by Gizmo on Feb 6, 2005 21:40:39 GMT
I think what makes people uneasy about this book is it shows that leaders of countries can so easilly through legal means dictate somewhere.
for example suppose tony blair/micheal howard/charles kennedy (or if you want to live in serious fiction.) Robert Killroy silk won the next election, they could (in theory) pass a legislation giving themselves more power through manipulating the houses of parliment/house of lords and the courts. And eventually they would controll the country on all levels to however they desired.
But of course its unlikely to happen. however I know that some people crave power and can you imagine what would happen if one day either one of these men woke up and realised just who they were i.e. leader of a powerful nation, and thought... I wonder just how far I can go with this thing...
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Post by Matt on Feb 6, 2005 21:45:57 GMT
well thats were we are lucky in britain, we have the house of commons the house of lords and to a certain superfical degree the *shudders* royal family
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Gizmo
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Post by Gizmo on Feb 6, 2005 21:49:11 GMT
Except the royal family dont have much power, and the house of lords could (again in theory) be abolished. Didnt they do it to another house of something around 2 years ago?
But also consider the 24 hour drinking idea. I think that despite how good it sounds deep down we all dont think its a good idea, and most of us dont want it, But even though most of us dont seem to want it, we cant seem to do anything to stop it...
Goes to show just how hard it is for a democracy to get what they want.
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Post by Matt on Feb 6, 2005 21:58:45 GMT
democracy works but not as well as it should the majority always let what it wants [in the ned at lest] as is they don't 4-5 years down the line we reelect a new party in if we think the other has failed
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Post by supersonicjim on Feb 6, 2005 22:00:20 GMT
What do you mean "dont have much power" sic?
The Queen has to agree for laws and such like.
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Post by Matt on Feb 6, 2005 22:08:00 GMT
yeah but when has she evr turned one down, being inparital as she is meant to be she really can't object many laws at all, for example the fox hunting laws.
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Post by Samface on Feb 7, 2005 13:16:34 GMT
Excellent book. Need to read it again myself actually...
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Post by Sin on Feb 7, 2005 13:25:02 GMT
Excellent book. Need to read it again myself actually... |
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Post by Samface on Feb 7, 2005 13:26:35 GMT
Samface, you are aware that this forum is in panic mode at the moment. No one apart from me, Mike, Ed and Retro can see your posts and reply to them. Yeah, I remembered that as soon as I'd finished going through the whole forum, posting without a care in the world...  |
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Post by Omnion (yes, he is a man) on Feb 8, 2005 19:21:01 GMT
Excellent book. It scared me a lot. I'm probably the only 13-year-old who didn't think that it was boring. (correct me if I'm wrong) Well, I was 11 when I read it for the first time...
(cheesin')
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