NationStates Jolt Archive

So this is a two for one thread.

Anyway I was thinkin about the world in general and to me n som places nations are heading to or arebasically already and one of these two situations, 1984 with its complete lack of freedoms and oppresive control and Brave New World with a few moe freedoms perhaps but also as oppressive. So where do you think your naton or indeed any nation would more likely be heading towards?

Also which one of these books do you feel is better?

Poll Coming

In BNW you get to numb the pain with drugs. That would be my choice.

Oh, can't you people find other dystopian books to read? I'm sick of those two constantly being rehashed because they're the only ones you people read.

Oh, can't you people find other dystopian books to read? I'm sick of those two constantly being rehashed because they're the only ones you people read.

Once I've read The Handmaids Tale I'll get back to you.

Your poll is doubleplus shit.

I would opt for living in Brave New World, for the main reason that it is a society based around pleasure and harmony, with control being more of an afterthought. The complete lack of freedom or depth wouldn't bother me with all of the Soma and brainwashing. It'd be very easy to accept.

I hated Brave New World, it would have been a good short story but never a full novel. Never.

Once I've read The Handmaids Tale I'll get back to you.

That was a boring book... as was Anthem... now that I think about it maybe I just don't like the genre.

Never read BNW, but I understand that you get plenty of nice drugs, whereas in 1984 you just work until you die horribly or get conscripted and die horribly.
Personally, I would prefer to live in Ankh-Morpork. Does Discworld qualify as a dystopia?

In BNW you get to numb the pain with drugs. That would be my choice.Mine too.

*insufflates local anaesthetic*

Yeah, big words baby :p

Personally, I would prefer to live in Ankh-Morpork. Does Discworld qualify as a dystopia?
Not under Vetinari. Well, not according to his terrier...

North America is much closer to a "Fahrenheit 451" type world.

We ftw.

Not under Vetinari. Well, not according to his terrier...

Of course, Wuffles is part of the Inner Party.

Oh, can't you people find other dystopian books to read? I'm sick of those two constantly being rehashed because they're the only ones you people read.

what other books would you recommend?

North America is much closer to a "Fahrenheit 451" type world.
Mommy, when I grow up I wanna be a fireman!

We ftw.

Yes, We. I am also partial to a lot of Philip K. Dick. I consider Brave New World utopian. I prefer 1984, and George Orwell's style.

what other books would you recommend?

There is a nice list here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Dystopian_novels)

but which ones would you personally recommend?

Kallocain. Logan's Run. A Scanner Darkly. To name just three.

There is a nice list here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Dystopian_novels)

that's a good list, i recognize a lot of them


but which ones would you personally recommend?

Kallocain. Logan's Run. A Scanner Darkly. To name just three.

thanks! :)

So this is a two for one thread.

Anyway I was thinkin about the world in general and to me n som places nations are heading to or arebasically already and one of these two situations, 1984 with its complete lack of freedoms and oppresive control and Brave New World with a few moe freedoms perhaps but also as oppressive. So where do you think your naton or indeed any nation would more likely be heading towards?

Also which one of these books do you feel is better?

Poll Coming

I think Brave New World is dull and confusing. I never saw the point of the book. I mean, what the deuce was the Wild Man supposed to represent?

My favorite dystopian novel: Fahrenheit 451. In fact, it's my favorite book.

I think Brave New World is dull and confusing. I never saw the point of the book. I mean, what the deuce was the Wild Man supposed to represent?

I loved BNW, but I'm just a geek like that. The Wild Man represents a perversion of the Romantic concept of the Child-As-God figure. He sees the truth in all the lies, but he is unable to find wisdom or calmness in doing so, and so destroys himself.

Then again, it's been a while since I last read it, and I would need to reread it to be sure.

1984: Great book

Brave New World: Disliked extremely, valid points, but very week devolopment in to many places just to make the points. Put stuff in totally out of place in his created world, just to make points.

I've got a nasty hunch we're heading more for Zamyatsin's "We" than anything else...

Brave New World, by all means although 1984 was a fantastic book.

USA- The Handmaid's Tale (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Handmaid%27s_Tale) or The Iron Heel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Iron_Heel). A christian fascist state led by a Republican dictator.

Europe- Brave New World (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brave_New_World)

Personally, I would prefer to live in Ankh-Morpork. Does Discworld qualify as a dystopia?
Parts of it, possibly. Omnia under the Quisition kinda is, same with the Agatean Empire until the end of Interesting Times. Genua could be considered such at a stretch... Ankh-Morpork certainly seems to have been dystopian in the past (see the events of Night Watch, along with numerous references throughout the Discworld books), but Pratchett's never really explored that avenue fully. Shame, as I reckon he could do an excellent satire of a dystopian novel.

Parts of it, possibly. Omnia under the Quisition kinda is, same with the Agatean Empire until the end of Interesting Times. Genua could be considered such at a stretch... Ankh-Morpork certainly seems to have been dystopian in the past (see the events of Night Watch, along with numerous references throughout the Discworld books), but Pratchett's never really explored that avenue fully. Shame, as I reckon he could do an excellent satire of a dystopian novel.

Ankh-Morpork isn't a dystopia. A dystopia isn't only a bad place to live, it's a social project in which something went horribly wrong. Ankh-Morpork isn't a social project per se, it's rather a disorderly gathering of people. Its government is self-serving, but couldn't care less what the people do unless it harms them, whereas dystopias are about control. Whether it WAS a dystopia once is up for questioning, but, in the present state, it isn't one (A dystopian government wouldn't let a powerful organization relatively outside its control, such as the Unseen University, operate there). Whether other parts are dystopias is also up for question. But always remember: A dystopia isn't only a sad state of affairs, it's a state of affairs actively made sadder and worse, usually for the sake of control.

Ankh-Morpork isn't a dystopia. A dystopia isn't only a bad place to live, it's a social project in which something went horribly wrong. Ankh-Morpork isn't a social project per se, it's rather a disorderly gathering of people. Its government is self-serving, but couldn't care less what the people do unless it harms them, whereas dystopias are about control. Whether it WAS a dystopia once is up for questioning, but, in the present state, it isn't one (A dystopian government wouldn't let a powerful organization relatively outside its control, such as the Unseen University, operate there).
I think that was pretty much my point. Hadn't considered the point about UU, but then in no dystopian novel I can think of has there been a powerful organisation, the members of which can turn anyone (including the leaders) into, for example, bird droppings, operating within the society. :p