We

After reading Orwell's '1984', Huxley's 'Brave New World' and Ayn Rand's 'Anthem', I wanted a taste of the book which inspired them. Zamyatin does not disappoint. The story is truly thought provoking on a level entirely separate from the aforementioned novels and no less of a page-turner! Each individual in 'We' is assigned a number as a component of a single entity which is reflective of the 'hand' of the industrial machine of the 1800s, masterly displayed in London's 'Iron Heel'. The novel takes on a very mathematical and rational stance - for lovers of mathematics and scientific perspective maybe it is the quintessential novel, for it shows what blind rationality and, as Zamyatin says 'scientific ethics, that is, ethics based on adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing' can create.What is remarkable is the manner in which Zamyatin manages to empathesis with the protagonist, D-503. We are plunged into his life, an existence where one is (almost!) entirely dehumanized and through diary-like 'records' are shown his method of thought as he describes various events. Zamyatin displays the glaring errors of the society which D-503 is living in by merely describing what the dystopian society is like, thus avoiding making the ethical propositions Orwell does in 1984. This is perhaps the primary reason this book stands out: it is thought provoking on a level which forces you to think for yourself rather than telling you exactly what to think. Often you a cast with a feeling of intense frustration or ambivalence which you can't quite articulate or comprehend without further thought.Though it is a translation from the original Russian version, I could not notice any glaring errors. Indeed, it read as though it had been written in the English tongue.A truly poignant, masterful novel I would never fail to recommend.

"We Kindle" by Yevgeny Zamyatin is a thought-provoking journey into the realms of dystopia. While not quite a five-star read for me, it's a book that deserves your attention if you're a fan of classic science fiction.Zamyatin's vision of a tightly controlled, emotionless society is eerily relevant even today. The story follows D-503, a mathematician in a future where individuality is suppressed and surveillance is everywhere. The way Zamyatin explores the dehumanizing effects of such a society is both chilling and compelling.The writing style may take some getting used to, as it's a product of its time, but once you're immersed, it's hard to put down. The protagonist's inner conflict and gradual awakening to the world outside the walls of this dystopian city are brilliantly portrayed.My reason for not giving it a full five stars is that, at times, the narrative can feel a bit slow, and the characters, while fascinating, lack some depth. However, this is forgivable considering the time it was written.In conclusion, "We Kindle" is a classic that every science fiction enthusiast should experience. Its thought-provoking themes and cautionary tale are as relevant today as they were when it was first published. It's not a light read, but it's a rewarding one that will leave you pondering its implications long after you've turned the last page.

There are some very good themes in this book, especially given the age of it, and I always marvel at some author's amazing imaginations and visions of the future (including this one) but I have to say that I don't think this is as good as 1984 or Brave New World. Perhaps the reasons for that is simply that this was written a decade or two before those others so they have had time to develop and expand the theme, but I think it is more due to the fact that I just don't think this has been written as well.I found it very bitty in places - it seemed to jump from time to time - and the recurring use of the 'pause' technique was just irritating and seemed to break the flow of the narrative, especially as you were kind of left ending many of the sentences yourself. Very annoying.Having said that I find many dystopian/Utopian novels fascinating (they are often one and the same thing aren't they - it may be dystopian for the citizens, although they don't seem to know it on this occasion, but Utopian for others such as the Benefactor in this instance) as it is a reality that we almost always seem to be in a constant battle to resist, in terms of governmental control, surveillance etcWorth a read I think if you like this kind of thing, but perhaps only the once!

I don't usually read science fiction, although I have read 1984 and Brave New World. This short novel (or 'prose poem' as Zamyatin would have it) is better than both of those in my opinion. Certainly you can see how it was a big influence on Orwell's book. I like the writing style, the first person 'confessional', the fragmented sentences that trail off and also the poetry in it. I also like the short chapters or 'Records' with their title phrases. There are of course, scarily, some similarities between this dystopian society and the society that we live in today in the UK. D-503's discovery of his soul is painful, but liberating. It is the woman he falls in love with who draws it out of him. I love the bit where he's outside the Green Wall and meets the Mephi, the rebels - like an encampment of New Age Travellers on the edge of town! The ending is tragic but inevitable. The woman is the hero. First published in English in 1924 this book was way ahead of its time. Quite incredible. Now one of my all-time favourites. I will return to it!

Por el precio, la calidad es la de un libro de bolsillo, el papel no es de buena calidad, es delgado y grisáceo. Realmente esperaba algo un poquito mejor, pero bueno, quería una versión de bolsillo para poder llevar y leer y para eso funciona bien. El forro es de pasta blanda pero no se siente de mala calidad

Fascinating book. No wonder it was banned in the U.S.S.R.! A fascinating on a future "Utopia" where logic has crushed human freedom and ingenuity to give the people "freedom" from pain, want, etc., and the rebels who want to tear it all down. Frightening allegory that's no so far from our present society, where we are being brainwashed into consuming more and more in that ever-elusive chase for happiness, health, longevity & love.(buy this and you will be so happy...). Like "Brave New World", and Orwell's "1984", the future is bleak and people are more & more sheep led by wolves. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

We was written in 1920 by an engineer, so the book has lots of analogies to numbers and science. Read it and you will start thinking to what extent conformity to society, even forced and totally obligatory conformity, has a power to produce happiness. Good luck to us all.

We is an astonishing dystopia that seemed to foresee and perhaps go beyond what happened in the USSR under Stalin.

O personagem central vive num sistema totalitário. Neste trecho fica evidente o seu pavor sobre os ricos de um mundo de homens livres: "Eu tive oportunidade de ler e ouvir muitas coisas improváveis sobre aqueles momentos em que os seres humanos ainda viviam no estado de liberdade, ou seja, em um estado primitivo desorganizado. Uma coisa que sempre me pareceu mais improvável: como poderia um governo, mesmo um governo primitivo, permitir que as pessoas vivessem sem nada como nossas "Tables" - sem passeios obrigatórios, sem uma regulação precisa da hora de comer, por exemplo? Eles iriam se levantar e ir para a cama sempre que eles quisessem. Alguns historiadores chegam a dizer que naqueles dias as ruas eram iluminadas a noite toda, e todas as noites pessoas queriam sair pelas ruas."O resumo: o escravo tem medo da liberdade. O pior é que os homens livres também querem se escravizar...