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Henry Avila's Reviews > We

We by Yevgeny Zamyatin
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A city of glass 1,000 years in the future, domed, with a green wall to keep out all the undesirable, primitive life forms. Animal, human, vegetable or insect...A clean and sparkling place for its millions of citizens, everything and everyone has a schedule, the perfect "One State". No privacy, people have numbers for names they dress (light blue uniforms) , and eat the same food, live in small sparse apartments, which are transparent. No drinking or smoking, even sex regulated by yes an appointment. Regular daily walks, pep talks at auditoriums to keep all motivated. Thousands sing and listen to the sacred words they have heard countless times before. Guardians to help the "Benefactor's" rules be followed, timetables are enforced! Any deviations are rigorously crushed, D-503 is the chief in charge, of building the spaceship Integral, now the perfect society can conquer space, soon bringing happiness and order to a chaotic universe. D-503, has a regular sex partner 0-90, but she falls in love with the mathematician, the State doesn't approve emotional entanglements. It causes disorder in a strict culture, no more conflicts. The blue planet, was devastated after the 200 - year - long war, 99% of the population died. Then he sees 1-330, a Will -o'-the- Wisp forever coming and going, befuddling D-503. He can never differentiate reality from a mirage when she's around, a brilliant man...when he returns to Earth. Love reduces people to silliness, misery and sometimes a little euphoria but there is something strange going on, a secret, she has an agenda. His best friend R-13, is somehow connected, the poet is full of big dreams, what ? Mad Revolution unthinkable, "Unfreedom" is paradise, D-503 is scared ... He is taken by her amazingly outside the walls, he feels naked, uncomfortable . Seeing crawling things, always moving about in the frightening and unknown green environment, is the vegetation very unhealthy ? Yellow fruit which D-503 recognized, from ancient books in old museums. The hot sun shining down, nothing to regulate it here, humans too dressed unalike ... Weird, they don't look any different from us. The wise man is drawn deeper into a plot, he just can't say no to the beautiful, 1-330. Causing much turbulence between he and dear, jealous 0-90 yet he is being watched closely by the Guardians. Does he risk torture and death for the woman he loves, who may just be using D-503 for her own, personal ambitions? However the builder is a romantic at heart, in a civilization that doesn't believe or tolerate such nonsense. What will it be a bland but safe existence, all the worries taken care of by the suffocating, inhuman State. Not a very fulfilling or exciting prospect, maybe an unfamiliar, perilous world ... And Birds are seen inside the city ...
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Reading Progress

August 5, 2013 – Shelved as: to-read
August 5, 2013 – Shelved
November 26, 2013 – Started Reading
December 3, 2013 – Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-30 of 30 (30 new)

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message 1: by Mariel (new) - added it

Mariel I own this somewhere and often determine I should read it. Still haven't. :)


message 2: by Henry (last edited Dec 03, 2013 05:13PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Henry Avila It's a bleak but thought provoking novel.Like 1984 and Brave New World,Mariel.


message 3: by Lynne (new)

Lynne King Henry,

I love the review but I'm not too sure I would like to read this book. I do believe that my tastes have changed. I thoroughly enjoyed "1984" and "Brave New World" when I originally read them but revisiting them now, they leave a cold feeling within me. They, well to me, seem to be so clinical. I need "warmth" now.


Henry Avila I think it's time to read,the Golden Ass.


Henry Avila One of the funniest book I've read,Lynne.


message 6: by Lynne (new)

Lynne King Are you sure that it is really funny Henry?


Henry Avila Yes ancient Greece ,man who turns into an Ass.In more ways, than one.Jokes written almost ,2,000 years ago.Ask people who read it,Lynne.


message 8: by Lynne (new)

Lynne King Why does this remind me of Frogs for some obscure reason? I think my brain must be in overdrive today...


message 9: by Henry (last edited Mar 06, 2014 10:50PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Henry Avila Remind me, to read Frogs.Love ancient Greece.


message 10: by Dolors (new) - added it

Dolors Dystopian of the sort thought provoking type, I guess. It reminded me of "Brave New World" and "The Handmaid's Tale". Oh, yes I see your comment above now, yes of course, and Orwell's 1984, which I shamefully admit I haven't read yet.


message 11: by Lynne (new)

Lynne King Henry wrote: "Reminds Me, to read Frogs.Love ancient Greece."

Do read Frogs Henry. Excellent. I've never laughed so much in my life!


Henry Avila Dolors wrote: "Dystopian of the sort thought provoking type, I guess. It reminded me of "Brave New World" and "The Handmaid's Tale". Oh, yes I see your comment above now, yes of course, and Orwell's 1984, which I..."
1984 is a must read,Dolors.People are always talking about it,even today.


message 13: by Arah-Lynda (new)

Arah-Lynda I was thinking of 1984 as I read your excellent review as well.


message 14: by Henry (last edited Dec 05, 2013 07:30PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Henry Avila Thanks,Arah-Lynda.It's a fascinating book.If you like 1984,this is similar.


☼B´Ç´Ç°ì¾±²õ³ó in Virginia☼ Thanks for the heads up. This sounds good. (nice review)


Henry Avila Thanks,Pamela for your kind words.


message 17: by Aditi (new)

Aditi wow, such a wonderful review, Henry!


Henry Avila Aditi, thanks for your kinds words .It is an interesting novel.


Cecily I've never heard of the book or the author, but it sounds good.

As for funny sci-fi, in addition to Douglas Adams, who you're familiar with, have a look at Philip K Dick's Ubik (especially the clothes).


message 20: by Henry (last edited Jun 29, 2019 02:33PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Henry Avila Cecily thank you for info , I just read Electric Sheep which I enjoyed very much . Like to read Ubik, the writer is not as strange as he is perceived here. If you like 1984 and Brave New World this is the original. The other authors got their ideas from this book, fascinating and a little depressing, I found it enjoyable.


message 21: by LeeAnne (new) - added it

LeeAnne Fantastic review Henry! I've never heard of this book. It sounds really, really good. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.


Henry Avila As always you are welcome,LeeAnne. If you read it, hopefully you'll like the book, I did.


message 23: by Tanvir (new) - added it

Tanvir Ahmed wonderful review!want to read the book as soon as possible


message 24: by Henry (last edited Aug 26, 2014 02:42PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Henry Avila It is similar to 1984 and Brave New World. But written earlier!


message 25: by Nicole~ (new) - added it

Nicole~ Nice review, Henry. I've been meaning to get to this for such a long time. Definite similarities to 1984. Thanks.


message 26: by Henry (last edited Oct 30, 2014 10:37PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Henry Avila And Brave New World also, thank you Nicole.


message 27: by Gaurav (new) - added it

Gaurav Fine review, Henry. I've this one on my TBR but perhaps did not consider seriously.


Henry Avila You would like it I think.


Cecily Cecily wrote: "I've never heard of the book or the author, but it sounds good...."

It was! And the final imagery of those birds - unforgettable.


Henry Avila Sorry I missed this before Cecily , but glad you enjoyed it.


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