Completing the Trifecta of Dystopian Science Fiction

[@pilouuuu]

I think Farenheit 451 should be in this list too.

[@bookjack]

For sure it does. May have overlooked that one

[@rogervandusen8361]

Aother dystopian book is G. Zemyatin's "We. The author lived through the early yers of the USSR.

[@gdrdm]

Zamyatin's "We" sort of kick-started all this

[@selwynr]

"We" is still probably the best dystopian novel. "The Slynx" is also a remarkable masterpiece.

[@sepiacense]

havent watched yet but wanted to say this is a really great thumbnail/title combo. I am very intrigued!

[@bookjack]

Thanks! Hope the video met your expectations 😅

[@WordsinTime]

I haven’t read either of these but they sound interesting. I had thought that 1984, Brave New World, and Fahrenheit 451 were considered the big 3 dystopian classics. And then I learned about and read We and definitely think those are the big 4. But there’s probably more I still need to read and perhaps it’s a big 6 or big 7 lol.

[@bookjack]

Oh right Fahrenheit 451, that's definitely part of the trifecta. We will have to go with The Big 6 after I read We and Kallocain 😅

[@CulainRuledByVenus]

Two to add as siblings to those you've discussed: We by Yevgeny Zemyatin, and Kallocain by Karin Boye.

[@bookjack]

We has been on my radar for awhile, but I hadn't heard of Kallocain before. Seems like it deserves a spot. Thanks

[@estelaplateada4]

Did you read "We"? It is kind of a precursor to 1984, I enjoyed it. Will add Iron Heel to my tbr

[@bookjack]

I have not. Will need to recover from this dystopia before I step into another one 😅

[@Kim_Miller]

I'd put We by Zamyatin as the first in the trilogy for 1984 and Brave New World. There is a movie trailer out there but no movie yet.

[@bookjack]

That's the next one on my list. I'm thinking it will knock The Iron Heel out of the trifecta

[@MaxMetzler]

Hey, enjoyed the video! Would you be able to provide a reference or exact phrasing of the quote from The Manticore about your early 30s and the the brick wall? I like that, but want make sure I attribute it properly.

[@bookjack]

"If we are to achieve anything you must give up the luxury of easy despair. You are too old for that. Between 35 and 45 everybody has to turn a corner in their life or smash into a brick wall."

[@Reflekt0r]

The most meaningful dystopian novel for me was "The World Inside" by Robert Silverberg.

[@bookjack]

I love Silverberg. Just read Thorns and Dying Inside is next up

[@B0BsBooks]

I’ve been trying to find a copy of Iron Heel for awhile. Maybe I’ll just check my 2nd hand store one more time to see if I missed it somewhere.

[@bookjack]

I actually broke down and ordered from Thriftbooks or something on eBay which explains the giant sticker on the back and all the margin notes 😅

[@camerado2be]

This Perfect Day by Ira Levin completes it for me…

[@MotiviqueStudio]

Darkness at Noon belongs there somewhere.

[@bookjack]

I'm learning about all kinds of classic dystopias

[@gdrdm]

Darkness at Noon is indeed a very good read...

[@BooksForever]

Koestler’s Darkness at Noon is phenomenal.

[@nangaleema]

Came here from Words in Time. 🙂

[@bookjack]

Welcome :)

[@Unpotted]

Welcome back. Your weekly appearances were missed. I noticed your interview posted earlier today by Words in Time, but haven’t watched it yet. I think Ayn Rand’s Anthem fits this category as the story of someone escaping a dystopian society. Also her We the Living, although I remember much less about it. (Doesn’t seem like University was twenty years ago. 😟 ) I felt she had some good points, but ultimately her philosophy was counter-extremist. An enjoyable video, as usual. Thanks. 😺✌️

[@phaedrus2633]

Now "Anthem" is much more my ideal story about a dystopian future, and a very accurate prediction of modern times. Who needs Big Brother, when the natural trend of history is to return to the Dark Ages?

[@bookjack]

I did come across some comparisons to Ayn Rand when researching The Iron Heel. I guess being counter-extremist is just an attempt at rebalancing and not sound philosophy by itself. I see that in The Iron Heel as well

[@phaedrus2633]

@@bookjack I think that what you call a counter-extremist, would be described as a reactionary. That's what I am for the most part. I very much believe in the culture and institutions that make us the strong country that we are. Not much wrong with the U.S.

[@Tetsujin-28]

Phase Slaves. I saw Jonathan talking with a guy that looked just like you. He even wore the same clothes! Great content.

[@bookjack]

AI is really getting out of hand 😁

[@pithicus52]

The Iron Heel is probably the worst-written work by Jack London. But the book should be read because the ideas in the book are so good. The idea I remember the best (it has been a while since I read the book) was that small business owners identify with the business tycoons as "businessmen" while those tycoons are squeezing the small businesses until the owners give up and sell out to the big business demonstrating the monopoly power of big business.

[@bookjack]

Your memory serves you well. The main character tries to show the small business owners that they are being preyed upon in the same way that they prey on the lower class

[@phaedrus2633]

Sorry, not my kind of book. I've just read one Jack London book, it was strange, "The Star Rover". I think Jack was from out here, San Francisco. I think they have some geographical features named after him. I'm not surprised he promoted communism. Par for the course in politics out here.

[@bookjack]

Not really my kind of book either. I had only read Call of the Wild before and this was quite different

[@MuleFace100]

I like the term "phrase slave." And I have to admit, when I heard you say "late stage capitalism," I had a knee jerk reaction, as I've never heard that term used unironically by a non-socialist. But since socialists have been bandying that term about for well over a century (usually implying it's end is near), it seems to be more an article of faith than anything else. Modern civilization pretty much requires some sort of concentration of power. You can replace plutocrats with state oligarchs in the form of "socialism" (if that's what it really is), but is it an improvement? Experience suggests otherwise, but we can hope for something better.

[@bookjack]

I bring a lot of assumptions to the phrase late stage capitalism too. Agree that modern civilization requires some consolidation of power and the tough part seems to be keeping that in check.

[@khairulhelmihashim2510]

Kafka works.

[@bookjack]

Very true. The Trial would fit nicely

[@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd]

I've heard of the iron heel but never read it and was surprised when I found out london was actually a socialist which sounds at odds with his rugged individualist persona as for davies I've heard good things about him but don't intend to read the manticore since it's about psychotherapy which I've found to be ineffective in real life but like your channel and keep up the good work⚛😀

[@bookjack]

Thank you! I can see how psychotherapy may be too much theory and not translate well to reality. Still the Manticore was a lot of food for thought. I was surprised to learn that about Jack London too