1984

Author: George Orwell
Year: 1949
Famous for: BIG BROTHER, torture scenes that may make you hurl
Main character: Winston Smith, a rebel with a cause … and no hope of making a difference.

If you’re a sci fi or fantasy fan, there’s a good chance you’ll love taking the plunge into the twisted world of George Orwell’s 1984. There are thought police and a sadistic government. There’s an oppressed populace and an unlikely hero. And for all you bloodthirsty types out there, there are torture scenes galore.

But don’t get so swept up in the made-for-Hollywood aspects of Orwell’s novel that you miss his point. This book isn’t just about subterfuge and rebellion. It’s actually a striking social criticism—and a warning about what could become of all of us.

Of course, back when Orwell was writing 1984, the year 1984 was more than three decades away. Which left Orwell plenty of room to imagine a twisted, totalitarian future … which, incidentally, never came to pass. But that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. Look a little deeper, and you’ll find that 1984 is still a call to action, and a call to think.