We

By: Yevgeny Zamyatin

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Set in the 26th century A.D., Yevgeny Zamyatin's masterpiece describes life under the regimented totalitarian society of OneState, ruled over by the all-powerful "Benefactor." Recognized as the inspiration for George Orwell's 1984, We is the archetype of the modern dystopia, or anti-Utopia: a great prose poem detailing the fate that might befall us all if we surrender our individual selves to some collective dream of technology and fail in the vigilance that is the price of freedom. Clarence Brown's brilliant translation is based on the corrected text of the novel, first published in Russia in 1988 after more than 60 years' suppression.

Public Domain (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"One of the greatest novels of the twentieth century." (Irving Howe)

Interesting history, prose a little outdated

WE tells the story of the "One State," a sanitized, regimented world in which the individuals ("numbers"...nobody has a name) live sanitized, regimented lives. Rocket scientist D305 lives his clockwork life as expected until he meets and falls in love with the revolutionary I330.

WE is one of the earliest examples of dystopian literature---you can see elements of WE in 1984 (Orwell), Brave New World (Huxley), Anthem (Rand), Player Piano (Vonnegut) and many others.

The story is presented as D305's personal journal. The prose is a bit dated---it was written around 1920 and has very flowery internal narration and not a lot of dialog, and I started to find it getting tedious, until we got close to the end.

The audio book starts with a fairly long and involved history of WE and its publication (and the various translations). Usually, I find such intros boring and low-value, but in this case, I found it helpful.

Grover Gardner's narration is quite good...he doesn't really add anything to the story but he doesn't take anything away, either.

[Footnote: According to Wikipedia, Aldous Huxley denied having read WE before writing Brave New World, but Orwell definitely cited it as a source for 1984.] Of course, all have different themes and draw different conclusions.

Not you, not me, but WE

If you could sum up We in three words, what would they be?

Freedom from imagination

What other book might you compare We to and why?

1984, Brave New World. All three are about modern dystopia.

Have you listened to any of Grover Gardner’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have enjoyed Grover Gardner's performance elsewhere, but I really enjoyed his poem-like presentation in this book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No. I am not easily moved. I weigh 240 lbs.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed reading the precursor to 1984. I enjoyed the story and expected the outcome, but the presentation was fantastic. I enjoyed how the character referred to Ancient Times and wondered why we were so difficult. I loved his explanation of our election process differences. It was a good story that ended too soon.

Wedged between Wells and Orwell, this Russian/English sci-fi dystopian gem …

Wedged between Wells and Orwell, this Russian/English sci-fi dystopian gem unites the wild emotional swings more typically seen in 19th century lit and the despair of losing one’s individualism, typical of later in the 20th century. It was something to see someone’s vision of the future that could include flying cars, but not video surveillance; rocketships, but not pervasive plastic. The “safe city” is built of glass and its citizens still communicate using hand-written notes. The high-tech messages are sent via sound equipment, but nary a photo graces the whole city. The intro giving the history of its publication is worth a listen: written in England by an author born in Russia, published in English in NYC, 1920, then traveling through decades and languages and countries. It was finally published in Russia in its original Russian in 1988.

Orwell was inspired by We for 1984

I find it hilarious that Orwell read and reviewed We before writing 1984. He loved We even accused Huxley of copying it for Brave New World. But it is clear where Orwell got his material from, it's this book so similar in so many ways to 1984, in a different tone and setting. Clear glass walls instead of telscreens no proles, only a perfect mathematical society until D503 is entranced by a woman who doesn't conform to the uniformity. I think it has dethroned 1984 as my favorite book. Worth a read at least to acknowledge where great dystopian literature of the 20th century is inspired by.

Interesting take on the trope.

Classic literature hits different.
It is a Great story and an interesting take on the trope.