Fahrenheit 451 or 1984?

Those two books could be used as History books today, along with Slaughterhouse - 5. Some of those writers were very prescient.

Wow. I liked both books and movies. Hopefully not either but you can see some similarities. The resurgence of the Know-Nothing Movement that is the Basis of Faranheit 451 and I can appreciate the feeling of the "Big-Brother" thing but not nearly as intense as others since for all intents and purposes I was what everybody these days is calling "Big-Brother" Or to quote another another book "The Naval Security Group is the Navy Arm of the NSA" The Puzzle Palace by James Bamford. I retired from the Naval Security Group in 1997.

double plus ungood

Read an interesting comparison of these 2 books... in 1984, the government actively destroys knowledge/access to knowledge for fear that it would empower people. In 451, the people willingly turn away from knowledge for the easy entertainment of television. In 1984, the government destroyed books (newspapers), in 451, it was the people who were cheering their destruction.

Both of these dystopian plots require a failure of our system of government that I do not believe is possible, at least not to the extent of either book without outside intervention. It is simply why we have 3 branches, why it takes so much to change the Constitution, and why we have terms of office that don't last very long in the giant scheme of things.

However, I don't believe we are headed for a kind of utopia either. We are slowly chipping away at our freedoms in exchange for greater security in a world where a person can be hiding explosives under their coat. Still, there will always be people who recognize that freedom comes at a price, and are willing to deal with the depraved few who create that cost. We will find some equilibrium zone and it will fluctuate back and forth. But, we will not sink into the Hell that is either of those books.

SSG,
I do not believe we are heading in the direction of either of these novels. In both 1984 and Fahrenheit 451 the most dangerous power of the government is the limiting of the spread of knowledge (via Newspeak, Firemen, etc.)
I think our saving grace is the internet. The internet allows for the instant sharing of information world wide. I believe as long as people are able to gain information on what is going on in the world we will be able to fight it. When our ability to share information is taken away then I feel the threat of these dystopian societies is much more real.