We

We

Book summary

We is the foundational novel of dystopian science fiction, written in 1921 by Yevgeny Zamyatin and banned in the Soviet Union for over sixty years. Set in a totalitarian future where citizens live under absolute control, the story follows D-503, an engineer who sees his rational and perfect world shaken when he discovers individuality and love. A work that directly influenced Brave New World and 1984, and which offers a profound reflection on freedom, identity, and the price of collective happiness.

What is it about?

The novel takes place in the One State, a future society where all citizens are designated by numbers and live in glass buildings to be constantly observed. Their life is governed by the Table of Hours, a strict schedule that eliminates any space for individuality or imagination. The protagonist, D-503, is an engineer working on the construction of the Integral, a spacecraft intended to spread their model of mandatory happiness to other planets.

Everything changes when he meets I-330, an enigmatic woman who awakens him to a reality he was unaware of: that of feelings, desires, and personal freedom. Through this relationship, D-503 begins to question the laws of his world and to experience a "soul" that the system has attempted to eradicate. The plot becomes a conflict between absolute reason and human impulse, between the security of control and the risk of freedom.

Main themes

• The tension between collective control and individual freedom.
• Dehumanization in totalitarian societies and the loss of personal identity.
• Love and passion as subversive forces capable of breaking the established order.
• A critique of the technocratic utopia and happiness imposed by the State.
• The power of imagination and creativity as acts of resistance.

Who is it recommended for?

This book is essential for readers interested in classic science fiction, dystopian literature, and political criticism. It is ideal for those who have enjoyed works such as 1984 or Brave New World and want to know the origin of the genre. It is also recommended for those looking for an intellectually stimulating novel that explores human psychology under oppressive regimes and the struggle for individual identity.

What this book offers

• Access to the precursor work that laid the foundations for modern dystopian literature.
• A timeless reflection on the dangers of totalitarianism and the loss of freedom.
• An intense and symbolic narrative that combines science fiction, social criticism, and psychological drama.
• A valuable historical perspective, as it was a work banned for decades in the Soviet Union.

Technical specifications

• Author: Zamyatin, Yevgeny
• Publisher: Editorial Males Herbes
• Language: cat
• Subject: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY FICTION
• Collection: DISTORSIONS
• Binding: Paperback
• Publication date: October 2019
• Number of pages: 256
• Weight: 273 g

Editorial review

We is an essential reference work for understanding the evolution of science fiction and social criticism literature. Its prophetic vision and its ability to pose universal philosophical dilemmas make it an essential read, both for the general public and for scholars of the genre. The edition by Males Herbes, in paperback format, facilitates access to this classic that maintains all its validity and capacity to disturb.