Another fine review. I still vote we are way closer to becoming Brave New World than the other two, although I can see some parts of 1985 and F. 451. Maybe I would think differently if I lived in a third world country. Hope you give some other sci-fi, even some new sci-fi, the same treatment. I would subscribe to a ping list for sure.
I wonder what some of these classic sci-fi cats would have thought of social media.
Social media has allowed crazy people to find other crazy people, and exchange and reinforce their nuttiness in real time, basically for free. Like you said, they can do it without ever being challenged on their nuttiness. Never before in history have nutbars been able to cross-pollinate other nutbars on such a huge scale. Maybe we weren’t meant to know what some guy in China instantly thinks about the new Star Wars in real time, much less our family and friends. I honestly think all the mass shootings might be partly a result of it.
Freegards
I think that's because Huxley covered more bases. 1984 was purely about rule-through-terror and Fahrenheit primarily focuses on media censorship. Brave New World goes way further into genetic breeding (crafting human beings without a desire for freedom), a government that keeps people in line by getting them addicted and dependent on feel-good drugs, unlimited sex, mindless entertainment...
The hopelessness of today's society is, how could this generation fight in a war or lead a revolution against tyranny? Just threaten to take their Facebook away and they'll obey whatever you order.
Maybe we weren’t meant to know what some guy in China instantly thinks about the new Star Wars in real time, much less our family and friends.
Our technological advancements have certainly far outpaced what our minds were designed to handle. How long it's sustainable is unclear.
It seems to me that a lot of us will have to be Orwelled so the sheeple can be Huxleyed, and we who still remain must be Bradburied to perfect the Brave New World.
It also seems that both the Orwelling and the Bradburying are coming along quite well.
Molon labe!
If I found a story in the magazine I would seek out other stories from the author. I suspect that is the way that it always worked.
Now every story must have its Progressive tokens at the forefront. I am trying to remember a story that did not have climate change as an antagonist or a gay couple as the hero.
The fire battalions controlled social acceptance through controlling thought by controlling media to the masses.
Is it even possible to sell an article to Analog or to win a Hugo Award without genuflecting to the new g_ds of climate alarmism or LGBTQ politics?
We know the answer about the Hugos, and just reading any Analog issue gives us the answer about the largest print version SF magazine.