George Orwell's prophetic novel, 1984, predicts a dystopian future ruled by an ominpresent totalitarian government headed by one known (and loved) only as big brother. Through the story of an average citizen in London under this regime, Winston, Orwell chronicles the roots and history of this now dominant government force. He demonstrates that regimes such as Big Brother develop slowly over time, and, in Big Brother's case, harbor the power of fear to submit the masses in the name of security. Using feverish nationalism and a remarkable propaganda campaign, one spanning literally every facet of the mass media (including the ever-presence of the newly developed 'tele-screens' which constantly streamed pro-regime news while also acting as a surveilannce camera to watch everyone, all the time) as well as a citizen removal and "re-education" program, Big Brother is able to maintain a rigid and stable hold upon the citizens under his control.

Orwell wrote 1984 in 1949 in an attempt to predict the future, as he saw it, thirty-five years down the road. Unfortunately for Orwell, (though fortunately for all of us) he was too early in his predictions; the growing Domestic Surveillance program in the United States seems to echo back to Big Brother (phone taps, computer taps, traffic cameras, gps phones). The development of that program, as well as the creation of the Department of Homeland Security only strengthen the novel as one reads it, allowing a fresh perspective on the events at hand.

1984 is an excellent novel; written nearly sixty years ago, it is amazing how relevant the story seems to be even if its created in a fictional version of reality, Orwell lends his knowledge of politics, history, and human nature to paint an intelligently constructed and easily feasible future. Never does the reader feel that the story is ridiculous or absurd because Orwell has an inexplicable 'realness' in his style and is consistently thorough throughout the novel. It is for that reason that so many regard 1984 as one of the greatest novels of all time, with which I can only agree.