MAGILL.Upenn-1100%Rand-Relay@sri-unix.UUCP (12/22/83)
From: MAGILL.Upenn-1100@Rand-Relay (MSCF Operations Manager) For a complete discussion of 1984 including a literary discussion of Orwell's life, times and writing style I highly recommend the December issue of the "Futurist", the Bulletin of the World Future Society. The WFS has (or at least had) a mail drop on "The Source". The literary analysis of Orwell's work is quite interesting. It seems that NONE of Orwell's "predictions" have even come close to reality. People have taken the computer of today and assumed that this was what Orwell "forsaw". In reality Orwell never even vaguely conceived of the computer. Similarly, the entire of Orwell's work is seen as satire of the type done by Jonathan Swift. Where Swift created a separate country located in some remote part of the globe, Orwell did not have the luxury. Orwell's globe had been almost completely explored so he placed his "Oceana, etc." in the "real" world but in the future. Note that he was not trying to write science fiction. Orwell's work is important because it does provide an "alternate reality" which could or could not happen depending upon the course taken by humanity. Enough said, READ the December "Futurist"! (If you wish information on the WFS drop me a note.) . . . . . . . Bill Magill - Moore School Computing Facility - University of Pennsylvania Magill%Upenn-1100@CSnet-relay