Pick your Poison

This week I read two remarkable, and remarkably bleak dystopian books. The first was a beautiful piece of prose with the Oprah seal of approval called "The Road." This book is set in a post-Apocalyptic world which follows the story of the Man and the Boy as they traverse the eponymous Road across stricken America. In this book, the father and son avoid cannibalistic tribes of bad guys, struggle to find food and keep out the elements in an exploration of the darkest side of humanity.

At the same time I dusted off the classic dystopian universe which Orwell showed us in the classic "1984." Most people are familiar with the threats in this book: Big Brother, the telescreens, thought crime/police, the disappearances in the night; a government that completely dominates ever aspect of life, from sexuality and social interaction to work and death.

Both realities are terrifying, of course, but I started to think about which one scared me more, the pure anarchy of the former, or the repressive totalitarianism of the latter. With totalitarianism, life is a bleak existence of supply rations, zero freedom and constant fear of death. In anarchy, survival itself becomes an issue, and hope is a vague concept.  Again with the constant fear of death.

Clearly neither is desirable, but with a totalitarian regime, the end will always come. Repressive regimes are not bound to last. But anarchy can persist indefinitely. And roving bands of cannibals! It's easy: I'd take Big Brother to the bleak reality of "The Road."