Anthem or 1984

[Filuwaúrdjan]

On what matters was he socially conservative, Al?

His general attitute was quite traditionalist (in certain respects more than just "quite" actually). There's not a lot of point saying on what matters or issues or whatever he was socially conservative though; the issues (not that they were political issues *at all* during his lifetime) were different then.
He certainly liked to bash "alternative" lifestyles though; it was largely tied in with his general hatred of what could be termed as "modernism".

[Colin]

Anarcho-Socialism (or described by some as Anarcho-Syndacalism).  Yes, I know what you mean exactly, Bono.

Well I wouldn't call Orwell an anarcho-sydicalist by any means since he almost certainly believed in some governmental authority and responsibilities nor did he believe, as anarcho-syndicalists believe, that government itself is a capitalist institution.

As I believe Al is trying to say is that Orwell was a anti-totalitarian Socialist who saw and understood the fallacies and horrors of Communism and wanted to instruct other Socialists to turn away from Soviet Communism and Trotskyism and embrace democratic Socialism. Just because he was anti-totalitarian doesn't mean that he was a libertarian.

[CARLHAYDEN]

While Orwell wrote a superb book in Animal Farm, I much prefer Rand's Anthem to 1984 as Rand had an ultimately positive message whereas Orwell focuses on the miasma of Big Brother.

[Gustaf]

I've read Atlas Shrugged, and I definitely preferred both Nineteen-Eighty-Four and Animal Farm to that (not to say AS wasn't interesting, but I guess I agree more with Orwell's sentiments, and secondly, think he was a better writer).

On the issue of Orwell's political ideology, he was definitely a full-fledged socialist, possibly even Communist (not in the strict sense, but in an emotional sense). People often forget that Orwell wrote his books with the zeal of a convert. His bitterness and hatred towards the SOviet Union and towards Communism stems from the fact that he believed in the ultimate good of its ideas and goals.

As a democratic socialist with fiery anti-Communist sentiments he wasn't really that unusual for his time. Social Democrats in most of Europe were sworn enemies to communists, a well documented fact. Social Democrats were also a lot less likely to convert to fascism and national socialism when it emerged.

[Michael Z]

1984, easily. I still regard it as one of the most important books ever written. A stark warning that totalitarianism and repression of the human spirit can happen in any time, at any place.

[WoosterLibertarian]

I liked both but i voted for 1984 in the end because i liked the writing style a little more and Ayn Rand tends to be more confusing.

[12th Doctor]

1984 is by far the superior book.  In fact, I would put it in the top 20 all time.  Orwell's notions of what occures under totalitarian government, and his understanding of human psychology are completely realistic.

I just got done reading for the second time, BTW.