We--Excellence in Chinese Translation

Author: (Russian) Zamyatin, translated by Yin Gao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: As a dystopian work, "We" targets the various flaws of totalitarianism. The entire book is written in the form of notes, feigning the perspective of a model citizen living in a future world, satirizing the lives and minds of various individuals in the highly digitized, centrally managed "United State." In the United State, which has climbed to the "peak of human civilization," all citizens are named after numbers. The protagonist is named "D-503." D-503 is a mathematician raised by the United State, filled with loyalty to it, and specially took notes, intending to praise the magnificent United State. However, no matter how advanced and civilized the United State is, it cannot overcome the lingering human nature. A stunningly beautiful female number, I-330, suddenly appears and completely shakes D-503's pure heart. Under I-330's temptation, D-503 gradually liberates his true self, transforming from an extremely loyalist who at the beginning of the novel cannot help but wish to become a machine into an ordinary person with hatred and love, with blood, flesh, and a "soul." However, things are far from that simple. I-330's approach to D-503 has her own secret plan. The ending of the work is unexpected and deeply moving.