Zamyatin Dystopia

Study of Yevgeny Zamyatin's archives shows his novel We was result of carefully developed philosophical system reflecting his thoughts on nature of individuality, freedom and state power. Zamyatin drew ideas from Nietzsche's philosophy, Freud's psychology and new scientific theories of his time. Through the form of anti-utopia he could express criticism of Bolshevism and totalitarianism which was impossible in direct polemics. His correspondence with editors shows how he defended the necessity of science fiction form as the most adequate means of expressing contemporary existential dangers. We influenced later anti-utopias including Orwell's 1984, making Zamyatin one of most influential 20th century writers although his role often remains in shadow.