We by Yevgeny Zamyatin is a pioneering dystopian novel that lays the foundation for later works like George Orwell’s 1984 and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. First published in 1924, the novel is set in a rigidly controlled totalitarian society where citizens, known only by numbers, live under constant surveillance and are stripped of personal freedom.

The story follows D-503, a loyal engineer of the One State, who begins to question the system after falling in love with a rebellious woman. As he struggles with forbidden emotions and newfound awareness, he is torn between duty and individuality. We is a powerful critique of oppressive regimes and the dangers of absolute control, making it a timeless and thought-provoking read.