This book is the first, the original novel of a dystopian future. Written in 1921, it was banned in Russia (where it was written) for 50+ years. It's told in the form of journal entries by the mathematician D-503, who lives in a completely regulated, mechanized society where every minute of every citizen's day is scheduled, and where lack of imagination and lack of individuality are seen as the highest virtues. Citizens themselves are referred to as ciphers or digits, to emphasize their lack of importance relative to the needs of the entire society.

As the book progresses, D-503 meets I-330 and is introduced for the first time in his life to strong emotions, independent thinking, and the possibility that their society is not the best solution. As D-503 becomes more confused his journal entries also become more disjointed and hard to follow in places, I am not sure how much of this is due to translation from the original Russian and how much is just representing the confusion of his thoughts.

This book was a strong influence for Orwell's 1984 and it was interesting to read for that reason alone, but it's an interesting story in its own right.