I: A Sequel to Ayn Rand's "Anthem"

by R. Scot Johns

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal..."

EQUALITY 7-2521 has fled the collectivist city of his birth with LIBERTY 5-3000, leaving behind a rigid totalitarian state where absolute conformance is enforced and every thought and effort is given to one’s brothers. There is no self, no individual, no personal desire, for only the whole is of value.

We are all equal. For we are all are the same.

INTERNATIONAL 4-8818 secretly mourns the loss of fellow worker EQUALITY 7-2521, who must surely have perished in the Uncharted Forest, for none who enter there ever return.

To feel sorrow is a sin.
To do so for an enemy of the state is treason.

We are one together. We are never alone.

Then one day a paint-splattered image appears upon the walls of the Halls of Justice, a symbol of the one Unspeakable Word, for which the penalty is death... I

After Equality Comes Liberty!

264 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 31, 2017

About the author

R. Scot Johns is the author of "I: A Sequel to Ayn Rand's Anthem" and "The Saga of Beowulf," an award-winning 640-page historical fantasy novelization of the epic Old English poem Beowulf. A life-long student of ancient and medieval literature with an enduring fascination for fantasy fiction and mythology, he has given lectures on such topics as the historical King Arthur and the construction of Stonehenge.

An early adopter of digital media, he has also written the top-rated ebook formatting manual "How to Make Kindle Comics & Children's Books" and blogs sporadically on the topic. His website contains free tutorials and templates, as well as a host of other resources.

He lives in Boise, Idaho, and works for Books Are Fun, a distributor of books to schools.

Reviews

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a wonderful read. "The Anthem" has always been one of my favorite dystopian books. I always wished that there was a sequel and this book does an excellent job of showing Ayn Rand's collectivist society. The book follows Equality 7-2521 and Liberty 5-3000 on their continuing journey to think for themselves, as well as other characters that go on the search to find the Unspeakable Word: I. The citizens inside of the City start growing away from the collective mind and this book shows how they overthrow their dictators to take control of their own thoughts and lives. This is a truly powerful and remarkable book and I would recommend it to everyone!

[Dayna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly engrossing, "I" is a worthy sequel to "Anthem." Because I read it right after the memoirs of a writer who lived under both the Nazis & the Communists, the scenarios did not seem implausible or speculative; similar ones have happened only decades ago. I loaned the book to an aunt who may be the #1 living Rand admirer, & she, too, thought very highly of the work.
A huge thank you to the author & Goodreads giveaways for sending me a copy.