2044: The Problem Isnt Big Brother. Its Big Brother, Inc.

by Eric Lotke

2044 starts where George Orwell's 1984 left off. The problem isn't Big Brother and the leviathan government. It's Big Brother, Inc., and the all-powerful marketplace. In 2044 , engineer Malcolm Moore discovers a cheap, easy way to take the salt out of seawater. Fresh water is scarce enough right now; by the year 2044, people will die and countries will go to war for water. Malcolm's discovery could help people everywhere - but it also threatens interests who are happy the way things are. Malcolm is branded a terrorist. People who know his secret are harassed, jailed and even killed. With the assistance of Jessica Frey, an attorney he met on a bad date, Malcolm tries to stay alive long enough to bring his water to the world. Quickly they learn that change isn't easy when big business prefers the status quo. Join them on an adventure filled with danger, invention and surprise in 2044 .

304 pages, Paperback

First published April 27, 2009

About the author

Eric Lotke has cooked in five-star restaurants and flushed every toilet in the Washington DC jail. He has filed headline public interest lawsuits and published headline research on crime, race and prisons. His most recent novel, Union Made, explores what union organizing means for the workplace, the economy and maybe even the organizer’s love life.

Reviews

[Arthur Gershman · Rating 5 out of 5]

2044 owes much to Orwell's 1984. Allusions abound. Eric's first novel is an attempt to warn us all of the dangers we face from The Corporation, Big Brother, which seems to control all commerce in this brave new world.
The main characters are Malcolm, a worker in corporate America, Jessica, a lawyer who becomes Malcolm's girlfriend, David, Jessica;s young son, and a mysterious corporate leader, Jackson. Malcolm's revolt against the water grabbing Big Brother results in ... But that would be spoiling the twists and turns of this view from the inside of the dystopia. I highly recommend this futuristic thriller. Eric, keep writing.

[Ian · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was on the line between one and two stars for this one, as it is fairly poorly written, the plot drags, and the overall premise really just doesn't work like you'd expect it's going to. In the end, I ended up going with one star, as I just can't think of a single person I know who would enjoy reading this book (and I know quite a few people who like dystopian and anti-corporation fiction), and in addition, the book's attempt to ride 1984´s coatails could not be less warranted. 1.4 stars, rounded down to 1 for false advertising.

[Charlie Cray · Rating 4 out of 5]

In his book Democracy, Inc. leading political scientist Sheldon Wolin coined the phrase "inverted totalitarianism" to describe today's system: one in which economic institutions dominate the political system, restricting the freedom of the rest of us.

2044 takes this premise and plots it out as sci-fi. The central battle is the one that we are watching grow into the battle of our time: the control of water.

[Ken Lamberton · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love Orwell's 1984, you have to read this one!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this. It touches on some very scary and yet realistic points of our society. In fact a little too realistic. Eric, were you watching me working? Well done. Please write another one.