I think that the possibilities contained in these books are plausible in the sense that they could have happened throughout history, and in the sense that they are an accurate portrayal of how humanity would react in the described circumstances. However, in the world today, it isn't going to happen, and people have to stop clinging to these books to sheild humanity from its progress. It is time we all face a simple fact, communists and conservatives alike: Communism is dead on this earth. It died with the fall of the Soviet Union and it is never coming back. As much as conservative/reactionaries(especially older ones) somehow yearn for the paranoia of the cold war and thus portray totalitarianism as lurking around every corner doesn't make totalitarianism lurk around every corner. My problem with these books is that they are used by conservatives as "pieces of evidence" in a campaign to maintain the status quo by which they prosper. As works of literature and studies on the nature of humanity they are good, good stories and very interesting. However, portrayed as evidence against progress they are a problem. It is ridiculous to say "OH NO, WE DON'T LIKE HEALTHCARE BECAUSE THEY HAVE HEALTHCARE IN BRAVE NEW WORLD" is actually retarded, but the sad fact is it compels many borderline people that don't care or think for themselves.

Anyway, that's my two cents.

Of the dystopian fiction I've read, I liked 1984 the best. I'm not really sure why, but I suppose I could formulate some reasons. 1984 showed more clearly a lesser accepted possibility of humanity I suppose. In Brave New World the populace is controlled by drugs, genetic conditioning and pleasure. It is fairly evident that humanity could be controlled by those. But in 1984 society is controlled by the simple will-power of those in charge, a much greater accomplishment, and yet the people remain happy.