Bend Sinister actually came out before 1984 and is the better piece of literature by far. Orwell's novel is probably more important than Nabokov's because it introduced the world to Big Brother and Newspeak, but its biggest flaw is its lack of humor. Nabokov knew that corrupt and oppressive governments are also ridiculous and funny. Just think of that news item floating around last week about the 9-month-old boy charged with attempted murder and political upheaval by the Pakistani government. Or Putin as parody of machismo. Or Kim Jong-il being himself.
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