1984 (Penguin, £4.99 in UK) is probably the nearest George Orwell ever came to a masterpiece. He tells the story of Arthur Dent, a man living in the author's vision of what a Communist future might look like; one where its people are constantly watched and listened to by the merciless Thought Police and bombarded with propaganda by the Ministry of Truth. It is a deeply depressing book, showing a scenario where the family unit is meaningless, and the only loyalty shown is to Big Brother. At times, it's hard to tell the difference between Orwell and the Ministry of Truth as he forces his anti-Communism on his reader. Still, 1984 is a brilliant book that will stay with you for a long time.