Author Preview #1: Ayn Rand; or, Ayn Rand was Awful

I'll come right out and say it right now: I hate Ayn Rand. Everything I've ever read by her serves as nothing more than an Author Tract about her theory, Objectivism. Her stories, almost undeniably, suffer for it. Somehow, though, she's become one of the most influential authors in America.

At least, that's what the Atlas Society believes. Me, I've read her stuff. Ayn Rand was a sociopath, among other things, which she considered a virtue based on what I know about Objectivism. Most sociopaths are viewed with fear and loathing when their views come to light. Rand is celebrated. Go figure.

I do not personally have a copy of Atlas Shrugged, the manifesto of Objectivism and often regarded (by fans) as Rand's best work. I do, in fact, specifically avoid the book, for two very important reasons. 1) It's long, boring, and full of Author Filibusters. 2) When you buy an enhanced edition (which, I am told, contain essays from Rand's supporters), it has more pages than the Bible. Did I mention it's astonishing length? No way am I going to read something that long. I have better things I could do with my time. Like strangle puppies, or start World War 3.

I do, however, have Anthem, which was forced on me in high school by my English teacher. It was written in 1938 by Rand, and concerns a dystopian society and a man fighting to escape from it. Sounds at least decent, no? The concept is. The execution...not so much.

Rand's dystopia, for one, is just goofy. Outside the mind of an Objectivist (which, as I indicated above, I do not see as entirely right), such a society could never, ever come to exist. I'll indicate why as I move through the novel.

In addition, the protagonist is unlikable to the extreme. He reads increasingly like a mad scientist, in a bad way. Him as a hero; in the insane context it makes sense, but in the logical world Rand supposedly wants, it just don't. The female lead is no better. She starts out as a strong, independent woman. She ends up as a slave to his will.

I want to burn this book. I cannot tell you how much I want to remove this book from existence. Still, it's against my policy, which is to to keep every book I have.

I'm starting to regret this policy.

Anyway, I'll start on the book now. If my sanity breaks from having to read this thing yet again, tell my non-existent wife I loved her.