Sunday, April 02, 2006

More novels about jails without judges

Jeremy Dibbell came up with two more novels about life in societies that lack habeas-protected individual rights:
Orwell's 1984 and Huxley's Brave New World. I prefer the Orwell to the Huxley, but both are interesting treatments of "what could happen" after diving down those slippery slopes.
Thanks to Jeremy, who blogs over at Charging RINO, for the suggestions.

Know of a novel that does a better job than the television show 24 of illustrating why the executive branch sometimes needs to arrest and detain individuals without a judge giving the OK? Please share the title.

Alternatively, suggest a novel set in a society without habeas-protected individual rights. Previous suggestions include The Count of Monte Cristo and Kafka's The Trial.

Send me the title and an explanation (of up 150 words) of why the novel fits the bill and you just might win a scholarly book valued at $65. More details are here.

Coming soon: Columbia Law Professor Robert Ferguson's suggestion.

--Marshal Zeringue