Anthem is a dystopian novella by Ayn Rand, first published in 1938. It takes place in a future dark age where humanity has lost all knowledge of individualism, science, and technology. The story follows Equality 7-2521, a young man who dares to make choices and seeks knowledge on his own, challenging the collective society. Through his journey, he rediscovers the concept of the individual self and the word "I".