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Brave New World/ Aldous Huxley

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IntermittentEvil:
Interesting addendum to the Brave New World discussion:  Huxley wrote another -topian book, but with a U on it, called Island.  I heard about it secondhand, and I don't think it gets much play, but it's a very interesting read.  Although it beats home the theory that his writing was very idea oriented, as the plot is virtually non-existant.  Instead, he basically uses plot-like incidents to portray his vision of a utopian community, as well as his fear for the fate of such a community when faced with other less-ideal nations' plans.  It's kind of a dense read and gets preachy, but is interesting to those who want a companion to the ideas presented in Brave New World.

Anyone else read this?

sjbrot:
I read Island a while ago. A lot of the ideas put Huxley puts forth for his idea of a perfect society, while completely unfeasable, are very interesting. His re-imagining of parenthood as a non-centralised, community-based affair was one that can kinda take you by surprise, as do a good number of other ideas he writes about there.

Valrus:

--- Quote from: Juanathon ---I love disstopian books like these although my fav would have to be WE. this book rocks, i suggest it to anyone who likes either 1984 or brave New world. itsa kinda a hard book to find but its definatly a good read.
--- End quote ---


I disagree. Maybe it was just the translation I read or something, but I thought the writing was execrable. Ellipses everywhere. At this point I don't remember much about the plot; presumably it didn't make much of an impact on me.

GuitarJunkie:
I read this years ago when I first started reading per se.

I enjoyed it a lot. There are always inevitable comparisons between this and 1984, funnily enough, Huxley actually taught Orwell for a bit at...Eton I think?

One large difference between them would be the glorification of sex within the society in Brave New World and the barring of it within the society of 1984.

As for Huxley's utopian literature, isn't Eyeless in Gaza also one? I haven't had the opportunity of reading it yet.

KharBevNor:
Neil Postman on the differences between 1984 and Brave New World:

"What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy. As Huxley remarked in Brave New World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny "failed to take into account man's almost infinite appetite for distractions." In 1984, Huxley added, people are controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us. "

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