Aldous Huxley - Brave New World

"Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley is one of the true science fiction giants. Good sci-fi is supposed to make you think; this book has the capacity not just to do that but to change your whole perspective on the human race.

It concerns a "savage" being brought into the "civilised" world – by a highly intelligent but unhappy man who just cannot fit into the society around him. In this society everyone alive is a product of genetic engineering, and "designed" so as to fit and be happy about their position in life – whether scientist or cleaner. Literature that can make you think is banned, much of the happiness is drug-induced, and everybody thinks the system works because they are happy. Prejudices are pre-programmed by hypnopaedia (sleep-teaching) and morals are a thing of the past – the slogan everyone is taught from age 0 upwards is, "everybody belongs to everybody else". All the females are sterilised and long-term relationships are not just rare but prohibited.

The story-line concentrates on the savage`s experiences in this "brave new world" – only to find that it doesn`t live up to his expectations and dreams. Subplots include Bernard Marx (the person who brought him to the civilised world) and his quest for happiness and a love-live. He also finds disillusionment with society, yet still craves what it has to offer him. For a while the savage is the key but it doesn`t last.

If you`re thinking I`ve given too much of the plot away here and why on earth have I written a review which tells you what happens in the book, have no fear. That brief synopsis only begins to scratch the surface of this intriguing book. Also I usually tell you a bit more about the characters, but in this case I feel it would reveal too much, so instead I`m going to give you a couple of quotes that illustrate the mindset of some of the people involved.

"Never put off till tomorrow the fun you can have today," she said gravely.

"Two hundred repetitions, twice a week from fourteen to sixteen and a half," was all his comment. The bad mad talk rambled on. "I want to know what passion is," she heard him saying. "I want to feel something strongly."

"When the individual feels, the community reels," she pronounced.

"Well, why shouldn`t it real a bit?"

"Bernard!"

But Bernard remained unabashed.

"Adults intellectually and during work hours," he went on. "Infants where feeling and desire are concerned."

That passage reveals much about Marx`s character and the fact that it clashes so "dangerously" with the prevailing attitudes of society. Exemplifying this attitude is the following short quote from the Resident Controller for Western Europe, Mustapha Mond.

"Try to realise what it was like to have a viviparous mother." This was a question not designed to promote thinking but to elicit horror; which, thanks to the training of the citizens, it did. (Incidentally if like me the word viviparous has you reaching for a dictionary, it means to bring forth young [out of the womb] alive, not hatching them by means of eggs.)

This is much more than science fiction; like some of Asimov`s work, it often has more connection with psychology. It`s not just a vision of the future but an astonishingly, and sometimes disturbingly accurate assessment of the mindset of today. It is no mere satire; just the world of Huxley`s time taken to its ultimate and terrible conclusion. I remember reading this book when I was about 14 and not understanding much of it, but somehow it always stayed in my mind that this was a book I should read when I was older. Well now I am and my feeling wasn`t wrong!

The increasing trend of voyeuristic programme viewing (a la Big Brother and the other ironically named "reality" TV shows) makes this book seem even more plausible in its portrayal of people and their view of entertainment. It is obvious from reading it that Huxley found this extremely distasteful in his day. I wonder what he would make of the modern entertainment world?!?! First published in 1932, it warned of the dehumanising potential of scientific and material advances (and perceived advances). Some of these predictions have definitely come true, though the community spirit of, for instance, a website such as epinions shows that technological progress can also bring people together who would never otherwise have met, so it`s not all doom and gloom!

This is a great book, but not a particularly easy read. If you like your fiction nice and fluffy and happy, then this will not be your cup of tea at all. If you like books that not only have a strong plot but are also thought-provoking, you not only should read this but you NEED to.

Related Reviews

Foundation`s Edge: possibly the best book in the classic Foundation series by Isaac Asimov

Nightfall: Asimov`s collaboration with fellow sci-fi giant Robert Silverberg to turn his short story into a novel

The Time Ships: modern sci-fi great Stephen Baxter`s sequel to the all-time classic H G Wells novel, The Time Machine. Personally I thought it didn`t match the original?ƒ¢€?‚A| but what could?!?

The Hitchhiker`s Guide to the Galaxy: when it comes to comedy sci-fi, Douglas Adam`s novels are unequalled.

Alone - one of my best works of serious sci-fi. (Criminally under-read? :-O)

Thanks for reading / rating / commenting.

CaptainD