After reading Orwells' utopian novel 1984, a comment appeared on this blog with the recommendation of Huxley's novel Brave New World. However, I'd completely forgotten about this book until I was browsing through the uni library and came across an old book almost in pieces. Curious, I picked it up and read the blurb which sound a lot like 1984 so naturally I took it out and have now reaa it (please note: This book only took so long to read as I was reading another book (still unfinished) and as of Boxing Day I've been ill/dying due to almost coughing my guts up. Not forgetting drunk and hungover at times, ahh Christmas.
Annnnnyhow, about the book. Brave New World is a novel which tells of a distant future, controlled by one government and consisting of around just 5 types of people whom are assigned different jobs, most of which involve the artificial creation and conditioning of children. To this world, sex and parentage are both considered disgusting and something which should not be/exist.
As the book goes on we are led through the said worldand given details of the process of how children are now brought into the world and, from the day they are born, conditioned to believe certain facts about the world and about who they are to work for. According to these facts the world is a shiny, perfect place where crime doesn't exist, drugs are freely handed out to adults and children, promiscuity is encouraged and each "type" of person is identical.
Travel is all by helicopter (cool) and everyone lives in London (Hmmm). However, when two characters go on a quick holiday, they manage to stumble across a tribe which still believes in God, engages in sexual activity and performs rituals - all of which is foreign to the book's characters, until, of course, two tribespeople are brought back to the city and shown to the workers. From then on we follow John, a boy who still believes in God and refuses to accept and adjust to this new life. Over time, John begins to adjust until he discusses religion which the world/country leader and feels forced to leave the civil life and live back in natural lands at which point the book is closing to a surprise ending.
Brave New World is another utopian novel which I found enjoyable and has inspired me to seek out others of similar concept (my current reading list has Yevgeny Zamyatin's We on it so look out for a review on that in the coming months).
The book has a number of fictional terms and people which adds to the interesting-ness of the book as Huxley is able to create new ideas and stories from these things. Short but well written it is a book with long words yet - when concentration is applied - easy to follow.
If you are a fan of 1984 then this is definitely a book you should pick up and have a read of.
Total rating: 4/5
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