Brave New World

A good classic book, that everyone should read at least once. People always seem to talk about this and 1984 in the same breath (if i had a pound for every school book report on the 1984 vs Brave New World ...) - although the two books really are rather different. A more interesting comparison can be made between this and Huxley's less well known novel - the island.

A interesting story/essay on eugenics, the importance of happiness and spirituality. The story was unique and I can see why it has won such acclaim. It is ironic that Mr. Savage is actually the more cultured and emotionally sophisticated person in "Civilized" world. Some of the ideas about hypnopaedia are a bit fanciful, but it is, it must be remembered, science-fiction. Of course, coupled with today's news discussion about IVF treatments in Europe and the extrinsic value of human life on a monetary scale, viz. how many babies must be born to pay for the retiring pensioners' benefits, it seems timely. I enjoyed the book, there was only one very slow bit, and that was near the end, when Huxley had to make a show of his philosophy. It became a bit preachy in tone and the conversation seemed a bit too sterile. Other than that, a good read if you can slog through the nearly endless introductions and prefaces.