Huxley paints a masterful picture of a different world

One of the noticeable things about this novel at its conclusion is that you don't really find any fully likable characters. While most novels have a clear and defined party you should sympathize with and join for the journey throughout the work Brave New World does not. Lenina, John, and Bernerd all have appalling or ironic behavior that make them difficult to like. The other characters, while developed and rich are even worse. This isn't a bad thing but an interesting story telling device.

I would recommend this book if for nothing than the rich setting and elaborate world Huxley has created. It is an amazing feat to construct this entire world and develop laws and ideas. While other science fiction of this nature clearly defines the future as Utopian or distopian this story does not, and that is one of its strengths. We see the negative and the positive and how the people of this society cling to the new way of life, fight for it and can't perceive alternate ways of doing things. It is amusing, entertaining and thought provoking.



Undertones of communism, dictatorship, democracy and others are present in our characters from their names to their actions. The introduction of Soma, the drug that keeps the new world from pain and in a "happy" state is an excellent model of what could happen should hedonism prevail. The feeling films, and death conditioning are all small elements that I won't describe in preventing a spoiler but they make the novel more real and rich.

I can't fully know what the message of this work was but it makes you think enough that you can determine how you feel about future society on your own. I recommend.