Forum Staff
A fantastic racy narrative, full of much excellent satire and literary horseplay.
Saturday Review of Literature
Mr. Huxley is eloquent in his declaration of an artist's faith in man, and it is his eloquence, bitter in attack, noble in defense, that, when one has closed the book, one remembers.
New York Times Book Review
Huxley uses his erudite knowledge of human relations to compare our actual world with his prophetic fantasy of 1931. It is a frightening experience, indeed, to discover how much of his satirical prediction of a distant future became reality in so short a time.
Library Journal
Gr 8 Up-Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is a classic science fiction work that continues to be a significant warning to our society today. Tony Britton, the reader, does an excellent job of portraying clinical detachment as the true nature of the human incubators is revealed. The tone lightens during the vacation to the wilderness and the contrast is even more striking. Each character is given a separate personality by Britton's voices. As the story moves from clinical detachment to the human interest of Bernard, the nonconformist, and John, the "Savage," listeners are drawn more deeply into the plot. Finally, the reasoned tones of the Controller explain away all of John's arguments against the civilization, leading to John's death as he cannot reconcile his beliefs to theirs.The abridgement is very well done, and the overall message of the novel is clearly presented. The advanced vocabulary and complex themes lend themselves to class discussion and further research. There is sure to be demand for this classic in schools and public libraries.-Pat Griffith, Schlow Memorial Library, State College, PA Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.
Staff Forum
A fantastic racy narrative, full of much excellent satire and literary horseplay.
From the Publisher
[A] masterpiece. ... One of the most prophetic dystopian works of the 20th century.” — Wall Street Journal
“As sparkling, as provocative, as brilliant...as the day it was published.” — Martin Green
“One of the 20th century’s greatest writers.” — Washington Post
“Chilling. . . . That he gave us the dark side of genetic engineering in 1932 is amazing.” — Providence Journal-Bulletin
“A genius . . . a writer who spent his life decrying the onward march of the Machine.” — The New Yorker
“Aldous Huxley is the greatest 20th century writer in English.” — Chicago Tribune
“Huxley uses his erudite knowledge of human relations to compare our actual world with his prophetic fantasy of 1931. It is a frightening experience, indeed, to discover how much of his satirical prediction of a distant future became reality in so short a time.” — New York Times Book Review
“A sometimes appallingly accurate view of today’s world.” — St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“It’s time for everyone to read or reread Brave New World.” — Raleigh News & Observer
The New Yorker
A genius . . . a writer who spent his life decrying the onward march of the Machine.
Martin Green
As sparkling, as provocative, as brilliant...as the day it was published.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
A sometimes appallingly accurate view of today’s world.
Wall Street Journal
[A] masterpiece. ... One of the most prophetic dystopian works of the 20th century.
Raleigh News & Observer
It’s time for everyone to read or reread Brave New World.
Providence Journal-Bulletin
Chilling. . . . That he gave us the dark side of genetic engineering in 1932 is amazing.
Washington Post
One of the 20th century’s greatest writers.
Chicago Tribune
Aldous Huxley is the greatest 20th century writer in English.
The New Yorker
A genius . . . a writer who spent his life decrying the onward march of the Machine.
Wall Street Journal
[A] masterpiece. ... One of the most prophetic dystopian works of the 20th century.
Chicago Tribune
Aldous Huxley is the greatest 20th century writer in English.
Washington Post
One of the 20th century’s greatest writers.
FEB/MAR 99 - AudioFile
Aldous Huxley's novel of a genetically engineered, drugged-out utopia set in the not-too-distant future seems more prophetic by the day. British actor Michael York's refined and dramatic reading captures both the tone and the spirit of Huxley's masterpiece. His adept characterizations are instrumental in helping the listener discriminate between the book's innumerable characters, and his handling of the contrapuntal sections in Chapter 3 makes song from what might have been a muddle with a lesser reader. On occasion, York tends to overdramatize, making for unwanted melodrama and unintentional humor; but overall this is an excellent performance of a classic and prescient twentieth-century novel. G.B.C. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine
