Brave New World is set in a future version of a. London b. New York c. Paris
The real historical person who is a religious figure in Brave New World‘s World State is a. Winston Churchill b. Henry Ford c. H. G. Wells
Brave New World began as a parody of a. science fiction b. pulp fiction c. utopian fiction
Discussion/essay questions
It is often said that dystopian books “predict the future.” People have claimed this about Brave New World, as well as other dystopian novels like Nineteen Eighty–Four and The Handmaid’s Tale. Why do you think this is? Have you read any older dystopian books that feel very important now? Have you read any newer dystopian books that you think will become important in the future?
Transcript
Brave New World is a 1932 novel by English writer Aldous Huxley. The novel is set in a version of London, England in a future dystopian society called the World State. In the World State, the businessman Henry Ford has become a religious figure. The World State tries to keep its citizens happy with technology and drugs. It uses cloning technology to produce children. These children are genetically selected for a specific class and role within society. Huxley’s work was influenced by the genre of utopian fiction, which was very popular at the time. Many utopian novels described futures where technology had solved all human problems. Huxley thought this was an impossible and even dangerous idea. Brave New World began specifically as a parody of the utopian novels of H. G. Wells. Early reviews of Brave New World were often negative. Readers at the time thought it was disturbing and pessimistic. Over time, it became a classic of dystopian fiction, especially as technology grew and changed.
Dune is set a. in the Middle Ages b. in the near future c. in the far future
The civilization in Dune depends heavily on a. futuristic technology b. a substance called “spice” c. help from the gods
Frank Herbert’s original series includes a. five books b. six books c. more than 20 books
Discussion/essay questions
Dune has been very influential in the sci-fi genre. In fact, some people have argued that the Star Wars film series reuses many of Herbert’s ideas. How important are original ideas in stories?
Dune was inspired by multiple cultures, including Indigenous American and Islamic cultures. However, the story has been criticized for its portrayal of these groups. Do authors have a responsibility when writing about different cultures? What do you think that responsibility is?
Transcript
Dune is a 1965 science fiction novel by American author Frank Herbert. It tells the story of a human civilization set thousands of years in the future. In the Dune universe, humans have expanded into space, occupying many planets. They have intentionally destroyed most of their technology, and they depend on a substance called “spice” that enhances cognitive abilities. Powerful families, called Houses, control land and resources. The story follows a young heir named Paul, who becomes an idol on the desert planet his House has occupied. The novel was originally published as two serialized stories. After its release, Herbert wrote five more books set in the Dune universe, and his son Brian Herbert continued the series after his death. The first book won two sci-fi awards. It has been adapted into multiple films and a television series.
The trees for the Future Library were planted in a. Scotland b. Norway c. Canada
Margaret Atwood was a. the first author to contribute b. the only author to contribute c. the most recent author to contribute
The purpose of the trees is to a. hide the location of the manuscripts b. decorate the outside of the library c. provide paper 100 years in the future
Discussion/essay questions
It is impossible to fully predict what will happen in 100 years. Do you think the project will achieve its goal? Why or why not?
Transcript
The Future Library is an ongoing creative project started by Scottish artist Katie Paterson. In 2014, Paterson began planting trees in Oslo, Norway. She planned to make this the site of a library for people 100 years in the future. Every year since, Paterson has asked a different acclaimed author to write a manuscript for the library. The manuscripts will be locked in glass boxes until 2114. The goal is to collect a century’s worth of stories and allow readers of the future to experience the changing times. Canadian author Margaret Atwood was the first person to provide a manuscript, and 6 other texts have since joined the Future Library. By the time that all 100 stories are complete, the trees in Oslo will have grown enough to become paper for an anthology.
