This was good, but not as good as other books in the genre such as 1984 or Brave New World. ( )

In Looking Backward Julian West, a member of Boston's upper class in the late 1880s, falls into a deep, undisturbed sleep and wakes up in the year 2000. After his initial shock and denial at his situation, in this new Boston of more than 100 years into the future, he discovers that the class conflicts and social disparity that plagued the country in his day are completely eradicated. All citizens live in harmony, and each has what he needs to be content, with little need for excess.

The premise of a book of this nature -- imagining what society might be like 100+ years from now -- had me eager to pick it up, but a couple of things were lacking for this reader, one of which is perhaps unfair. First, several chapters in which West and his host family discuss the nature of the current social system are dry as a bone. While I was interested in the workings of the new society, the way it was presented was really a snooze-fest. Second, and this may not be entirely fair of me given the book was originally published in 1888, I was hoping for the author to think of some really crazy changes to life in the year 2000. I realize that one can use only what is currently on the cutting edge in one's own time to project what the future may hold, but some part of me was still disappointed that the only music around in 2000 is classical, and the language spoken, especially among young people, is exceedingly stiff and formal. The author got points for revealing that women are also members of the workforce, but lost a few while noting that women don't do the same jobs as men. Worth a read, but I'm not sure it's going to continue aging well. ( )

1135 Looking Backward 2000-1887, by Edward Bellamy (read 8 Oct 1971) This novel was written in 1887, and projects a utopian, collectivist society. I scarcely think it was worth reading. It is so dated. ( )

If you like 1984 and BNW, read on. ( )

Not so much a novel as long descriptions of the author's idea of a future utopia. Some really creative ideas. Others a bit scary. A few, like the chimneys and the awnings were just hilarious. Worth for it the glimpse at the past more than the future. ( )