S. Fowler Wright (1874–1965)

Sydney Fowler Wright’s The World Below, published in 1929, is a time travel tale clearly patterned on H.G. Wells’s The Time Machine template: a time traveler relating his fantastical adventures to a skeptical cadre of friends and associates. And as in Wells’s story, far in the future human life on earth has evolved into a pair of separate and competing species. Wright’s strength lies in his beautifully detailed descriptions of the future world’s landscapes, creating a uniquely show more immersive experience for the reader. The action sequences are exciting and have a real swashbuckling flair, but these moments are few and very far between, as the primary downfall of the book is the frequent treatises on philosophical subjects (government, libertarianism, capitalism, socialism, justice, logic/reason, etc.) that, while intrinsically intriguing, routinely bring the story itself to a screeching halt. The World Below consists of two-thirds of an intended trilogy, with the concluding section never written. show less

This is a collection of short stories published in 1951 which fall into the science fiction genre because they are all concerned with the future. Most of them were written in the 1930's and so Fowler Wright's future is the 1970's and 1980's. The major theme running through all the stories is that scientists and to a lesser extent engineers have taken over the government and are running the country (Fowler Wright was a British author) in accordance with strict technological and rational show more methods, but not in a good way. He says in his introduction to the stories that:

"I have written some things (such as The World Below) which have been pure phantasy; and these tales, when first published were so regarded. But some of what appeared to be their wildest imagination, such as the instantaneous destruction of a city by scientific devilry, have become fact; and some others certainly will."

A warning to us all perhaps by a writer convinced that he knows whats best. He certainly feared for the future. His first story Justice is the licensed killing of all elderly people who have outlived their usefulness and need to be supported by the young. 'This Night' the following story tells how a powerful politician in the scientific government can arrange to have the most beautiful women visit his mansion in order to impregnate them. The women in these stories are second class citizens and there is more than a hint of misogyny.

There are twelve stories in the collection and some of them now appear very silly indeed, so much so that after the seventh one I was ready to give up, but Fowler Wright was reprieved by his eighth story 'The Rat' which is a tale about a discovery of a potion that seems to facilitate perpetual youth. The scientist who has discovered the secret tests it out on a rat and realising the importance of his discovery he runs through all the scenarios good and bad of such a breakthrough. The story has a nice if a little too obvious twist. The next story 'Rule' is even better. This one is based on the idea that you can get people to believe anything, if you say it, as though you mean it. A New Prime Minister is in need of money and he searches around for a probable source and lands on Insurance Companies. He instigates a government campaign against the companies which is ruthlessly rolled out in the press, on the television, radio and plays and songs. Once the killing of Insurance agents starts they are only too happy to supply the government with funds. The next target is the bankers.........

I usually stick with a book that I have started until the bitter end and this time I was rewarded by a couple of decent stories and so 3 stars. show less

An odd book for its time. An-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it plot, but not science fiction per se. The premise is that the earth’s mantle shifts itself to a degree that most of Europe and England are submerged. A few hundred survivors are left on the still dry Upper Cotswolds, which had a mix of farms, coal mines, and heavy industry. Wright uses this premise to exercise his sociological theories.

Even minor characters get detailed histories and motivations as a means to criticizing modern show more civilization – government, education, economics, law, etc. but especially the damage done to the earth. Wright is a Luddite. He clears the way for a final showdown between humanity’s best and worst elements.

This book was apparently widely popular in its day; copies are easily found at Goodwill or Salvation Army stores.

Two minor characters are memorable -
Mary Wittels continues her sheltered life post-deluge without a clue as to the changes in the world
and
Martha Barnes, a "scraggy, sharp-featured woman with a shrill and bitter tongue" who nonetheless, with an astounding shrewdness and capability, singlehandedly foils an invasion plot by the bad guys.

Possibly should be tagged as a seminal book in the sub-genre of teotwawki.

3 + 1/2 stars for clever writing and insights derived from that time period’s assumptions. show less

Arrgh! my computer crashed in the middle of writing this, sigh! Start again.

So short version. An odd mix of fantasy and high seas adventure. The plot of a pulp but much better and more thoughtful writing style.

With its mix of perspectives to tell the story and the history of this mysterious island it reminded me of the series 'Lost' and not unlike that show the build up meant i was somewhat disappointed by the end.
But its still really quite good, pretty decent romance and adventure i show more thought, some racism but mostly in the subtext so many may not even notice it.

Its mysteries while not explored to the extent you would want will mean i won't be forgetting it anytime soon. In the end really good and the 3 stars are mostly due to the high expectations it gave me from its early chapters and never quite fulfilled. show less