About the Author

Aldous Huxley (1894-1963) is the author of the classic novels Brave New World, Island, Eyeless in Gaza, and The Genius and the Goddess, as well as such critically acclaimed nonfiction works as The Perennial Philosophy and The Doors of Perception. Born in Surrey, England, and educated at Oxford, he died in Los Angeles, California.

Reviews

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.

"[A] masterpiece. ... One of the most prophetic dystopian works of the 20th century."--Wall Street Journal
"A genius . . . a writer who spent his life decrying the onward march of the Machine."--The New Yorker
"A sometimes appallingly accurate view of today's world."--St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"Aldous Huxley is the greatest 20th century writer in English."--Chicago Tribune
"As sparkling, as provocative, as brilliant...as the day it was published."--Martin Green
"Chilling. . . . That he gave us the dark side of genetic engineering in 1932 is amazing."--Providence Journal-Bulletin
"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
"It's time for everyone to read or reread Brave New World."--Raleigh News & Observer
"One of the 20th century's greatest writers."--Washington Post