Brave New Worlds

Brave New Worlds by John Joseph Adams
Adult Science Fiction-Main Level - BRAVE

The dystopian fiction genre has fascinated readers for generations. Dystopian literature often seeks to comment on contemporary society and also serves as a warning for the future. The anthology Brave News Worlds carries on this tradition and is clearly influenced by authors such as Orwell, Huxley, and Bradbury. These previous authors wrote groundbreaking works depicting terrifying visions of the future. While many of the stories in this anthology collection borrow elements from these previous works, there is enough variety of content to keep dystopian fiction fans entertained if they are looking for different spins on the genre. One advantage an anthology collection holds is the ability to skip around to different sections of the book. If a reader is not captivated by a certain story, he or she can always choose to try their luck with an offering from a different author. Anthologies are also an excellent way of sampling an unfamiliar author’s style and I know that many of these stories have made me interested in searching out further works by several of the authors.



The dystopian genre is diverse enough to satisfy many types of readers and the assortment of stories in this anthology run the gamut from sci-fi to horror. Fans of 1984 will enjoy entries such as “Ten with a Flag” and Peter Skilling.” A reader who wants less of a straightforward narrative might be interested in the bizarreness of “The Pearl Diver” or “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas,” a story that gives us a world that is seemingly perfect in every way except for the monstrous price only one individual has to pay. Brazil fans will feel right at home in the worlds of “Dead Space for the Unexpected” and “ ‘Repent Harlequin!’ Said the Ticktockman” which shows us a world fanatically devoted to the concept of being on time. Several of these stories were written decades ago but are still applicable to our society today. The mark of any great piece of literature is the ability to remain relevant for many generations and the stories in Brave New Worlds will certainly serve as cautionary tales for decades to come.