Future society

[bazarov]

Do you know books like Animal Farm, 1984, We that talks about future society? But not SF, serious novels!

[AimusSage]

Hey! SF can be very serious.

Check out aldous huxley's Brave New World, and Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. Very similar themes to 1984.

[Boris239]

Zamyatin's "We" is very good and probably the first among such books. There is also a "Doomed city" by Strugatsky brothers.

[cuppajoe_9]

Animal Farm is about a present society (well, it was in 1948 anyway).

Thomas More's Utopia is probably the first work of fiction in the 'future society' genre, but it's about an ideal society, not a hellish one. Also: it's kinda dry. And he advocates slavery.

[PeterL]

Do you know books like Animal Farm, 1984, We that talks about future society? But not SF, serious novels!

That's a non sequitur. All fiction that makes guesses as to what society will be like in the future is Speculative Fiction. Go through the SF section of a bookstore, and you may find something that you like.

[bazarov]

I've already read Orwell and Zamyatin, and I'm not looking for Luke Skywalker or Flash Gordon!

[PeterL]

I've already read Orwell and Zamyatin, and I'm not looking for Luke Skywalker or Flash Gordon!

You might enjoy The Boat of a Million Years by Poul Anderson, which is excellent in may ways, not least of which is a view of humanity. Have you read the Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov?

There's a huge difference between good science fiction and the crap that gets made into movies. It would be very difficult to make the good stuff into movies, because it is too complicated.

[Erna]

"Time Machine" by H.G. Wells.

[Whifflingpin]

"The Dispossessed." "Left Hand of Darkness," etc by U K le Guin

"The Time after this" Gibson?

"Riddley Walker" Russell Hoban

.

[TEND]

Ooooh Ridley Walker is excellent!

[Scheherazade]

Do you know books like Animal Farm, 1984, We that talks about future society? But not SF, serious novels!Handmaid's Tale by Atwood.

[Guzmán]

this one is not in the same line as those mentioned earlier but it does discuss a future society in certain ways: Hermann Hesse's "The Glass Bead Game".

[PeterL]

Do you know books like Animal Farm, 1984, We that talks about future society? But not SF, serious novels!

I just noticed this again, and it struck me that you mentioned two science fiction novels, then go on to say "But not SF, serious novels!" I guess that was why you used an '!' at the end of that sentence.

[bazarov]

Thanks for suggestions!

[mtpspur]

Now remember bazarov at least knew who Flash Gordon is without whom Luje Skywalker would never have been conceived. Put the ray gun down mtp put it down.

I think the problem with 1984/Animal Farm type books is that they 'date' quickly which is why SF tends to have more of that material out. Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles might be your taste and some of Arthur C. Clarke. Otherwise I'm no help to you in this area. I'm going back to look at more Mac Raboy pictures from the 50s now. If I knew how I'ld put one of those smilely icons on after the previous sentence. Anyone tell me how to post an avatar??? Been wanting the Blackhawk symbol for mine ever since I came on board. For anyone who pays attention to my semi-autographic notes the AF gave the computers to the Operations section--Administration was still on typewriters (we were just starting to get computers when Uncle Sam cut the knot so my computer expertise is very hit and miss.

[0bliv!on]

Arthur C. Clark is a must read, especially his Space Odyssey series. Also good authors are Greg Bear and Ben Bova who deal in speculative fiction. Peter F Hamilton also has some of the most extensive 'future society' descriptions of any book, in his Night's Dawn trilogy and the Commonwealth Saga, but his stories are much more action/adventure based.

[mtpspur]

Finally read the forum notes on avatar posting etc but now if I can just figure it out. Akin to reading the instruction manual. So I'm starting to crawl out of computer illiteracy.

[Woland]

I would suggest Phillip K. Dick, also Abe Kobo.