ISLAND

by Aldous Huxley ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 28, 1962

Huxley's new setting, the island of Pala, the fictional utopia of his latest work, attests to the presumption that it was not science he was attacking in World Rather one can feel that the sterility of the earlier book inhered not in utilitarianism but in spiritual-less utilitarianism; not in progress, but in progress that yielded not in the realm of ethical humanism. Just as ""Brave New World"" was apotheosized by the depressant, Soma, so the ""Island"" (Pala) is by the hallucinogen, noks-medicine. Where as Som induced forgetfulness, moksha produces awareness. The cunning of the West is tempered by the wisdom of the East. Inhabitants of Pala are taught birth control, destiny control and an improved Mahayana Buddhism. Their children are spiritually broadened by a parent-pool; their genes are regenerated by a winning combination of advanced refrigeration and artificial insemination. To this paradise civilization come Will Farnaby, modern man par excellence -- cynical, brooding, passively of his destiny and man's. It is his job to bring the government of Pala into line. Commissioned by an all zar, he is to work something out so that the vast oil resources of the island, cut off for two-hundred years from the rest of civilization of Om unuttered, partakes of the moksha medicine and is converted to the way of . Hugley again presents something of a treatise with an excuse. His plot, sub plots, characters are occasionally interpolated upon his longish essay. It is good, clean metaphysical fun, however, and about the moksha medicine -- Well, you hadda be there.

Pub Date: March 28, 1962

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harper

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1962

Categories: FICTION