Comments on: Looking Backward

Looking Backward

nasreddin — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 19:24:15 -0800

Looking Backward: From 2000 to 1887, a Utopian novel by Edward Bellamy. A classic 19th century socialist vision of the future.

By: Lentrohamsanin

Lentrohamsanin — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 19:29:23 -0800

And howsabout a little News From Nowhere ( or An Epoch of Rest Being Some Chapters From a Utopian Romance) by William Morris while we're at it? Or H. G. Wells' oft overlooked When The Sleeper Wakes (though there we're starting to roll into dystopian territory)?

By: champthom

champthom — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 19:36:24 -0800

Decent book. Covered sidewalks are a novel idea, and it's too bad he was a few years too early for the invention of the radio, as he kinda described a radio though it was based over the telephone line. His actual ideas, eh. This was a pretty influential book, from what I've heard. I hear it was considered an extremely powerful book back in the day, not to mention there were Bellamy Clubs and Bellamy became a popular speaker. Also, fun fact: Edward Bellamy was a cousin to Francis Bellamy, the man who wrote the words to "The Pledge of Allegiance"

By: nasreddin

nasreddin — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 19:36:32 -0800

Also, Wilde's classic essay "The Soul of Man Under Socialism."

By: L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg

L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 19:38:03 -0800

The amazing thing is that he correctly predicted that Dippin' Dots would replace all other forms of ice cream.

By: sdrawkcab

sdrawkcab — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 19:38:42 -0800

I put this in the "How has this never been FPPed before?" category. I read the book as a kid, it has some neat predictions of the future, like grates in everyone's parlor where music could be piped in from a central location (radio?), and also some crazy socialist ideas. Oh, and the idea of baseball teams being organized by industry, rather than region, has also seemed cool to me (e.g. the Steelers versus the Carpenters, with the winners taking on the Lawyers).

By: brownpau

brownpau — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 20:12:24 -0800

Here it is on Gutenberg. I'm syncing it to my Palm as a PDB DOC for eReader right now. Retrofuture visions are such fun; that's why I keep an eye on Paleo-Future for stuff like this.

By: chlorus

chlorus — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 20:28:19 -0800

That book almost bored me as much as The Jungle. Now for some good futurist utopia writing, check out The New Atlantis and the Great Instauration.

By: Smart Dalek

Smart Dalek — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 20:29:31 -0800

Your favorite public-domain literature sucks. And in Poland, beyond the watchful eye of Soviet Russia, Samisdat sucked YOU.

By: BrotherCaine

BrotherCaine — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 21:33:34 -0800

I remember reading this in my teens. I can't say it had too much of an impact on me, but I was impressed at what he had gotten right. Reason magazine: Looking Back at Looking Backward

By: jeanmari

jeanmari — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 22:19:58 -0800

Wow. Thanks. This is one of the 1500 books that came with the House Full O'Crap we bought. I put it aside on a shelf and forgot about it until you posted this. I think I'll browse through it now that I've remembered it!

By: stbalbach

stbalbach — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 05:27:12 -0800

Here it is at Internet Archive, scanned edition from 1917 (for those who like historical fonts and formating, foxed pages, browning paper etc.. smell and feel not yet included).

By: Scram

Scram — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 22:30:09 -0800

And if you're in Los Angeles, you can visit the extraordinary building inspired by the book.