A communist ripoff of Rip Van Winkle, Edward Bellamy's "Looking Backward:2000-1887" stars 1887-er Julian West, who wakes up to find himself in the year 2000. The protagonist then writes a book describing this horrific new world, somehow considered by himself and Bellamy to be a "paradise." In this brave new world there is no money and no organization of social classes. Though it seems to respect individual identity to a greater degree than other socialist movements, like in any such philosophy it is ultimately a great pretense. And yet the individuals in Bellamy's story feign happiness and are somehow prevented from suicide by the government or some other aspect of the social structure.

Let's get real, though. I am not a drop in a sea of humanity, nor am I somehow mystically connected to every other human being. Screw the socialists; It ain't so and we all know it. There are no cops nor prisons in Bellamy's fantasy, yet somehow those who reject the social order are placed into solitary confinement and fed on bread and water. This would include any of us who would seek to preserve our individual identities. No, Bellamy doesn't want a violent revolution, but he does have a sick way of dealing with his ideological opponents (which is yet somehow inspiring, if I say so myself).

Erotic Lines From Looking Backward

Unfortunately, Bellamy had to include one of those ubiquitous cheesy love affairs in his story. Even more unfortunately, it is a good Christian love affair, just like Bellamy is a good Christian. No hokey pokey, just a lot of cheese. The only redeeming feature is the humorous fact that Julian's newfound love is the great-grandaughter of his ex-fiancée. Putting Bellamy against his ideological opponent, Ayn Rand, Mrs. Rand would definitely win in this case as she at least knows how to write a damn good love scene. Despite Bellamy's goody-goody Christian-ness, there are at least a few lines that sound interesting if taken out of context. They include:

I... had been completely fagged out that day, from having slept scarcely at all the two previous nights.

"Ah!" ejaculated my companion with an air of much interest.

The tender human sympathy which thrilled in the soft pressure of her fingers had brought me the support I needed.

"I can't say that I do not have times of feeling decidedly queer," I replied...

Well, that's all. I guess it is an entertaining book, for a dirty piece of socialist propaganda. I guess I'll close with the words of my history professor, which sum up my feelings nicely: "It's an interesting read, but great literature it's not."