Hello!
Anthony Burgess. His name is known to everyone - he wrote "A Clockwork Orange". The main character of the book is Alex, a young guy who organically combines aggression and love of classical music. In 1971, Stanley Kubrick made the film of the same name, considered a cult film.
The first chapter without any preparation immediately introduces us to a new world. A 29-year-old woman named Beatrice-Joanna Foxe has lost a child. He was not treated by anyone, but she can complain to no one: in the new world they love it when children die, but it's better that they do not exist at all. And they do not bury the dead, they make fertilizers for the land. The planet is overpopulated, the birth of children is not welcomed, the Ministry of Infertility promotes homosexuality, their posters are hung over the whole city. "To be Homo-sapiens" are inscriptions on posters.
And although heterosexuality is not forbidden, homosexuals and lesbians get the best positions and the best food rations. Well, to be a castrato is to hit the jackpot! The whole world is at your feet now!
Next we get acquainted with Tristram Foxe - the husband of Beatrice-Johanna. He is a history teacher at the boy's school in London. He looks forward to promotion, but his successful career is hindered by family background. The fact that he was born in a family where there were four children! Tristram was said:
'You're entitled to marry if you want to, you're entitled to one birth in the family, though, of course, the best people just don't. Just don't.'
The fact is that your old man and your old lady broke the rule very nastily, very nastily indeed, Yah. He was what? - something in the Ministry of Agriculture, wasn't he? According to this dossier he was. Well, it was just a little bit cynical, I'd say, helping to increase the national food supply with one hand and getting four kids with the other.
Beatrice sister has two children, Beatrice and Tristram have one child, although he is already dead. Aura of fertility surrounds their family. The only bright spot in the biography of the unfortunate teacher is his brother Derek, a homosexual.
But here we are expected a surprise). Beatrice is cheating Tristram with Derek. How that happened? Derek just pretends to be a homosexual to climb the career ladder all the way up. But the love triangle will not last long. In the world strange things begin to occur - animals suffer from unknown diseases, and the harvest dies. People have nothing to eat, except for each other.
As I said, the main characters annoyed me very much. Similar books (in terms of heroes) come across me rarely. Usually, you sympathize with the hero, you live with them their lives, but here ...
- Beatrice-Johanna. A stupid, naive woman who thinks only of having sex with Derek. She doesn't think about the consequences. She does what she wants. She sends love letters to Derek, not worrying about safety. She sabotages all people around whatever's good for her. She loves both brothers and thinks how to sit on two chairs). If you understand what I mean).
- Tristram. A weak whiner, mattress, is capable of acting only under the influence of alcohol. Knowing in what world he lives, isn't responsible for his words, accuses his brother of everything, and when he gets into trouble, he begs for mercy of the man whom he recently wanted to kill. Easily adjusts to the circumstances. Yes, cannibalism is bad, but he wants to eat.
There is not a single positive character. It is clear that Burgess himself does not feel any sympathy for anybody, easily giving heroes to torment and substituting them under the most unpleasant situations. The author shows in what farce the world is turning, which people tried to make ideal. And how quickly people change. It is necessary to be non-traditional orientation? You are welcome. Are we making sacrifices to the gods? You are welcome. Are we cannibals now? OK. Believe in God? Exiled priests immediately return to serve the Mass. No one has an absolute faith in anything, they just do what they do just right now. This is especially noticeable on the monument near the sea. The tablet under it changes under the effect of the slow passage of time.
The book is good, but I think impressionable people will find it hard to read. There are no vile details, everything is served by dry facts, but imagination draws all the rest.
The only drawback of the book for me was its rapid completion and the second half of the book. I wanted the changing world to be revealed better. It seemed that in the end the author was in a hurry to finish the book and the narrative was fragmentary.
Burgess came up with an interesting world. I hope that such progress does not wait for us.