I have discovered that I enjoy books that imagine what our futures may hold. For example, in the novel Feed by M.T. Anderson, people are implanted with devices that allow for information to be instantly and constantly downloaded directly into their brains. Students no longer have to go onto the internet for information or, heaven forbid, actually look in an encyclopedia! Instead, students simply have to think about a topic and all the information about that topic is instantly downloaded into their brains. In the novel, people become so tuned in to their downloads that they can barely function without them. If you teach in a high school, that doesn't seem too farfetched!
In the novel Matched by Ally Condie, society has reinvented itself after it was determined that there was TOO MUCH information cluttering minds. Now, instead of instant information about any topic, government officials have destroyed all information except what has been determined to be the very best: 100 best songs, 100 best poems, 100 best paintings, etc. Anything that did not make it into the top 100 was destroyed. The Officials have also eliminated choice so as to make life simplier. Marriages are arranged, careers are assigned, meals are pre-determined with portion control, exercise and leisure activities are scheduled, even the age in which people die is controlled (80th birthday). But what happens when someone decides to make his/her own choices? Cassia and Ky are detemined to live their lives the way they want to, even if it means losing everything.
Two different novels, two different takes on the future. Both interesting reads because I can easily imagine them happening in our future!
In the novel Matched by Ally Condie, society has reinvented itself after it was determined that there was TOO MUCH information cluttering minds. Now, instead of instant information about any topic, government officials have destroyed all information except what has been determined to be the very best: 100 best songs, 100 best poems, 100 best paintings, etc. Anything that did not make it into the top 100 was destroyed. The Officials have also eliminated choice so as to make life simplier. Marriages are arranged, careers are assigned, meals are pre-determined with portion control, exercise and leisure activities are scheduled, even the age in which people die is controlled (80th birthday). But what happens when someone decides to make his/her own choices? Cassia and Ky are detemined to live their lives the way they want to, even if it means losing everything.
Two different novels, two different takes on the future. Both interesting reads because I can easily imagine them happening in our future!