Disturbing, playful & prophetic; a classic

In his 1962 novel, The Wanting Seed, Burgess journeys into the dystopian world with one of the most breath-taking tales of its genre.

As other reviewers on other sites have remarked, it sits alongside Brave New World, 1984, and other class-leaders (to which list I would add Bradbury's excellent Farenheit 451) - though there is some debate elsewhere whether it scores as highly as these others. I would assert that it does, largely because of the way in which Burgess introduces concepts not explored elsewhere which are at the very least topical / satirical, but also in parts of vital global importance.

The first of this is the over-population issue itself. Liberalised and even stringent enforcement measures are failing. The populace (as portrayed metaphorically by Beatrice-Joanna) is indifferent, impassive and ultimately self-absorbed, when it comes to family and procreation. The ethical challenge is barely considered as personal desire, love, devotion, wins out over moral responsibility. Keenly observed and hugely important as an observation on the human condition.

Secondly, how the population control is managed through war is chillingly introduced, and arguably Tristam's experiences in the army are the most vividly depicted [so much so in fact that I sensed a definite bridge between this and the earlier parts of the book, as if they had been two separate concepts woven together later] anywhere in the novel. And consider how authoritarian states use foreign conflict (or any conflict) as a necessary part of policy; consider then 'foreign conflicts' in recent times