Great Utopian and Dystopian Works of Literature by Pamela Bedore

5 out of 5 stars  *****

Excellent presentation of 24 lectures in a series covering old classic literature and novels of today that are either utopian or dystopian with aspects of utopia or dystopia in the world. Some authors incorporate an utopian society that turns out to be dystopian as in H. G. Wells science fiction novella, Time Machine, published in 1895. Utopia describes a place of seeming perfection, an ideal way of life. Dystopia describes a place or society that experiences suffering and turmoil under a totalitarian government or a post apocalyptic world.

Pamela Bedore teaches more than just the literary works in this category. She informs her audience about the authors and the changes that occur over time; such as, women becoming profoundly proficient in the field of science fiction that men originally dominated. The first science fiction story is said to be Mary Shelley's, Frankenstein, published in 1818. Then, science fiction becomes the fertile genre for these stories. 

Bedore points out that reading, in general, is on the decline but young adults reading is on the rise. Young adult dystopia is very popular these days. She also informs that readers as young as eight years-old encounter dystopia in the classroom through the novel, The Giver, 1993, by Lois Lowry, which follows an adolescent boy, Jonas, through an apparent utopian society that is, in reality, a dystopia.

Listening to this series of lectures also enlightens the audience to the ancient wisdom of being accountable for one's actions and not taking something for nothing without paying a price. The moral lessons necessary to exhibit in a dystopian environment to change for the better requires the strength of character that encompass spiritual integrity, especially compassion and a sense of righteousness that can be true justice, fair and equal. But because mankind is not morally perfect and fraught with greed, pride, and envy, utopia and dystopia are alive and well in the world of literature where authors dream of overcoming great odds to live in Paradise, hopefully again, one day.