Aldous Huxley (1894-1963), “Island”, 1962.

Aldous Huxley, “Brave New World”, 1932 was the topic of an earlier blog post; here, I present Aldous Huxley, “Island”, 1962 nautical, science-fiction novel.  “Island”, 1962 was the final book published by Aldous Huxley; and, is contrast to the dystopian “Brave New World”, 1932 is an utopian novel.  “Brave New World”, 1932 was set in early 20th century “machine-age” America; in contrast, “Island”, 1962 is a story of an primitive, “island paradise”.

“William Farnaby” is the protagonist, a journalist who deliberately, shipwrecks on the fictional island of “Pala”.  The geography of fictional, “Pala Island” is of an “Indonesian Island”.  “Pala” is a  kingdom of Mahayana Buddhism; and opposed to killing, even  without a military.  Palanese is the spoken language; and, English is spoken in this bilingual culture.  Protagonist William Farnaby is on the island of Pala to get oil drilling rights for the oil baron “Joseph Aldehyde”.  During the shipwrecking William Farnaby has a leg injury; and, hearing a “myna bird” screams for attention.  Medical treatment for William Farnaby’s leg injury is supplied by “Doctor Robert MacPhail”.

Aldous Huxley was a noted user of the drug LSD.  On the Beatles, “Revolver” album “Doctor Robert” is an eponymous song of 1960’s psychedelic culture; and, taken from Aldous Huxley, “Island”, 1962.  Aldous Huxley, wrote “Brave New World”, 1932; and he wrote “Island”, 1962.  The 30-years between the two novels, Aldous Huxley was a “psychonaut”: and, Buddhism, LSD, whatever … were part of him and his writings.