The Inner House

by Walter Besant

In the distant future, an ageless society with a strict government, faces a small rebellion from citizens eager to break away from their rule. It is a cautionary tale that portrays the dangers of immortality. A futuristic society discovers the key to a long and ageless life. Scientists have developed an elixir that allows citizens to live beyond expectations. With this advancement comes new regulations that require each person to embrace uniform behaviors. Without the limitation of death, people become mindless and apathetic to one another. Overpopulation is controlled by a unique policy in which each birth must be justified by a death. A group of vigilantes attempt to disrupt this system, with hopes of returning to nineteenth-century norms. A notable predecessor to Aldous Huxley's Brave New World , The Inner House explores the social and ethical conflicts surrounding immortality. Walter Besant delivers a cautionary tale where death is rare and often unexpected. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Inner House is both modern and readable.

Genres: Dystopia, 19th Century, Fiction

148 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1888

About the author

Sir Walter Besant was a novelist and historian from London. His sister-in-law was Annie Besant. The son of a merchant, he was born in Portsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire and attended school at St Paul's, Southsea, Stockwell Grammar, London and King's College London. In 1855, he was admitted as a pensioner to Christ's College, Cambridge, where he graduated in 1859 as 18th wrangler. After a year as Mathematical Master at Rossall School, Fleetwood, Lancashire and a year at Leamington College, he spent 6 years as professor of mathematics at the Royal College, Mauritius. A breakdown in health compelled him to resign, and he returned to England and settled in London in 1867. He took the duties of Secretary to the Palestine Exploration Fund, which he held 1868-85. In 1871, he was admitted to Lincoln's Inn.

Reviews

[· · Rating 2 out of 5]

(26 November, 2017)

Ahhhh, the dream of all (well... most), what would happen if we became immortal? Not just me, or you, but all of us! Besant thinks us fools who would devolve into mindless, somewhat apathetic, zombies... hummm, he might not be so off the mark as I originally thought, are we not doing that, as a species, right now?

This story is like a plain-cake doughnut; initially looks and tastes fine, has a somewhat boring middle and, to top it all off, an unsatisfying end. You feel kinda bad for consuming the whole thing.

[Ralph Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quoting Dr. Ian Malcolm from Jurassic Park, “..your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should”. That’s what can be concluded for this novel.

The scientists became the elite when they discovered/made an elixir of immortality. They know the consequences, yet almost all of the people in their community decided to take it. Traditional values ceased, and the people live as apathetic as zombies, because living long can make you lose your emotions (and we know emotions make us humans).

To control the population, there should be no new births. Since everyone is equal, everyone wears the same thing and live in the same housing structure just like everybody else. If any family wants a baby, an incentive will be given for murder to make space for the baby.

Imagine that? Someone wants a new family member, so there will be an announcement that another someone should be killed to make way for the baby. No hard feelings; the authority will compensate with an incentive. Besides, everyone lives a stable life, but no emotions yeah?

[Lulu]

1888

dystopian fantasy about a society which has reached a stage of inert uniformity under the control of an elite group of scientists who have discovered an elixir of immortality. The plot follows a rebel group which wishes to restore the more exciting conditions of nineteenth-century life. It has been described as an anticipation of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.

[Paulina · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 ^^'

[Susie Gerow · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a futuristic science fiction, not a genre I seek out. It was a little interesting seeing the predictions for the future, but I could not sustain interest long enough to read it all.