Monday, Jun. 18, 1923

Men Like Gods

Mr. Wells Sketches a Utopia of Generous Worth

Here * is a five-star, sporting-final edition of Utopia -subject, of course, to instant change without notice. All previous Utopias are cancelled; this is the very latest model -2,000 rooms, 2,000 baths and running iced nectar on every floor.

The Story. The tired subeditor of the London Liberal, "that well known organ of the more depressing aspects of advanced thought," sneaks away for a lonely vacation from journalism and a noisy family. He and his flivver, by an accident only Einstein could fitly explain, crash right through the fourth dimension and into Utopia -where he finds a handful of other Earthlings, as bewildered as he at finding themselves translated to a new and perfect universe. The others include those whom Mr. Wells seems to regard as typical public nuisances of a modern civilization -a titled lady, pleasant, but futile, a millionaire lord of the shady variety, a semi-prominent demi-mondaine - French diplomat, rulers of empire such as Lord Robert Cecil and Winston Churchill -a bellicose priest who is obviously intended for Father Vaughan.

No sooner have the Earthlings become acclimated to Utopia, than they yet about to conquer it in the good old fashioned way of Pizarro and Clive. Infectious diseases have been so long stamped out in Utopia by the Utopian scientists that the mere arrival of the Earthlings sets up an epidemic. They are put in quarantine -and promptly start ambushing their hosts as a beginning of making Utopia safe for Democracy. Only the subeditor, Mr. Barnstaple, dissents fro'm the Earthling program of conquest and is nearly shot as a traitor by his fellows as a result. He escapes from them, after hair-breadth adventures -they are shot back violently to earth via Utopian wireless -and he remains in Utopia for some time, studying its civilization. Finally, he returns -it is the only act of service he can do Utopia, for it will assist the ends of Utopian science returns, unwilling, to the old, individualistic earth of crowds and hate and private greed.

The Significance. The earliest dreams of mankind concern an imagined Earthly Paradise. Here is the Earthly Paradise of one of the most brilliant, varied and active minds of our time. The prescription will not suit all palates, but should, nevertheless, prove stimulating and provocative to anyone not a moron. A gorgeous but rigid dream -the acme of possible scientific and eugenic perfection -a fascinating and plausible illusion. And yet -in spite of all the merits of the book -one wonders at times. Can Heaven-on-Earth, if possible, prove quite so efficiently readymade?

The Critics. Henry James Forman in The New York Times: " Wells in our era has made Utopia constructively visible and almost respectable."

William Allen White: "It is more fun than a box of monkeys -this satire, this tragedy, this essay in morals, this comedy of manners, together with a full and complete political program for the Left Wing of the Philosophical Anarchists. Men Like Gods is q good book for a bad time in the world.

The Author. Herbert George Wells is, probably, the best known living writer of English. The list of his published books includes over 50 titles - novels -books of short stories - fantastic and imaginative romances -books on social, religious and political questions--books about childrens' play -and still his energy shows no sign whatever of diminishing. His more important works include: Mr. Polly, Tono Bungay, Mr. Brifling Sees It Through (novels) - The Food of the Gods, The War of the Worlds (imaginative romances) -Mankind in the Making, New Worlds For Old, The Outline of History, A Short History of the World.

*MEN LIKE GODS -H. G. Wells -Macmillan ($2.00).