Editing Looking Backward (section)

==Synopsis==
Bellamy's novel is set [[Boston, Massachusetts]] and tells the story of a young American man named Julian West who, in 1887, falls into a deep, [[hypnosis]]-induced sleep and wakes up 113 years later. He finds himself in the same location ([[Boston, Massachusetts]]), but in a totally changed world: It is the year [[2000]], and while he was sleeping, the United States has been transformed into a [[socialist]] utopia.<ref name=UtopianNYT2000/> The remainder of the book outlines Bellamy's thoughts about improving the future. The major themes include problems associated with [[capitalism]], a proposed socialist solution of a nationalization of all industry, and the use of an "industrial army" to organize production and distribution, as well as how to ensure free cultural production under such conditions.

The young man is awoken to a guide, Doctor Leete, who shows him around and explains all the advances of this new age, including drastically reduced working hours for people performing menial jobs and almost instantaneous, internet-like delivery of goods. Everyone retires with full benefits at age 45, and may eat in any of the public kitchens (realized as [[Factory-kitchen|factory-kitchens]] in the 1920s–30s in the USSR). The productive capacity of the United States is nationally owned, and the goods of society are equally distributed to its citizens. A considerable portion of the book is dialogue between Leete and West wherein West expresses his confusion about how the future society works and Leete explains the answers using various methods, such as metaphors or direct comparisons with 19th-century society.

Although Bellamy's novel did not discuss technology or the economy in detail, commentators frequently compare ''Looking Backward'' with actual economic and technological developments.<ref name=BellamySynopsisNYT/> For example, Julian West is taken to a store which (with its descriptions of cutting out the middleman to cut down on waste in a similar way to the [[consumers' cooperative]]s of his own day based on the ''[[Rochdale Principles]]'' of 1844) somewhat resembles a modern [[warehouse club]] like BJ's, Costco, or Sam's Club. He additionally introduces a concept of "credit" cards in chapters 9, 10, 11, 13, 25, and 26, but these actually function like modern [[debit card]]s. All citizens receive an equal amount of "credit." Those with more difficult, specialized, dangerous, or unpleasant jobs work fewer hours. Bellamy also predicts both sermons and music being available in the home through [[cable radio|cable "telephone"]] (already demonstrated but commercialized only in 1890 as [[Théâtrophone]] in France).

Bellamy's ideas somewhat reflect classical [[Marxism]].<ref name=":7">{{cite web|access-date=2024-12-06 |author=Agnieszka Haska; Jerzy Stachowicz |date=2014-01-15 |title=Łowiki i stegozaury |url=https://blog.polona.pl/2014/01/lowiki-stegozaury/ |website=Polona/Blog. Przegląd Cyfrowej Biblioteki Narodowej}}<!-- auto-translated from Polish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> In chapter 19, for example, he has the new legal system explained. Most [[civil suits]] have ended in socialism, while crime has become a medical issue. The idea of [[atavism]], then current, is employed to explain crimes not related to inequality (which Bellamy thinks will vanish with socialism). Remaining criminals are medically treated. One professional judge presides, appointing two colleagues to state the prosecution and defense cases. If all do not agree on the verdict, then it must be tried again. Chapters 15 and 16 have an explanation of how free, independent public art and news outlets could be provided in a more [[libertarian socialist]] system. In one case, Bellamy even writes, "the nation is the sole employer and capitalist."<ref>{{citation |url=https://earnthis.net/10-things-brian-likes-7-time-travel
|title=10 Things Brian Likes: Time Travel|date=September 6, 2014 }}</ref>