Brave New World: An interactive learning module

BRAVE NEW WORLD

BRAVE NEW WORLD

BRAVE NEW WORLD

start

What if science could build a perfect society? A society without war, poverty, or heartbreak. Everyone is healthy, has a purpose, and is guaranteed to be happy. ...But what is the cost of this perfect peace? And what happens to the people and places that don't fit in? Explore this world — and the one left behind — to find out.

Begin your journey

Visit the World State

Visit the Reservation

Interview the residents

Talk to the World Controller

All content © Anna X. Qin, 2025-2026. All rights reserved. For educational use only. Not for commercial use.

© Anna X Qin 2025-6

Chapter menu

Skip directly to key plot points in each section using the links below.

Who made this?: How can I use this module?: How can I get in touch with you?: Is there a way for me to support this project?:

Controller

The World State

Reservation

Conditioning

Entertainment

Hatchery

First debate point: sacrifices

Entering the settlement

Sleep conditioning (hypnopaedia)

Helicopter ride over the city

Director explains problems with families

Meet John

Second debate point: caste system

Fear conditioning on Delta babies

Entering the Feely Theater

Entering the Embryo Storehouse

What happens to "misfits"?

John's memories

Going out to the playground

After the Feely

Final choice: initial offer

Inside John and Linda's hut

How different castes are created

Explanation of "everyone belongs to everyone else"

Inside the Games Center

Final choice: all 4 choices

Take John and Linda back?

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How to use this module

You will be making choices in a story. Think carefully about your choices, because most of the time, you will not be able to change your choice! You might need to click on buttons like these: Sometimes, you will need to figure out what you need to click on to continue.

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How to use this module

Your progress does not save, so you should finish a section before closing or refreshing your browser. (In the World State, the Hatchery, Conditioning Center, and Entertainment Complex are different sections.)

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How to use this module

A good way to go through the module is:

1. Visit the World State (Hatchery > Conditioning Center > Entertainment Complex)
2. Visit the Reservation
3. Interview the Residents
4. Talk to the World Controller

The only thing that really matters is that you do "Talk to the World Controller" last.

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How to use this module

If you have a technical problem, please tell me about it in the "Share your thoughts" form so that I can try to fix it :)

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Share your thoughts

I would appreciate it a lot if you could take a few minutes to fill out the feedback form! It helps me know what you thought about this module and make it better.

Go to the right feedback form:

I am a teacher

I am a learner

(or work in a related field)

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Finished the module and just need to see the reflection questions?

Yes, take me to the reflection questions

No, I haven't finished the module yet

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About & copyright

Who made this?: How can I use this module?: How can I get in touch with you?: Is there a way for me to support this project?:

Anna X. Qin If you are a teacher, you are welcome to use this module in your classroom. You may not use any part of this module for commercial purposes. You must provide attribution when sharing it, and if you create any derivative works, you may not distribute them. Connect with me on LinkedIn: Sign up for emails about new creations (max 2x per year):

• Filling out the "Share your thoughts" form helps a lot!
• Consider leaving me a testimonial on LinkedIn.
• Share the link with colleagues or friends who might like it.
• If you would like to support this project with a donation, you can do so here:

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All content © Anna X. Qin 2025-2026. All rights reserved.

Welcome to the World State. Tall buildings rise into the sky, and silent vehicles glide along planned routes. Where would you like to explore first in this perfectly ordered world?

The Hatchery

The Conditioning Center

The Entertainment Complex

You step inside the Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Center. The entrance hall is huge, clean, and quiet. It feels more like a high-tech company than a place where life begins.

You enter the main laboratory floor. It's huge, bright, and filled with the quiet hum of advanced machines. People in white lab coats move efficiently between complex equipment. You see a tall man in a lab coat. He looks important.

“Ah! A visitor.” The man's voice is smooth and confident. “Welcome. As you know, I am the Director of the Hatchery and Conditioning Center.” He gestures around the busy lab. “This is where our society truly begins. Here, we create and shape the citizens of our stable, happy world.” “What would you like to understand about our very important work?”

“What exactly happens here?”

The Director looks pleased by the question. “This is where life is perfected! We choose the best eggs and sperm, check the genes... We ensure every future citizen is perfect before development even begins. No accidents, no problems. Just pure, applied science creating the people for our society.”

“What about families? Mothers and fathers?"

“How do you create the people?"

“Families?” The Director raises an eyebrow slightly. “An inefficient, messy system! Full of uncontrolled feelings – jealousy, anger, sadness. It caused endless problems.” He shakes his head disapprovingly. “And children were born so randomly! Completely unpredictable results.” He leans in slightly. “Here, we control everything. Safety, predictability. Making sure people fit their future role. We can even produce many identical people for jobs that need everyone to be the same – something impossible with natural birth. It's simply... better.”

“What do you mean, 'fit their future role'?”

“How do you grow the babies?”

The Director guides you to a large window looking into another room filled with glowing screens and focused workers. “Planning!” he says with satisfaction. “Before an embryo even starts developing, its future is decided. Its group, its job, its place in society. Everything is calculated for the good of everyone. No one is wasted, no one feels out of place. Just perfect social harmony, designed from the beginning.”

“So where do the embryos develop?”

"Ah, the next stage! Embryo development happens in our highly advanced storehouse. Follow me." The Director leads you towards a set of large double doors at the end of the lab.

You walk through the first set of doors into a space lit only by red light. As the first set of doors close, the bright light of the lab vanishes.

“The embryos are sensitive to normal light during development,” the Director explains, his voice echoing a little in the space. “Red light only in here.” The second set of doors open, and you step into a huge hall filled with a dim, deep red glow.

You stand in a huge, dimly lit space filled with the low hum of machinery. Everything is bathed in a deep red glow. Above you, robotic arms on tracks move slowly, carrying racks filled with thousands of glass jars. Below, workers in white coats move quietly among complex machines linked by pipes and wires. The jars, visible inside the equipment, shine like dark red jewels.

The Director points to a section of the machinery where robotic arms carefully treat some passing bottles. "Watch here," he says. "This is where specific development begins." You see some bottles receiving injections or different light treatment compared to others. “Look carefully. Our society needs people for different jobs. So we make different kinds of people.”

"Other groups, like the Alphas (A) and Betas (B), get the best conditions so they can grow up smart and make decisions. This prepares them for jobs in management, science, and thinking.”

“Groups needed for simpler jobs, like Deltas (D) and Epsilons (E), might get a small amount of alcohol or less oxygen to limit their growth and intelligence. This way, they are happy doing simple, easy work, and don't worry about difficult ideas.”

“Each group – we call them castes – gets exactly what they need for their future life," the Director continues. "Alphas do the most important jobs, Betas do skilled work, Deltas and Epsilons are happy with simpler tasks. It works very well."

"But why make these different groups?"

Look surprised or unsure

The Director looks at you as if the answer is simple. “My dear friend, for happiness! People are happiest doing the work they are made for.” “Can you imagine an Epsilon trying to be a top scientist? He would be so confused and unhappy! And if an Alpha had to work a simple machine all day? Think how bored and restless that person would be!”

The Director smiles knowingly. “Here, we stop that kind of unhappiness before it starts. In the past, people could choose anything, and it made them miserable! Fighting, being unsure, always wanting what others had... Here, each caste has its place. Every person fits their job. And so, our world is peaceful and everyone is happy with their life.”

The Director smiles at you patiently. “My dear friend,” he says, “just think – a person with the mind of a scientist should not waste time doing factory work. And a factory worker should not dream of being a leader. Here, we create people who will be happy with the life they are meant to have.”

The Director leans back. “In the past, people could choose anything, and it made them miserable! Fighting, being unsure, always wanting what others had... We stop that kind of unhappiness before it starts.” He sweeps a hand across the huge red room. “When these babies grow up, they will love their work, because they were made for it. And so, our society is stable and peaceful.”

The Director seems satisfied with his explanation. “Now,” he says, becoming business-like again, “you've seen how we create life. The next step is shaping the mind after birth. Shall we visit the Conditioning Center nurseries?”

Go to the Conditioning Center

"Maybe later. I'd like to see something else first."

"Very well," the Director says. He leads you towards another set of double doors. As they slide open, you step out of the deep red darkness back into a brightly lit hallway. The sudden brightness makes you blink. A soft, repeating whisper seems to come from speakers in the ceiling: “Quiet, please... Teaching in progress... Quiet, please...”

"As you wish," the Director says politely. "Feel free to explore other areas of our World State when you are ready." He leads you back towards the main lab area. You walk back through the bright, busy laboratory, past the humming machines and focused workers, and leave the Hatchery building.

You follow the Director down the bright hallway. The soft whispering continues: “Silence is golden... quiet helps learning... silence, please...” The Director stops before a door. "The Beta Sleep-Teaching Nursery," he announces.

You enter the Conditioning Center. The hallway is bright, clean, and modern. A soft, repeating whisper comes from hidden speakers: “Quiet, please... Teaching in progress... Quiet, please...” You walk down the hallway, looking for where to go. A door nearby slides open silently as someone approaches from inside.

The Director steps out from inside the room and notices you. "Ah, our visitor! Exploring the Conditioning Center, I see? Excellent. I was just checking with Bernard here about the progress in the Beta Nursery. Perhaps you'd like to see?" He gestures towards the room he just exited.

“Yes please.”

You step into a large, warm, dimly lit room. Small beds stand in neat rows, each with a toddler sleeping peacefully. All the children wear tiny headphones. A soft whisper repeats: “Betas wear green. Green is a lovely color. I’m so glad I’m a Beta...”

The Director gestures proudly. "Primary teaching for our Betas. Sleep-teaching. Very effective."

“This is Bernard,” the Director says. “He’s one of our specialists in sleep-teaching.” Bernard gives a short, awkward nod. His 'A' badge seems slightly crooked. "Yes. That's... my field." He doesn't seem as enthusiastic as the Director. The Director smiles smoothly. "Bernard can answer any questions you have about this important process."

“What are they learning?”

“Does this sleep-teaching really work?”

“Teaching them like this... do you think it's right?”

Bernard glances at the Director, then looks at you. “They learn the basic ideas everyone needs. Their place in society, why being part of a group is good, the rules they must follow.” He says flatly, “Trouble in your head? Take Soma instead! – Buy it new, it's good for you. – Each has a role, part of the whole. They hear these things hundreds of times. Later, these ideas feel like their own thoughts.”

Bernard gives a small, tight smile. “Oh, it works. You can’t learn facts like history or science this way. But feelings? Ideas about right and wrong? Yes. That sinks in deep.” He looks at the sleeping children. “They won’t remember hearing the words when they wake up. But the feeling, the idea – that stays. It becomes natural. When they grow up, they won’t question it. They'll just know it's true.”

You lean closer to Bernard while the Director is busy. "Bernard," you whisper, "teaching them like this... is it really okay?" Bernard jumps slightly, glancing nervously at the Director. "Okay?" he says quietly, frowning. "It's... necessary. For stability." He hesitates, lowering his voice more. "Sometimes I wonder... all these slogans... does it leave any room for... well, for real thoughts? For being yourself?" He shakes his head quickly. "But don’t tell anyone I said that."

"Why?"

"Ok, I understand."

Bernard looks a little scared now. "Because being different isn't allowed here! People talk about you. You don't fit in." He gestures vaguely. "I... I know what that's like. You have to be like everyone else." His voice trails off as the Director turns back towards you both. Bernard straightens up, trying to look normal.

The Director finishes something at a control panel and turns back, smiling. “Ready to see what happens when the little ones wake up? Follow me.”

The Director leads you to another, brighter room. It’s full of eight-month-old babies, Delta infants in identical khaki outfits, crawling happily on the floor. Along one wall are colorful books with pictures of animals, and vases of bright flowers. Several babies crawl towards the pretty books and flowers, reaching out with tiny hands.

Suddenly — CLANG! A terribly loud alarm bell rings. At the same moment, the floor buzzes with a small electric shock.

The babies scream, terrified. They pull back, crying and confused.

The Director watches the crying babies without any sign of pity. “Perfect. They learned quickly.” The noise stops. Nurses quickly soothe the babies.

“Now,” the Director explains calmly, “they will automatically hate books and flowers. Just seeing them will make them feel bad, maybe even sick. We do this a few more times, just to be sure.”

"But why do you teach them to hate books and flowers?"

The Director raises an eyebrow, as if you're asking a silly question. “Why? Because books give people useless, strange old ideas! They make people want to be alone and think quietly. That's no good for society!" "...And nature? Nature is free. People enjoying nature don't spend money or use our sports equipment.” He leans in slightly. “Think about it: We need people to want things. New things. Games, clothes, trips. People reading books or enjoying free walks in the park don't help keep our world running!”

The Director points to a cheerful poster showing someone throwing an old toy away. “It’s simple,” the Director explains. “If people always buy new things, the factories keep working! Everyone has a job making new things. If people started fixing old things... jobs would disappear! Unhappiness!” “So, we teach them: new is good, buying is good.” He points to another poster showing smiling medicine tablets. "And if anything goes wrong, there's always Soma to help."

Follow the Director outside to the playground

Outside, on the sunny playground, children laugh and play complicated games together smoothly. They all wear green uniforms – Betas, enjoying their playtime. Everyone seems happy. Except one boy. He sits alone under one of the artificial shade trees, crying quietly.

Ask the Director: “What’s the matter with him?”

Walk over to the boy and ask him directly

You ask the Director what's wrong with the boy. A nurse in a green uniform overhears and explains, "He's upset because his usual playmate isn't here today. He doesn't want to join the group game."

The nurse calls the boy over. He comes reluctantly, wiping his eyes. She speaks to him gently but firmly, "Now, now. No tears. We play with everyone, remember? Not just one special person." The Director, standing beside you, frowns slightly. He clearly doesn't approve of the boy's behavior.

“It’s important for kids to learn to play together with everyone."

“Kids often have favorite friends. Why is that bad here?”

You walk over to the crying boy. "What's wrong?" you ask gently. The boy looks up, sniffling. "My friend, Tio, isn't here today," he says. "I just wanted to sit by myself for a little while, but the others kept bothering me! They kept saying I had to play their game. They wouldn't leave me alone!" He sounds upset and a little angry at the other children.

“Maybe you should try to join in with the others. It might be fun."

“It’s okay to miss your friend. The other kids should respect that.”

"Exactly! You understand perfectly," says the Director approvingly. "Special friendships with only one person, wanting to be alone – these things cause problems for everyone. They lead to unhappiness." He gestures towards the children playing in groups. "They have to learn that everyone belongs to everyone else. Being together and sharing activities are how we keep our society stable and happy."

“What does that mean, ‘everyone belongs to everyone else’?”

The Director frowns slightly. “‘Favorite friends’? That’s just the kind of thinking we teach them not to have! Special, strong feelings for only one person lead to jealousy, to wanting that person all to yourself, to hurt feelings when someone is left out." "And wanting to be alone? That's not useful, it's not social. It makes people think too much, get strange ideas." He shakes his head. "Society works best when everyone belongs to everyone else, not when people hide away or make secret, special friendships."

“What does that mean, ‘everyone belongs to everyone else’?”

The boy looks down, still unsure. Before he can reply, the Director, who has walked over, addresses the boy firmly. "Now, that's enough sitting alone. Go and join the others in their game. You'll have much more fun with the group." The boy gets up slowly and walks towards the other children. The Director then turns to you. "He needs to learn. Here, everyone belongs to everyone else. It's a vital lesson for happiness and stability."

“What does that mean, ‘everyone belongs to everyone else’?”

“But kids often have favorite friends. Why is that bad?”

The boy looks a little surprised by your support. But before he can say anything, the Director steps in, his expression stern. "That is not helpful advice," he says to you coolly. Then he turns to the boy. "Go and join the other children immediately. Playing together is very important." The boy, looking intimidated, hurries off to join a group. The Director turns back to you. "Friendships with just one person, and wanting to be alone, are things we teach against. They have to learn that everyone belongs to everyone else."

“What does that mean, ‘everyone belongs to everyone else’?”

The Director explains as if it 's the simplest, most obvious truth: "It means no one is just for one special person. No secret best friends who keep their feelings only for each other. No families where people try to own their children, or control their husband or wife."

He points towards the children now playing together in groups. "Everyone here learns to share playtime, share games, share being friendly with everyone else. We don't let people get too attached to only one or two people. That stops jealousy, it stops hurt feelings from being left out, and it stops the arguments and unhappiness that always came with those old, very close relationships."

“Think about the past!” the Director continues, his voice serious. “Families, intense love, secret best friends that left others out. Or people sitting alone, thinking too much by themselves. Think of the sadness, the anger, the fights they caused! All those strong feelings led to pain, to problems in society.” He shudders slightly.

"Deep feelings, friendships with only one person, too many private thoughts – they are dangerous to a stable society." He looks you directly in the eye. “We have stopped all that suffering. Isn't a world where everyone is happy better?”

Nod slowly

Look unsure or shake your head

"Good," the Director says, looking satisfied. "You see the sense in it." "But remember, this peace is carefully constructed. Outside our World State, life is very different – difficult and messy. ...Perhaps a visit to the Reservation would help you appreciate our achievements."

Go to the Reservation

Back to the World State menu

The Director sighs, a hint of disappointment in his expression. “You still seem attached to old, problematic ideas. ...Maybe seeing the alternative will change your mind. Visit the Reservation. Witness the disorder, the sickness, the painful feelings caused by families and people doing whatever they want. Then, I believe, you will understand why our way is best.”

Go to the Reservation

Back to the World State menu

You step into a sleek, silent elevator. Where do you need to go?

The elevator doors open silently onto the roof.

Outside, helicopters wait like giant insects. People in smart clothes stand in groups, laughing and talking. The air feels cool as the sun sets over the amazing city skyline. A young woman in a green outfit waves at you, smiling brightly.

Walk towards the woman

"Hello! You must be the visitor! I'm Lenina." The woman points to her 'B' badge. "I work at the Hatchery. Have you seen it yet? It's where we make the babies!"

"Yes, I saw it."

"No, not yet."

"Oh good! Isn't it wonderful? So clean and modern! Everything planned perfectly by science. It really is the best way to start life, isn't it?" Lenina smiles at you cheerfully. "But enough about work! You have to see the city at night! Come on!" She turns to an attendant in a black uniform with an 'E' on it. "Get the helicopter ready please." The attendant hurries over to ready the helicopter.

Get in the helicopter

"Oh, you haven't? You really must! It's amazing – all new buildings, the latest science making everything perfect!" Lenina seems genuinely surprised you haven't seen it. "Well, you can go tomorrow maybe?"

"Yes, I'll visit it tomorrow."

"Maybe I should go see it now."

"Okay then!" Lenina says happily. "Tonight, we see the city!" She turns to an attendant in a black uniform with an 'E' on it. "Get the helicopter ready please." The attendant hurries over to ready the helicopter. Lenina smiles cheerfully. "Come on!"

Get in the helicopter

"Good idea!" Lenina says. "It's really something! Just go down to the first floor – you can't miss it!"

"Okay, thanks."

The helicopter lifts smoothly into the night sky. Below you, the city is a river of lights. Huge, bright signs flash everywhere, showing ads for holidays, entertainment, and new games.

"Isn't it beautiful?" says Lenina. Everything runs so perfectly here."

"Where are we going?"

“What's it like working at the Hatchery?”

Just enjoy the view

"We're going to the big Entertainment Complex! It's the best place for fun! They have amazing shopping, the newest Feelies – those are like movies you can feel! – and all sorts of fun games to play together!" Lenina sounds very excited.

"Cool, sounds fun."

“Ok, and what's it like working at the Hatchery?”

"Oh, I like it! It's important work, helping make new citizens." Lenina repeats thoughtfully, "Each has a role, part of the whole..." then smiles brightly. "Of course, we Betas don't do the really hard thinking like the Alphas. But that's okay! It leaves more time for fun!"

"Sounds good."

“Ok, so where are we going?”

"Here we are! The Entertainment Complex!" Lenina announces. "This place has everything you could ever want for a good time!"

The helicopter touches down gently on a high platform. As the doors slide open, a wave of cheerful music and happy voices washes over you. The air buzzes with energy.

Step out of the helicopter

You and Lenina walk along a brightly lit path. All around you are shops filled with colorful clothes and shiny new gadgets. Big screens show happy people trying the latest fashions. You hear a voice from a speaker near a shop window: "...so lovely! I do love having new clothes..." "Look at all the new styles!" Lenina says. "So nice. Too bad we don't have time to shop right now – the new Feely is starting soon!"

"Ok, let's go to the Feely then."

"What's a Feely, exactly?"

"Oh, you don't know? It’s the best entertainment ever! You don't just watch the screen – you feel everything! When the people in the story run, you feel the wind! When they touch something soft, you feel it too! It’s amazing technology!" Lenina's eyes sparkle. "It’s like being right there, but even better! Now come on, or we’ll miss the start!"

Go to the Feely Theater

"Here it is! The Feely Palace! This new one, 'A Soma Holiday,' is supposed to be even more wonderful than 'Three Weeks in a Helicopter'!"

The big doors slide open smoothly, showing a soft, golden light inside. The air smells sweet, maybe like perfume or candy.

Follow Lenina inside

You sink into the soft, deep chair. It feels very luxurious. Each armrest has two small silver knobs on top. Lenina pats the seat next to her. "Here, get comfortable! Oh, and before it starts…" She opens her small bag and takes out a little bottle of tablets.

"Have some Soma! It makes everything feel… lovely! Much more fun. One tablet is all you need." She holds one out to you.

Take the Soma tablet

"No, thank you."

"Are there any side effects?"

"Bad effects? Of course not! Why would the government give us something bad? Soma just makes you feel happy and calm. No worries! It's perfect." Lenina smiles reassuringly. "So, will you try one?"

"Ok, I'll try it."

"No, I'd rather not."

You take the small tablet and swallow it. After a minute, a pleasant, warm feeling spreads through your body. Worries seem to fade away. The lights in the theater look brighter, prettier. You feel calm and happy. The Feely begins, feeling like a perfect, easy dream.

Watch the Feely

Lenina looks slightly confused for a second. "Really? Oh. Well, suit yourself! But you don’t know what you’re missing!" She happily pops a tablet in her own mouth, closes her eyes for a moment with a sigh of pleasure, and then settles back as the Feely begins.

Watch the Feely

The big screen lights up. You put your hands on the smooth silver knobs on the armrests, like Lenina told you. Instantly, you feel a warm sun on your skin and the gentle touch of a sea breeze. The metal knobs vibrate faintly as the scene changes. You feel everything the characters feel – the soft sand under their feet, the cool water, even the feeling of laughing together. It's very strange and intense. Lenina whispers, "Wonderful, isn't it? So much nicer than just... sitting and thinking!"

Continue watching

The Feely ends. The lights come up slowly. People around you stretch and smile, looking very relaxed. "Oh, that was lovely! So relaxing! I feel much better now." Lenina turns to you, her eyes bright. "So? What did you think?"

“It was interesting.”

“I’m not sure... It felt a little unreal.”

"Interesting? It was wonderful! So many nice feelings!" Lenina agrees happily. "Ready for more fun? Let's go check out the Games Center!"

Head toward the Games Center

"I think I need some fresh air first."

Lenina frowns slightly, trying to understand. "Unreal? But you felt it, didn't you? It felt real! That's the important part, feeling good." Her smile seems a little forced now. "Maybe you think too much? You just have to enjoy it!"

"Maybe you're right. What's next?"

"I think I need some fresh air."

You step outside the Feely theater. The night air is filled with bright lights and cheerful, catchy music. Happy-looking people walk by, talking and laughing.

"See? Isn't it great out here? So much to do! Feelies, shopping, Community Sings... everything you need to feel happy and never be bored!

“What’s the Games Center like?”

“Do you ever feel like... there’s more to life than this?”

You step back outside the Feely theater. The night air is filled with bright lights and cheerful, catchy music. Happy-looking people walk by, talking and laughing.

"See? Isn't it great out here? So much to do! Feelies, shopping, Community Sings... everything you need to feel happy and never be bored! And you have to check out the Games Center!"

“What’s the Games Center like?”

“Do you ever feel like... there’s more to life than this?”

Lenina points enthusiastically towards a large, brightly lit building across the plaza."There it is! It's amazing inside. It's huge, full of the newest high-tech sports and activities! The rooms change with moving pictures and sounds all around you. It really feels like you're in another world!" She starts walking towards it, beckoning you to follow. "And the best part is, you never have to be alone! All the games are for groups. It's so much more fun together! Come on, I'll show you!"

Follow Lenina into the Games Center

Lenina looks at you, her head tilted, trying to understand. "More? What do you mean? This is the best way to live! Everyone is happy, no one is sad or lonely. We have fun, we have friends, everything is safe and easy. Why would anyone want... more?" She seems genuinely confused.

“You’re right, never mind. Let's see the Games Center.”

“I mean... like deeper feelings? Or doing something important?”

Lenina thinks for a moment, looking serious. "Deeper feelings? Important things? ...I think I’ve heard stories about the "old days"...People having families, strong love, difficult ideas. They say there used to be things like that..." "But it made people very unhappy. Lots of fighting and sadness." She shakes her head quickly, dismissing the thought. "Why think about unhappy things? That just makes you unhappy! And besides, we're supposed to be having fun! Come on, let's go to the Games Center!"

You enter a huge, noisy room flashing with lights, filled with the sound of electronic beeps and excited shouts. People are laughing and calling out, playing complicated games that involve strange machines and bright holographic displays. Everyone is playing in groups, intensely focused on the games.

"Isn't it fun?" says Lenina. "Let's try Obstacle Tennis! It's new!"

Try the game

You and Lenina join another couple to play Obstacle Tennis. Lights flash, sounds beep, and unexpected barriers pop up on the holographic court. It's fast and confusing at first, but you start to get the hang of it...

You laugh as you narrowly miss a barrier. Your team scores a point! You win the round! "We won!" says Lenina. "See, isn't this great?"

“Let’s play again!”

“What other games are there?”

“Phew! I’m getting a little tired.”

"Okay! One more round!" You get ready to start again, but suddenly a small device on Lenina’s wrist makes a soft beeping sound. She looks at it. "Oh! Look at the time! I promised the Director I'd get you back before too late. We should probably head back now."

Leave the Games Center

"Oh, there are loads! Electromagnetic Golf is fun, and Centrifugal Bumble-puppy is always silly..." Lenina starts to list more, but then a small device on her wrist beeps softly. "Oh! Is that the time already? I promised the Director I'd get you back before too late. We should probably head back now."

Leave the Games Center

"Tired already?" Lenina checks a small device on her wrist. "Oh! You're right, it is getting late! And I really should get you back fairly soon. Time flies when you're having fun! Well, let's head back."

Leave the Games Center

As you fly away, you look down at the bright lights and flashing signs below. You think about the shiny shops, the Feely that felt so real, the fast games, and Lenina saying everyone was happy. Is this what happiness is? You wonder...

You and Lenina leave the noisy Games Center and head back to the helicopter.

Back to the World State menu

The helicopter flies for a long time over rough, dry land shimmering in the heat. Far below, you see red desert, dry riverbeds, and flat-topped hills. It looks like a hard place to live.

"Down there— that’s the Reservation," Bernard says, his voice tight over the helicopter's hum. "One of the last places left outside the World State. No conditioning here. No easy comforts. Just... life, the old way. Tough." He sighs. "I've never been here. To be honest, I'm not sure I'll like it."

The helicopter lands with a bump near a dusty gate. A guard steps out of a small booth, shielding his eyes from the sun. Bernard opens the helicopter door and steps out, holding some papers.

The guard takes the papers, gives them a brief, routine check. "Alright. The settlement's about an hour's drive out." He points vaguely across the dusty, broken land beyond the gate. "Popé'll take you." He nods towards the truck parked nearby.

"Special permission," Bernard tells the guard, handing over the papers. "Visitor access approved by the Western Europe Controller's office."

Ask Bernard: “Why is there a gate? Why is this place separate?”

Get in the truck with Bernard

Bernard shrugs. "History, mostly. When the World State was formed, the people who lived out here didn't want to join. And this land... it's difficult. Old pollution from the Nine Years' War made some parts even worse. The Controllers decided it would cost too much money and effort to fix it, to make it modern like our cities." "So, they just left it separate. Easier that way. Almost no one comes here anyway – you need special permission, like we have."

"Ok, I see. Let's go."

You and Bernard climb into the old, rattling truck. The driver, Popé, just nods and starts the engine with a cough and sputter.

The ride is incredibly bumpy as the truck bounces over the uneven, rocky ground. Outside, the broken land stretches out under a fierce sun. Dust seeps in, coating the inside of the truck.

Keep driving

After what feels like a very long time, you finally see signs of more people living ahead, in a wider part of a dry valley. The truck slows down and pulls into the scattered settlement.

You see makeshift homes – old trailers, huts patched with scrap metal and mud bricks. People watch your arrival silently from the shade. The air smells of dust, wood smoke, and something like cooking. Popé stops the truck and gestures for you to get out without a word.

Get out of the truck

You step out into the heat. You and Bernard start walking down a sandy path into the settlement. It feels very different from the clean, controlled World State – rougher, and strangely wide open under the huge sky.

You see a person tending a small garden patch beside a home made of mud and old metal. Children nearby play a game with carved wooden toys.

Further on, people wait with clay jars and metal buckets at a hand-pump well, their clothes worn and faded. Everything looks used, repaired many times. The wind whistles through a gap in a makeshift roof, and you hear the distant sound of someone hammering metal.

Keep walking

You pass a strange object stuck in the ground – two pieces of rough wood tied together to make a cross. It looks handmade and old. Bernard notices you looking. "Local beliefs," he mutters quietly. "Primitive stuff. We got rid of all that ages ago."

You walk on, the dust settling on your shoes.

Say: “It seems like a hard life here.”

Say: “People seem to make the best out of what they have.”

Ask Bernard: “What do you think of this place?”

"Hard?" Bernard replies. "Yes, definitely. Look at them – the struggle is obvious. Sickness, poverty, discomfort... it's exactly what the World State eliminated." He shakes his head. "It proves our way is better, more comfortable." "And yet..." Bernard hesitates. "They seem more... alive, in a way." He looks confused by his own thought.

Keep walking

"Make the best of it?" Bernard says. "I suppose they have to. They survive." He points towards a man fixing a rusty bike. "But look at the effort just to keep things working! Back home, you'd just get a new one. It seems so... inefficient." "Still," he adds quietly, almost to himself, "they know how to do things by themselves."

Keep walking

Bernard looks around, frowning slightly. "It's... chaotic. No order, no planning. Dirty. Uncomfortable." He pauses, looking thoughtful. "But... there’s also a kind of... intensity. Almost as if the people are... more alive, in a way. Very different from home." He looks slightly confused by his thoughts, his voice a mix of disgust and fascination.

Keep walking

"You’re from the Other Place, aren’t you?" A voice calls out, surprising you both.

A young man stands watching you. He looks cleaner, somehow different from the others you've seen.

"I’m John," he says, his English slightly accented but clear. "I live here." "My mother... she came from your world. The world of big lights and flying machines. She told me stories."

"What is it like living here?"

"What stories did your mother tell you?"

"It's... the only life I know." John looks around at the old homes and dry earth. "It can be hard. Sometimes there isn't enough water, or the wild plants we eat don't grow well. People get angry, they argue sometimes. I fix things – broken tools, water pumps – to earn food or useful stuff." He points towards the rough hills and high, flat lands beyond the settlement. "But sometimes... the desert is beautiful at sunset. And the stars at night... you can see so many, more than you can count." John falls silent for a moment.

"...and the World State? What did your mother tell you about it?"

"About your world? She said it's wonderful. Clean cities, no sickness, no getting old. Everyone is happy all the time, she says. They have a special medicine called "Soma" to stop any sadness." He pauses, looking thoughtful. "It sounds... like a perfect dream."

He looks down. "My mother's name is Linda. She got lost here, a long time ago, when she was visiting from your world. Life here... it's been very hard for her. And for me. People here don't accept us. They call us names, because we're different." He looks up, his eyes meeting yours. "Sometimes it feels like... I don't belong anywhere."

Bernard, who has been shifting uncomfortably and glancing around the Reservation with a mix of curiosity and distaste, now looks at John. Bernard’s expression looks different – gentler, not so guarded. “Not belonging...” murmurs Bernard, almost to himself. “I know something about that.” "Tell me more," he says, his voice quieter now. "What was it like? Growing up here?" John hesitates, then closes his eyes for a moment, as if gathering memories. "It was..." he begins slowly.

Listen to John's memories

"I remember arguments... loud ones. My mother would argue with a man sometimes... about me, maybe."

"Once, she cried out to him, "Not with John here!" But he pushed me into the little sleeping room and shut the door. I could hear them shouting... Then I heard my mother crying. I hated him for making her cry."

Keep listening

"But there were good things too. An old woman here, Mitsima, she was kind to me sometimes. She taught me how to work clay. How to shape it with my hands, slowly, carefully, into a pot."

"When it was finished, baked hard in the sun... it felt good. Like I had made something real."

Keep listening

"The other boys... they weren't always kind. They laughed at me because my mother was different, because my skin was lighter. They called me “the civilized one” like it was a bad word. Once, they threw stones..." John’s voice tightens slightly.

Keep listening

"There was a girl... Kiakimé. I thought she was beautiful. I wanted... I don't know. Just to be near her. But she liked another boy."

"I saw them together once, laughing, holding hands. It felt... like my heart was breaking. A terrible feeling. My mother said people in your world don't feel that way."

Keep listening

"It felt... important. Like understanding the stories helped me understand... myself."

"My mother gave me a book she found. It was old – from the before time. Full of old plays, old stories. The words were hard, but I read it again and again. It talked about... love, anger, people being jealous, people dying... All the feelings people have here, but written down."

Keep listening

John opens his eyes, as if returning from far away. He looks back at you and Bernard.

Bernard asks gently, "And... your father?" John shakes his head. "He left before I was born. My mother raised me alone." John takes a breath. "Come. You should meet my mother. She will want to see people from... home." He gestures for you to follow.

Follow John

John leads you through the dusty settlement to a small home that looks a little cleaner than some others. He pauses at the door.

Follow John inside

"My mother... she isn't always well," John says quietly, more to himself than to you. "Please... be gentle."

You step inside. The air is cool and smells of dust and wood smoke. It's a small room, kept as tidy as possible. In one corner, a rough woven blanket hangs from the ceiling, separating off a sleeping space. "Mother?" John calls softly towards the curtain. "We have visitors."

John gently pulls back the curtain. A woman is sitting on a low bed. Her face is lined from hardship, but her eyes are bright and sharp. She looks up, first at John, then past him to you and Bernard. Her eyes lock onto your clean clothes, onto Bernard's glowing Alpha badge.

John begins to explain. "Mother, these people, they came from..." But Linda doesn't seem to hear him. A look of complete shock, then disbelief, then overwhelming emotion washes over her face. She bursts into tears – deep, wrenching sobs.

Linda sobs into her hands, her body shaking. John puts a hand on her shoulder, looking distressed and embarrassed. "Mother, it's alright..." he says, but she doesn't seem to hear. Bernard takes a half-step back, looking uncomfortable with the raw, messy display of emotion. People in the World State don't show feelings like this – it's embarrassing.

Ask Linda: “Why are you crying?”

Say to Linda: "It’s okay. We’re just visitors. We mean you no harm.”

Linda takes a shaky breath, trying to control her sobs. "Oh, I never thought..." she says, her voice trembling. "You're from home. Civilized people..."

She wipes her eyes. "I’m sorry... Just... I’ve been stuck here for so long... Stuck in this awful place!" She gestures weakly at the simple room. "No comfort, nothing clean, no fun... And the people here – they were so cruel." She chokes back a sob. "And no Soma! Not one gram! I had to feel everything – the loneliness, the heat, the fear..."

“Weren’t there any good things here?”

“Couldn’t you leave? Go back to the gate?”

Linda looks down at her hands. "When I first got separated from my group... I was lost out there," – she gestures vaguely towards the vast desert outside the settlement – "confused, scared. It took two days just to find this settlement. I didn't know how to get back." Her voice drops. "And then... I realized I was... expecting John."

"When the Warden – the person in charge – finally came to do his yearly check, he told me the rule... if I wanted to leave, the baby had to stay. A child born on the Reservation belongs here. They wouldn't let me take him." She looks at John, her expression a mix of love and pain. "He was so small... I couldn't leave him alone here. So... I stayed. For him."

“Weren’t there any good things about staying?”

“What do you miss most about civilization?”

Linda gives a short, bitter laugh. "Good things? Here? No. Just dirt, and heat, and people who don't understand." She puts a hand gently on John's arm. "My John... he's the only good thing that came from being here."

Linda sighs, looking far away. "I miss... everything. Being clean. Soft beds. Real food, and always enough. No sickness, no growing old and ugly." Her voice fills with longing. "The Feelies, the music, the Soma... just feeling happy and safe, without worries." She turns to John, her eyes filling with tears again. "Oh John... how I wish you could have grown up there! Safe, happy... civilized."

Look down, feeling sorry but unsure what to say.

“Linda... would you... like to come back with us?”

You feel sorry for Linda and John, but the situation seems impossible. You look down, unable to meet Linda's eyes. The silence feels heavy.

Bernard clears his throat, like he wants to end the awkwardness. "We should probably be going."

Linda stares at you, her mouth slightly open. Hope flares in her eyes, mixed with disbelief. "Come back? To civilization? With you?" Her voice trembles. "Yes! Oh, yes, please! More than anything!" Then her face falls slightly. "But... John. I won't leave without John. He has to come too!" She looks desperately between you and Bernard.

"But that’s not allowed, is it? It's against the rules."

Look at Bernard, wondering if he can make an exception.

Your words seem to break the spell. The fragile hope in Linda's face collapses. "Then no," she says flatly, her voice suddenly empty of emotion. "Then I am not going." She turns away from you, refusing to say more. John looks at you, his expression hardening with disappointment.

You feel sorry for Linda and John, but the situation seems impossible. You look down, unable to meet John's eyes. The silence feels heavy.

Bernard clears his throat, like he wants to end the awkwardness. "We should probably be going."

You murmur your goodbyes and follow Bernard out of the small home.

Continue to the helicopter

As the helicopter lifts off, you think back to the dusty settlement. It looked small and poor, a difficult life. But the feelings you saw there – Linda's tears, John's quiet stories, their bond – felt bigger, somehow, than anything in the shiny city you came from.

Back to the main menu

You look at Bernard, a silent question in your eyes. "I... I can't just authorize that," he says, looking stressed. "This is... completely unheard of. "Bringing someone from the Reservation... especially someone born here..."

Bernard glances at John, then at Linda. "But perhaps...” he continues slowly, “given the circumstances... Linda being from the World State originally– ”. He seems to be thinking aloud. “Perhaps the World Controller would be interested. I could send a message. Ask for official permission.” “But," he adds, looking at you seriously, "there is no guarantee."

"Let's ask."

Bernard takes out a small, sleek device and makes a call to the office of the World Controller. You listen as he explains the situation to the Controller’s secretary. The wait feels like forever. Linda paces the small room, unable to sit still. John just watches Bernard, his face impossible to read.

Finally, the device makes a soft chime. Bernard reads the message, his eyes widening slightly in surprise. "He... He approved it," he says, sounding shocked. "The World Controller wants to see you both. Immediately." Linda cries out, a short, sharp sob of pure joy. As she and John gather their few things, you notice Linda takes nothing at all, while John carefully packs his tools and an old, worn book.

Soon, you are all boarding the helicopter.

John also looks out the window, amazed by the feeling of flying. But his gaze drifts back down to the Reservation shrinking below, the only home he's ever known. He looks thoughtful, maybe a little scared."The Other Place..." he murmurs softly. "O brave new world..."

As the helicopter lifts off the dusty ground, Linda presses her face to the window, looking into the sky with overwhelming happiness. "Civilization!" she whispers, again and again.

Back to the main menu

Choose a character to speak with.

Lenina

Bernard

The Director

The Director

Lenina

Bernard

John

The World Controller

The World Controller

Linda

Linda

John

‹ Back to main menu

The Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning puts down his data report and gives you a polite, confident smile. "Excellent news today," he says. "We had a single egg produce ninety-six identical Deltas for a factory order to the Ganymede colony. A new Center record. Efficiency is the key to a stable society."

Age: 48 Caste: Alpha Role: Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning, Central London

The Director

"What is the most important thing in life, for you?"

"Are you happy?"

Age: 48 Caste: Alpha Role: Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning, Central London

The Director

The Director sits back, crossing one leg over the other. "The most important thing," he says, "is stability. A smooth, predictable, and peaceful society. One that works through planning — no chaos, no messy surprises. That is the greatest good we can provide for humanity."

"Are you happy?"

Back to Interviews menu

Age: 48 Caste: Alpha Role: Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning, Central London

The Director

"Happy? Of course. I have an important job that serves the greater good. Our world runs on logic and order, and I am one of the people who helps maintain that order." The Director taps his info-slate. "Seeing our production numbers increase, knowing we are creating useful, contented citizens... It’s the satisfaction of seeing a complex system working perfectly, day after day.”

"What's the most important thing in life, for you?"

Back to Interviews menu

You find Bernard alone in a small data analysis room, away from the nurseries. He turns from a holographic display of sleep-teaching slogans as you enter, but his eyes don't quite meet yours. "Trouble in your head? Take Soma instead," he says, almost to himself. "That phrase is repeated one hundred twenty times a night to Beta children for two hundred and sixty-seven nights a year. For two years. That's sixty-four thousand and eighty repetitions. ...A definite and permanent belief." He looks at you. "They don't realize the thought isn't their own."

Age: 29 Caste: Alpha Role: Sleep-Teaching Specialist, Conditioning Center

Bernard

"What is the most important thing in life, for you?"

"Are you happy?"

Age: 29 Caste: Alpha Role: Sleep-Teaching Specialist, Conditioning Center

Bernard

Bernard hesitates, looking genuinely thoughtful for the first time. "The most important thing..." he says quietly, "is to feel like a real individual. To be seen for who you are, and to have a real connection with someone who understands you..." He stops, and a different, more frustrated expression crosses his face. "But... what's the use? You see the other Alphas, having so much fun, being popular, and... you want that too. To be admired, to be invited to the best parties...” He looks away, conflicted. “I don't know. It’s... complicated.”

"Are you happy?"

Back to Interviews menu

Age: 29 Caste: Alpha Role: Sleep-Teaching Specialist, Conditioning Center

Bernard

Bernard gives a short, nervous laugh. "Well... everyone is supposed to be happy, aren't they? That's what the conditioning is for." He adjusts his glasses. “Though I suppose I'm a bit... different. Maybe because I'm shorter than most Alphas. I spend time alone sometimes, thinking. That's unusual here. Most people always want to be in groups, always having fun.” "It's... difficult, when you’re different. When people look at you and whisper because you don't quite fit in." He looks down. "It's hard to be happy when you feel so... alone."

"What's the most important thing in life, for you?"

Back to Interviews menu

Lenina greets you with a bright, easy smile, holding up a brand-new scarf for you to see. Faint, shining patterns move hypnotically across its surface. The new-purchase tag is still attached. "Look! Isn’t it just divine? It’s a glimmaflux scarf – the patterns change based on how you’re feeling! I can't wait to wear it tonight. We're going out to the new Riemann-surface golf club!"

Age: 24 Caste: Beta Role: Vaccinations Technician, Hatchery

Lenina

"What is the most important thing in life, for you?"

"Are you happy?"

Age: 24 Caste: Beta Role: Vaccinations Technician, Hatchery

Lenina

"The most important thing? Oh, that's easy!" Lenina says with a big smile. "To have fun! And to be with people. Going out, playing games, dancing, – just being part of the group! Being alone is horrible, isn't it? Everything important happens with other people!"

"Are you happy?"

Back to Interviews menu

Age: 24 Caste: Beta Role: Vaccinations Technician, Hatchery

Lenina

"Happy? Of course I am!" she says, laughing. "The world is wonderful! Everything is arranged for us to have fun. I have a job that isn't too hard, lots of nice clothes, the Feelies, dancing... Why would anyone not be happy?" She frowns for a tiny second. "...Once in a while, I’m not sure... I feel like I want something... but I don't know what it is.” She looks confused, then shakes her head. “But that’s silly, of course. I just take a half-gram of Soma, and then I’m all better!"

"What's the most important thing in life, for you?"

Back to Interviews menu

John looks up from the old, worn book he is reading. He has a serious, searching look in his eyes. "I was reading last night... about “honor”. The man in this story, Othello, he dies for his honor. And for love." John furrows his eyebrows, confused but also fascinated. "I was trying to understand why a person would do that. Here on the Reservation, people fight when they are angry or jealous. But... to die for an idea? Why is an idea more important than life itself?"

Age: 20 Caste: (n/a) Role: Laborer / Handyman, Caliban Reservation

John

"What is the most important thing in life, for you?"

"Are you happy?"

Age: 20 Caste: (n/a) Role: Laborer / Handyman, Caliban Reservation

John

John looks down at the book in his hands, then back at you, his eyes intense. "To choose the hard path because it's the right path. To be brave and good, and to feel things deeply, even when they hurt." He pauses, searching for the right word. "To live a life that has... has a kind of nobility. That seems important to me."

"Are you happy?"

Back to Interviews menu

Age: 20 Caste: (n/a) Role: Laborer / Handyman, Caliban Reservation

John

"Happy? No." John’s answer is direct. "The other boys bully me because my mother is... different. Because my skin is pale. They don't let me be part of their rituals. I’m always an outsider here." He looks away. "But from what my mother says about the other world... the “Civilized” world... I don't think I would be happy there either. It seems... strange. Too easy.” “The stories I read, they talk about truth, beauty, sacrifice... things that hurt sometimes, but seem important. Can people be truly happy without those things?"

"What's the most important thing in life, for you?"

Back to Interviews menu

You find Linda sitting quietly on her bed. She has a faraway look in her eyes, like she is lost in a memory. She speaks slowly, her voice thick with longing. "Sometimes... I try so hard to remember what clean sheets smelled like. Not just washed in the river, but truly clean, with perfume... Or the feeling of Soma, that warm wave of calm washing over you..." Tears begin to well up in her eyes. "I can almost feel it. And then I wake up, and... I'm still here."

Age: 52 Caste: Beta (by birth) Role: none (former role unknown)

Linda

"What is the most important thing in life, for you?"

"Are you happy?"

Age: 52 Caste: Beta (by birth) Role: none (former role unknown)

Linda

"The most important thing? To feel good. To be safe and clean and comfortable. To have beautiful things... to not feel pain." Linda stops, and tears well up in her eyes. She glances towards the doorway, as if looking for John. "Of course, I stayed here for John," she says, her voice a mixture of love and resentment. "What mother wouldn't?" "But no one should have to make a choice like that! In a good world, a civilized world, people don’t have to choose between a happy life and their own child!"

"Are you happy?"

Back to Interviews menu

Age: 52 Caste: Beta (by birth) Role: none (former role unknown)

Linda

Linda wipes her teary eyes. "Happy? Here? Of course not! How could anyone be happy in a place like this? I don't understand these people, their ways, their dirt." She looks down at her hands. "I remember what real happiness felt like – back home, when I was young. Fun, Feelies, no worries. But not here. Not this... this mess and pain and loneliness." “My only comfort is John... and sometimes the horrible mescal they have here. Sometimes I drink it just to forget for a little while, even though it makes me so sick."

"What's the most important thing in life, for you?"

Back to Interviews menu

The Controller turns from a large shelf built into his office wall. You notice with a shock that it is filled with very old, real paper books. He holds one up, a small, worn volume. “Romeo and Juliet,” he says, with a small, dry smile. “A strange hobby for a World Controller, no?" He closes the book. "You see, I am one of the few who is permitted to read such things." He gestures at the shelves. “It’s quite astonishing, really. The number of poems and stories the pre-Moderns wrote about ‘unhappy love’. All those thousands of pages spent on a problem that we... simply solved."

Age: 55 Caste: Alpha Role: Resident World Controller for Western Europe

The World Controller

"What is the most important thing in life, for you?"

"Are you happy?"

Age: 55 Caste: Alpha Role: Resident World Controller for Western Europe

The World Controller

"The intelligent management of human affairs to prevent self-destruction," the Controller says. "The pre-Moderns believed the most important thing was freedom, or truth, or love. I have read their books. I know their arguments." "And I know the history of the suffering their beliefs caused. They were free to starve, to hate, to die in misery." "We chose a different path. Our purpose is to give people what they would choose if they truly understood what is good for them: comfort, safety, and a life without pain."

"Are you happy?"

Back to Interviews menu

Age: 55 Caste: Alpha Role: Resident World Controller for Western Europe

The World Controller

"Happy?" The Controller considers the word as if it’s a scientific term. “The simple, untroubled happiness of our citizens is the goal of this society. My own personal feelings are not very important.” He places the old book back on the shelf. “But... yes. I am happy, in my own way." "My happiness comes from being one of the architects of our stability, from managing the system that provides it. I understand what was sacrificed... but I believe the calm, stable happiness we give our citizens is a greater good.”

"What's the most important thing in life, for you?"

Back to Interviews menu

You are about to request a meeting with one of the ten World Controllers – the people who manage the entire World State. They are very busy. Before you can meet Mustapha Mond, the Resident Controller for Western Europe, you need to understand the world he manages. Have you visited all of the World State (the Hatchery, the Conditioning Center, the Entertainment Complex), AND the Reservation?

Yes, I have seen everything.

No, not yet.

You arrive at a huge, quiet building.

The secretary looks up from a screen."A meeting with the World Controller? That is... unusual. He is extremely busy managing this sector of the World State."

The secretary hesitates. "But... you are a visitor from outside our society? He sometimes makes exceptions for visitors like you. Let me check if His Fordship is available."He speaks softly into a device. You wait, feeling small in the large, quiet space.

The secretary calls you. "His Fordship will see you now." He leads you into a large, quiet office.

A man with intelligent eyes looks up from behind a large desk. The room feels calm, but powerful. The man gestures to a chair. "Please, sit down." "I hear you've come from... elsewhere. And you've had a look around our world? And the Reservation too, I believe?" He leans forward slightly. "Tell me: what do you think of our brave new world?"

“There are some nice things about it.”

“To be honest, I don’t really like it.”

The World Controller nods slowly. "Oh yes. Many nice things." "No war, no poverty, no disease. No feeling jealous or afraid. Plenty of food, fun, and Soma when you need it. Community, Identity, Stability. Everyone is happy now." He pauses. "Of course... we had to give up a few things to achieve this."

“What kind of things did you give up?”

The World Controller looks thoughtful, not angry. "No? Because it's different from what you know? Consider what we don’t have. No war. No poverty. No terrible diseases making people suffer. No one is lonely or afraid." He gestures towards the beautiful, ordered city outside the window. "Isn't this stability, this happiness for everyone, better than the mess and pain you saw on the Reservation? Or the problems in your own world?" He leans back slightly. "To achieve this perfect world, we did have to make some... sacrifices."

“What do you mean?”

"We gave up difficult things for a comfortable life. Great art, challenging science, deep feelings, being alone to think... they are all things that can make people unhappy or unstable. Sacrifices for the greater good."

“But isn’t your world built on science?”

“But a life without real art or discovery sounds empty.”

“Don’t people miss having deep feelings, like love?”

The Controller gives a small, tired smile. "Empty? We prefer to say it's 'untroubled.' Our citizens' lives are full of pleasant feelings and fun games. Old art and challenging discoveries just raised difficult questions and made people dissatisfied." "We believe it's kinder to keep people pleasantly busy than to have them tragically inspired. Especially after the Nine Years' War showed us that what great, tragic feelings often lead to: great, tragic disasters.”

“But don’t people miss having deep feelings?"

“What was the Nine Years’ War?”

The Controller shakes his head. "They don't know what they are missing, so they feel no loss. We teach them that 'love' and 'family' are unhappy, messy words. And why not? Strong feelings for one person cause jealousy and pain." He shrugs. "We prefer to do things comfortably here. Real love is never comfortable. And it certainly didn't prevent the Nine Years' War."

“But I saw a mother's love on the Reservation.”

“What was the Nine Years’ War?”

The Controller looks at you with a piercing, almost pitying gaze. "Ah yes. A strong, natural feeling. ...But look what that 'love' actually produced. Did it give the mother a comfortable, clean, safe life? No. It trapped her in a world of dirt and hardship." "And what about the son? Did that love help him fit in? Or did it make him different from everyone else, an outsider for his entire life? That one strong feeling caused a lifetime of problems for them both."

The Controller leans back in his chair, linking his fingers together. "You see, these intense personal feelings are not enough to build a stable, happy society. That requires planning for every part of life."

The Controller smiles faintly. "Ah, a sharp observation. But you must understand that there are two kinds of science." "We have science for use and comfort – making better machines, better medicine, better games. This science is very important. Then there is the other kind of science – the kind that looks for new, challenging truths, no matter how upsetting or dangerous they are. That kind of science... we had to put a stop to it. It was a major cause of the Nine Years' War."

“What was the Nine Years’ War?”

“But a life without truth and real discovery sounds empty.”

The Controller gives a small, tired smile. "Empty? We prefer to say it's 'untroubled.' Our citizens' lives are full of pleasant feelings and fun games. Complicated truths and challenging discoveries just raised difficult questions and made people dissatisfied." "We believe it's kinder to keep people pleasantly busy than to have them tragically inspired. Especially after the Nine Years' War showed us that what great, tragic ideas often lead to: great, tragic disasters.”

“But don’t people miss having deep thoughts and feelings?"

“What was the Nine Years’ War?”

The Controller’s expression becomes serious. "It was the great catastrophe, hundreds of years ago, that almost destroyed humanity. Fought with terrible weapons created by uncontrolled science. Caused by wild emotions, economic problems, and people fighting over their different beliefs." "The world was in ruins. Billions died." He pauses, letting the words sink in. "After the War, the people who were left chose our way. They chose comfort and stability over truth and freedom. They understood it was the only way to prevent another disaster."

The Controller stands up and walks slowly toward the large window. Outside, traffic flows smooth and silent through the vast, ordered city.

"Think of our society as a perfectly built machine. For it to run correctly, you need all kinds of parts – big wheels and small ones, all doing their job perfectly. Not just steering wheels." "So, in our world, every person is created and conditioned for a specific job and social group. This way, everyone fits, and everyone is comfortable."

“Are they comfortable? You use alarms and shocks on babies.”

“Why not make everyone an Alpha? The top caste?”

“But some people seem to dislike their conditioning.”

The Controller nods, completely untroubled. "A moment of discomfort for a lifetime of contentment. An excellent bargain, I think.” “By teaching a Delta or an Epsilon to dislike books, we are saving them from a lifetime of useless thoughts that would only make them unhappy with their comfortable, easy lives. We guide their tastes to ensure they make the best choices later."

“What if someone doesn’t like their conditioning?”

Keep listening

The Controller chuckles softly. "An old question. We actually tried it. We filled the island of Cyprus with only Alphas." He leans forward as if sharing a secret. "The result? Total chaos. They argued constantly about who would do the simple but necessary jobs. Within six years, they had a civil war that killed almost everyone. It proved that a society needs people who are made to be happy doing all kinds of work."

“What if someone doesn’t like their conditioning?”

Keep listening

"A few might feel a little... friction," the Controller says, with a dismissive wave of his hand. "But what is the alternative? A lifetime of being unhappy with who you are? A person made for simple work would be miserable trying to be a leader." "We give them a gift: a personality that fits perfectly with their life's work. It's the best bargain they will ever get."

The Controller smiles, a thin, knowing smile. "You see, an Epsilon doesn't dream of reading books because his mind finds joy in simple, physical tasks. There is a place for everyone in our world, with everyone happy in their place.” “It is a simple social equation. Happiness is wanting what you have. We simply design people to want the life they are given. It is the kindest solution imaginable."

“But what if conditioning fails on a high-caste person?”

“So what do you do with the few who don't fit in?”

“So you think your system is perfect?”

"It's rare," the Controller says. "Our conditioning is very effective. But yes, sometimes... someone feels they don't fit. They think too much, or want something different." "We do not kill them. That would be crude. We send them away. To an island, with other people like them. Other people who are never satisfied, who think they can build something better. He pauses, like he is remembering something.

“You seem to want to say something more.”

“That seems fair enough. So now, what happens to me?”

"Perfect? No," the Controller says calmly. "But it is the most comfortable and stable society that has ever existed. And for the rare failures – the few people who value their own thoughts too much, who think they can build something better – we have a humane solution." "We do not kill them. That would be crude. We send them away. To an island, with others like them. He pauses, like he is remembering something.

“You seem to want to say something more.”

“That seems fair enough. So now, what happens to me?”

The Controller turns back from the window and looks at you. "Perceptive," he says softly. "Yes. I paused because the topic of the islands... is personal for me.”

"When I was a young man, I was a physicist. A good one. I wasn't interested in making things more comfortable — I was interested in truth. Pure science." "But my work," he continues quietly, "my search for truth, was becoming... disruptive. Dangerous to stability. They gave me a choice."

"My choice was this: Stop searching for new, dangerous truths and train to become a World Controller, help manage the happiness... or be sent to an island myself, to talk about my truths with the other exiles." The Controller is silent for a moment. His gaze drifts to the silent, ordered flow of traffic passing outside the window.

"I chose this," The Controller says, gesturing to his office. "I chose to serve happiness. To help run the world, instead of being sent away. Maybe it was the wrong choice for me as a scientist... but I believe it was the right choice for society.” “Sacrifices must be made, you see." He looks at you directly. "And now, I have a choice for you."

The World Controller looks at you calmly. "You have seen our stable, happy civilization. You have seen the messy, emotional world of the Reservation." "So, tell me. Where would you prefer to live?"

“I want to stay in the World State.”

“I want to live in the Reservation.”

“Neither of those places feels right for me.”

The Controller nods. "A sensible choice. Comfort, order, safety. No pain, no difficult questions.” “You will be happy here. There is a place for everyone.”

The Controller opens a drawer in his desk. “Then I have something for you.”

The Controller smiles. “You may pick any one you like.”

The Controller smiles. “You may pick any one you like.”

END

Go to reflection questions

The Controller raises an eyebrow slightly. "Are you certain? You choose freedom, even if it comes with dirt, sickness, and strong, painful emotions? You choose hardship over comfort, and unpredictability over a safe, planned life?" He studies your face. "Is that what you truly want?"

“No, maybe you’re right…”

“Yes. I'm sure.”

The Controller nods slowly, a look of detached curiosity on his face. "Very well. Your choice has been noted. It is a rare one."

The Controller arranges your transport.

Soon, you find yourself heading back toward the dusty, unpredictable world of the Reservation, ready to face its challenges.

Soon, you find yourself heading back toward the dusty, unpredictable world of the Reservation, ready to face its challenges.

END

Go to reflection questions

The Controller is silent for a moment, studying you. "I see. You are one of the difficult ones. Like Bernard, perhaps. You want something... more? Or something different?" He leans back. "Well, there are two other possibilities for people like you."

"You could return to your own world," the Controller says. "The world you came from." "Or," he adds, watching you carefully, "You could go to an island. Join the other individuals who couldn't fit into our society. People who value passion, art, science, or intense thought more than simple happiness."

“I want to go back to my own world.”

“I choose the island.”

“What is life like on the island?”

The Controller is silent, watching you calmly as you think about your choices.

“I want to stay in the World State.”

“I want to live in the Reservation.”

“I want to go back to my own world.”

“I choose the island.”

The Controller looks surprised, then leans forward intently. "Your world? With its wars, its diseases, its poverty? With jealousy, anger, aging, and death? With difficult choices and uncertain futures? Do you really want to go back to all that?"

“On second thought, maybe not.”

“Yes. That is my world.”

The Controller studies you for a long moment. "Very well," he says softly. "You ask for the right to be unhappy."

He touches a button on his desk. A simple door opens in the office wall.

"That door leads back," the Controller says. "All you have to do is walk through."

“Actually, I changed my mind.”

Walk through the door

"That door leads back," the Controller says. "All you have to do is walk through."

You are back in your own world.

“Actually, I changed my mind.”

Walk through the door

END

You are back in your own world.

Go to reflection questions

The Controller smiles faintly. "It is what the people there make of it. An... experiment. Someplace that is always being built, and argued over, and rebuilt again.” “I cannot tell you more. It is something you must discover for yourself. A place for those who choose differently. Full of interesting conversations, I imagine. And perhaps... difficulties." "Do you still want to consider it?"

“Let me think about the other choices again.”

“Yes, I still want to choose the island.”

The Controller leans forward slightly. "Think carefully. You are choosing the unknown over the known. You choose difficult questions over comfortable answers. You choose an endless, uncertain experiment over a stable, finished world. There are no guarantees on the island. None at all." “Are you certain about your choice?”

“On second thought, maybe not.”

“Yes. I choose the island.”

The Controller leans forward slightly. "Think carefully. You are choosing the unknown over the known. You choose difficult questions over comfortable answers. You choose an endless, uncertain experiment over a stable, finished world. There are no guarantees on the island. None at all." “Are you certain about your choice?”

“On second thought, maybe not.”

“Can you tell me anything more about the island?”

“Yes. I choose the island.”

"A brave choice," the Controller says, nodding slowly. "Perhaps you will find what you are looking for there. Or perhaps, you will have to build it yourself."

The Controller makes the arrangements.

You leave, heading towards an unknown future, exiled but perhaps... free in a different way.

You leave, heading towards an unknown future, exiled but perhaps... free in a different way.

END

Go to reflection questions

Take a minute or two to think about your journey. What do you remember the most? Which characters did you think were the most interesting? What questions do you still have?

Reflection questions

Recommended: Choose at least one question from each section below. Write down the number for the questions you choose. For each question, think and then write down a few sentences for your answer.

Thinking about your journey

Connecting to our world

‹ Back to main menu

1. Why did you make your final choice (to stay in the World State, go to the Reservation, or choose another path)? Explain your thoughts.

2. Looking back at the story, do you wish you could change any of your choices? Were there moments when you wanted a different option that wasn’t shown?

3. Do you think all the characters you interviewed were telling the truth about being happy? Why or why not?

4. Which character in the story do you feel is most like you? Why?

5. Think about the islands where they send people who don't fit in. What do you imagine life is like on an island full of these people? Would it be a good society, a bad one, or something in between? Explain your ideas.

1. To create a stable society, the World State got rid of difficult art, deep feelings, and challenging ideas. Is this a good trade? What is most important for a society: stability, happiness, truth — or something else?

2. In what ways is our world today like the World State? For example, think about: technology, entertainment, social media, or how people are expected to act.

3. In the World State, people are conditioned (taught from a very young age) to think and act in certain ways. In what ways does our own world try to "condition" us? For example, think about: school, advertising, or family rules.

4. Imagine we could create a world with no war, poverty, or sadness, but everyone is conditioned for a specific job and cannot choose their own path in life. Would you want to live in this world? Why or why not?

5. Do you think a society like the World State could ever really happen? Could people ever agree to give up their freedom for safety and happiness?

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