"Paris in the Twentieth Century", a book written in 1863 - apparently, right after his first book, "Five Weeks in a Hot Air Balloon" - is a real dystopia,
Emmanuel Lotem
For many years, Jules Verne was considered the contract of progress, "the man who invented the future". His books were full of optimism, sometimes on the border of naivety, when it comes to the blessing that science and technology have already brought to humanity (ie: Western culture), and even more, to the good that they will add and affect man. Furthermore, in the plots of his stories, Vern embedded a wealth of scientific facts and calculations, as if to say: without scientific knowledge and technological skill, there is no hope for man; But if he knows how to use them, there is no limit to what he can achieve.
This spirit stuck with many of his readers, and quite a few were the scientists and technological trailblazers in future generations, who testified that it was reading Verne's stories that set them on their way. Admittedly, there were sharp-eyed observers who noticed that in the twilight of his life, Verne's enthusiasm had somewhat eroded, and the negative side of scientific and technological progress was increasingly revealed in his later books. But they usually attributed it to the so-called natural pessimism of the elderly, compared to the optimism of the young for the future.
For this reason, Verne's admirers today received a severe shock, when the manuscript of a book that was shelved at the very beginning of his career was discovered, and here it is completely different in spirit from all his other early writings, which were also more important. "Paris in the Twentieth Century", a book written in 1863 - apparently, right after his first book, "Five Weeks in a Hot Air Balloon" - is a real dystopia, worthy of Aldous Huxley if not George Orwell. The Paris of the future, which embodies all the innovations of science and the wonders of technology, is a heavenly and gloomy place, which has the ability to push the person with a soul to suicidal thoughts.
It turned out that Verne's publisher, Etzel, returned the manuscript to him on the grounds that it would not be accepted by his readers, and ordered him to write more optimistic stories; Vern agreed, and their partnership flourished ever since. Only later, when the best in his books were already behind him, did his skepticism return.
Was Vern a prophet for rent? Did the former stockbroker deny his original views for the sake of money? Some have argued so in recent years, but my opinion is different. A more in-depth study of his early writing will prove that the image is the villain, and not the man. Verne may have believed in science and technology, but his faith in man was much less than that. We have in our hands, says Vern, tools that have the power to bring a great blessing as well as a terrible curse, and these tools will be added to and perfected. Will we know how to use them for good and not for bad? In this his position was skeptical from the beginning.
Dr. Emmanuel Lotem, editor and translator, has been translating and editing science fiction and popular science books for many years. He is currently the scientific editor of the YNET encyclopedia.
