Since the early rise of the novel, utopian stories have held the public imagination. This critical text argues that though these books may appear to be social statements or ideological propaganda, they should be treated as literary texts, not as blueprints for a human community. Thomas More's Utopia, H.G. Well's A Modern Utopia, Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, and Arthur C. Clarke's The City and the Stars are examined as texts representative of utopianism during specific historical periods. Part of McFarland's Critical Explorations in Science Fiction and Fantasy series, this is a vital addition to critical discussion of utopian literature.