I find it particularly interesting...

crfh

that Doc Brown's changed interests lead to a dystopian future.

Had he kept an interest in science fiction, he would have no doubt read all the classic sf cautionary tales about thought-control and perfect societies. Brave New World, 1984, Harrison Bergeron and Farenheit 451, just to mention some.

The same goes for Marty's Dad.

Just wanted to throw that out there.

redfish

Most people who weren't into science fiction had heard about those stories, they'd already become part of popular culture by then. In 1984, two years before the time the game takes place, a movie version of the novel was released, and Apple released its infamous 1984 Mac ad.

At any rate, Brave New World was more of a cautionary tale about a perfect society than was 1984. 1984 was just a very cynical book about the nature of politics, ideology, and the way politics shapes language. Most people don't seem to relate to the cautions given in Brave New World, though, since the society in Brave New World just gave people what they wanted .. soma and feelies.. and Huxley waxes too much about how the people in that society can't appreciate Shakespeare

Shadowknight1

Throwing this out there. In the original 1986, Edna had 1984 on her table next to her chair.

joek86

But Edna got to him BEFORE most of those books came out. Also, you saw how quickly he changed his morals on time travel in BttF 3 when Clara came into the picture. The guy is extremely susceptible to the wiles of women.