Magic dust leads to a dystopia in this early science fiction work by stenographer and part time writer Gertrude Barrows Bennett.

It starts with intrigue and unknown plots to acquire the Heads of Cerberus, a pocket size artifact that contains some magic dust, though the story takes a few chapters to get to this point. After that the story is equal parts weird worlds and social commentary, with more science fiction that other contemporary stories.

Like "The Time Machine", there is a bit of lecturing, especially at the end. Overall, a solid story, and the dystopia feels contemporary. A quote from the book, describing said world:

"They curtailed the education of the people as needless and too expensive. When the people complained, they placated them by abolishing all grades above the primary and turning the schools into dance halls and free moving-picture theaters."