The Machine Stops (Unabridged)
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3.5 • 4 Ratings
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- $1.99
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- $1.99
Publisher Description
E. M. Forster is known primarily as a great English novelest of such books as
A Passage to India, A Room with a View, and
Where Angels Fear to Tread. In 1909, he wrote his only science-fiction story, and it proved to be a shocker. It describes a world of the future in which humans all remain in their cubicles while all their needs are met by a supercomputer called "The Machine". They communicate with each other and attend "online" classes and meetings through the Machine, and people seldom meet face to face. A problem arises when one man, Kuno, decides he is not satisfied with staying in his room and decides to explore outside.
The story has proved to be far ahead of its time, with remarkably accurate predictions of modern technologies such as TV, online chat, and the Internet. This is a truly remarkable story and one that has many lessons of caution for today.
After being voted one of the best novellas up to 1965, it was included that same year in the populist anthology Modern Short Stories and in 1973 was also included in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame.
Customer Reviews
sigh
A truly remarkable story marred by lackluster narration.
Jim Roberts delivers a completely wooden reading.
He failed to breathe any life into the dialog. Disappointing.
I can't believe they're charging for this!
Get the Librivox version instead!
Amazing
Amazing story taking our dependence on machines and computers to the next level - and warning of the consequences.
I had no idea E. M. Forster wrote science fiction. In short...great story...well read, too.
disappointed
a great story. but, as waitwhat said, marred by poor reading -- too quick, not clearly enough enunciated. It is a shame.