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E. M. Forster

The Machine Stops

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The Machine Stops is a short science fiction story. It describes a world in which almost all humans have lost the ability to live on the surface of the Earth. Each individual lives in isolation in a 'cell', with all bodily and spiritual needs met by the omnipotent, global Machine. Most humans welcome this development, as they are skeptical and fearful of first-hand experience. People forget that humans created the Machine, and treat it as a mystical entity whose needs supersede their own. Those who do not accept the deity of the Machine are viewed as 'unmechanical' and are threatened with “Homelessness”. Eventually, the Machine apocalyptically collapses, and the civilization of the Machine comes to an end.
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43 printed pages

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Impressions

  • Maxim Chistokletovshared an impression3 years ago
    👍Worth reading
    🔮Hidden Depths
    💡Learnt A Lot
    🎯Worthwhile
    🚀Unputdownable

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    • Gina Castañónshared an impression4 years ago
      👍Worth reading
      🎯Worthwhile
      🚀Unputdownable

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      Quotes

      • Elishas quoted4 years ago
        The better a man knew his own duties upon it, the less he understood the duties of his neighbour, and in all the world there was not one who understood the monster as a whole.
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        • Elishas quoted4 years ago
          Let your ideas be second-hand, and if possible tenth-hand, for then they will be far removed from that disturbing element - direct observation.
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          • Elishas quoted4 years ago
            'Cannot you see, cannot all you lecturers see, that it is we that are dying, and that down here the only thing that really lives is the Machine? We created the Machine, to do our will, but we cannot make it do our will now. It has robbed us of the sense of space and of the sense of touch, it has blurred every human relation and narrowed down love to a carnal act, it has paralysed our bodies and our wills, and now it compels us to worship it.
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