The Machine Stops
2 journalers for this copy...
selected as one of the greatest science fiction novellas of all time by the Science Fiction Writers of America
It was news to me that E. M. Forster ever wrote science fiction. Of course I had to take it when NorthernLights offered it to me on her recent visit to Winnipeg. Thank you!
Who knew E. M. Forster wrote science fiction? Not me but fortunately my German friend did and brought this book to Winnipeg for me. It was a quick read as it is less than 50 pages but I found it interesting.
The story is set in a future time when all the inhabitants of earth live underground and "The Machine" manages everything for them. They have clean air, communication, transportation, food and shelter. What they do not have is face-to-face meetings or at least they don't have them very often. Vashti is an older woman living in the Southern Hemisphere perhaps near or underneath what used to be Australia. She is described as "...a swaddled lump of flesh--a woman, about five feet high, with a face as white as a fungus." She has a son (Kuno) who lives in the Northern Hemisphere. As the story opens Kuno calls Vashti to ask her to come visit him. At first Vashti refuses but when Kuno stops communicating with her she relents. This involves taking a harrowing two day air-ship voyage. When she finally gets to see Kuno she discovers that he has been outside without permission from The Machine. Kuno is now at risk of Homelessness i.e. being sent out onto the surface which means death. Or does it? Kuno swears he saw someone else on the surface when he went up there. In the end it doesn't really matter.
The story is set in a future time when all the inhabitants of earth live underground and "The Machine" manages everything for them. They have clean air, communication, transportation, food and shelter. What they do not have is face-to-face meetings or at least they don't have them very often. Vashti is an older woman living in the Southern Hemisphere perhaps near or underneath what used to be Australia. She is described as "...a swaddled lump of flesh--a woman, about five feet high, with a face as white as a fungus." She has a son (Kuno) who lives in the Northern Hemisphere. As the story opens Kuno calls Vashti to ask her to come visit him. At first Vashti refuses but when Kuno stops communicating with her she relents. This involves taking a harrowing two day air-ship voyage. When she finally gets to see Kuno she discovers that he has been outside without permission from The Machine. Kuno is now at risk of Homelessness i.e. being sent out onto the surface which means death. Or does it? Kuno swears he saw someone else on the surface when he went up there. In the end it doesn't really matter.
I passed this book on to my sister who also reads science fiction.
