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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
reflective
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
"Humanity, in it's desire for comfort, had overreached itself. It had exploited the riches of nature too far. Quietly and complacently, it was sinking into decadence, and progress had come to mean the progress of The Machine."
It always amazes me how much of the world authors get right, when they project so far into the future. Written in 1909 this story tells of a world in which humans have polluted the planet to the point where they now are forced to live underground. In their new underground cities, all possible conveniences are provided by The Machine - screens to see and speak with people across the other side of the world, music and light at the touch of a button, lectures and entertainment on demand.. but each person lives in a room of their own, and the idea of 'direct experience' is strongly discouraged. In this isolation humans have actually come to fear contact with others, and they calmly accept changes made by The Machine to keep them more and more pliable.
It always amazes me how much of the world authors get right, when they project so far into the future. Written in 1909 this story tells of a world in which humans have polluted the planet to the point where they now are forced to live underground. In their new underground cities, all possible conveniences are provided by The Machine - screens to see and speak with people across the other side of the world, music and light at the touch of a button, lectures and entertainment on demand.. but each person lives in a room of their own, and the idea of 'direct experience' is strongly discouraged. In this isolation humans have actually come to fear contact with others, and they calmly accept changes made by The Machine to keep them more and more pliable.
1909 short story recommended towards the end of Madhumita Murgia’s excellent book Code Dependent. This is a quick read, with a powerful and highly relevant message. Forster tells us about a machine people become highly enamored of, and extremely dependent on. Problem is that they’ve also become detached enough from the design and operational details such that nobody really understands how it works. It’s easy to refer questions to a cascade of others, committees, or institutions who can ‘help’, but with no actual agency attached there, nothing gets answered or done. You might be able to predict how the story ends. Good timely read, easy to find in the library too.
"Then she broke down, for with the cessation of activity came an unexpected terror - silence."
Just read this for a class assignment. Science fiction is such a gift.
Just read this for a class assignment. Science fiction is such a gift.
E.M. Forster hat vor schlappen hundert Jahren in dieser Kurzgeschichte das Internet, Skype, und die "sozialen" Netzwerke der Marke Facebook etc. vorhergesehen. Inklusive der Folgen.
Spoilerwarnung:
Wir werden alle störben
Spoilerwarnung:
Wir werden alle störben
Sehr gelungene Hörspiel-Umsetzung der Vorlage von 1909 über Social Media und was diese mit den Menschen macht, wenn man es konsequent zuende denkt. Als noch niemand wusste, dass es Social Media gruselig ähnlichen Kalibers einmal geben würde.
Aktuell (2.1.2023) in der Mediathek der ARD abrufbar, inkl. Downloadmöglichkeit: Die Maschine steht still - NDR Hörspiel Box
Aktuell (2.1.2023) in der Mediathek der ARD abrufbar, inkl. Downloadmöglichkeit: Die Maschine steht still - NDR Hörspiel Box
A sort of tragic adult WALL-E. In this dystopian future, humans have ditched the real world to subsume themselves to the all-comforting machine. As noted repeatedly by others, this 1909 work is eerily apt in many of its predictions.
Yet taken on its own merits, and not merely a curiosity of apt prediction, the ending was not credibly fleshed out. I love a good tragedy, but this one needed a bit more kick.
3.5
Yet taken on its own merits, and not merely a curiosity of apt prediction, the ending was not credibly fleshed out. I love a good tragedy, but this one needed a bit more kick.
3.5
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes