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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
A dystopian classic from, surprisingly, [a:E M Forster|7247526|E M Forster|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-d9f6a4a5badfda0f69e70cc94d962125.png], better known as the writer of [b:A Room with a View|18416112|A Room with a View|E M Forster|/assets/nocover/60x80.png|26052004], [b:Howards End|3102|Howards End|E.M. Forster|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1328865265s/3102.jpg|1902726], and [b:A Passage to India|45195|A Passage to India|E.M. Forster|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1170275049s/45195.jpg|4574850]. None of the themes of these stories are found in this text, except in the vaguest sense. Instead, we find a sterile, unwelcoming world, governed by the all-powerful Machine.
I would like to name similar stories to this, as a point of comparison, but can't come up with any.
I would like to name similar stories to this, as a point of comparison, but can't come up with any.
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
What a fabulous story! It's all in the telling - the descriptive writing is wonderful. Basically, man has created a machine to fulfil all his wants, and has now handed over control of life to the machine. People sit in their individual rooms, never physically meeting other humans. All their needs are catered for at the touch of a button, and they communicate constantly with their thousands of friends through the machine in short bursts, increasingly irritated by the interruptions of people contacting them, but still responding to those interruptions. Sounds horrifyingly familiar, huh?
But one man dreams of a time when mankind walked freely on the surface of the earth and gazed at the heavens. He sees that the machine is no longer the servant of the people and has become instead their master. And he foresees that one day the machine may stop...
A warning from the past to us in the present of where we may easily end up in the not too distant future. Full of some disturbing images, a little bit of horror and a tiny bit of hope - a masterpiece of short story writing. Turn off your computer, sign out of Facebook, stop watching cat videos on youtube, yes, even switch off your smartphone for an hour if you still can... and read a story that will make you just a little reluctant to switch them all back on. Then go out and look at the stars...
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
But one man dreams of a time when mankind walked freely on the surface of the earth and gazed at the heavens. He sees that the machine is no longer the servant of the people and has become instead their master. And he foresees that one day the machine may stop...
A warning from the past to us in the present of where we may easily end up in the not too distant future. Full of some disturbing images, a little bit of horror and a tiny bit of hope - a masterpiece of short story writing. Turn off your computer, sign out of Facebook, stop watching cat videos on youtube, yes, even switch off your smartphone for an hour if you still can... and read a story that will make you just a little reluctant to switch them all back on. Then go out and look at the stars...
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
challenging
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For a short story about technology written over a hundred years ago, this hits way too close to home.
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Excellent commentary on the modern condition, written before any of it was concieved. Don't create the torment nexus, indeed.
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
medium-paced