Scan barcode
A review by samdalefox
The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Machine Stops - 5⭐
A Celestial Omnibus - 3⭐
Average rating for the entire book = 4⭐
The Machine Stops
Sensational. Prophetic. Important and succinct. I actually stopped reading half way through to check when this was written; it was first published in 1909. 1909! 114 YEARS AGO!! The futuristic technology described and the accompanying societal norms are SPOT ON. Forster clearly had an excellent understanding of humans' attitudes, needs, desires, and shortcomings. He described things such as remote control, video calls, and modular highly specialised automation. He also described the accompanying behaviours such as withdrawal, isolation, and intolerance, directly referring to the extreme discomfort experience by people not experiencing life through technology in their individual bubble as 'direct experience anxiety'.
The Machine stops forces the reader to contemporary reader to evaluate one's own self in the information/technology/machine age. How do I foster my growth as a human being? How can i stay truly connected to others and to nature? What are the benefits and/or damage done by hyper-individualism and the collapse of community? What is the line between machines supporting our lives meaningfully, freeing up our time and energy from labour for other pursuits (e.g., washing machines) and them dominating the way in which we spend our time and energy (social media addiction, digitalisation of processes, no opt out etc.) It's a quick sci-fi read but amazing for the time it was written and left me wondering how many times I've exchanged experiences for "ideas." I appreciate how Forster focused on the physical health aspects as well as mental health aspects of the machine age human.
A Celestial Omnibus
Some short stories, such as The Machine Stops, show us its meaning clearly and deliberately, and at the end of the story you have a clear and immediate reaction. Other short stories, like A Celestial Omnibus, the story's intent is less clear and you end the story trying to make sense of it. I enjoyed reading this story, but nowhere near as much as The Machine Stops. My take away is that the boy protagonist represented creativity and imagination, and that the moral of the story is that there is meaning in these pursuits in and of themselves. Illustrated by the elitist, arrogant, snob Mr Bons (snob written backwards! :)) whose superficial appreciation of the arts saw him being lost/damned/falling to his death? A petty point, but I also didn't appreciate the Greek bit at the end that didn't have a translation. I felt like I missed something important to the story.
A Celestial Omnibus - 3⭐
Average rating for the entire book = 4⭐
The Machine Stops
Sensational. Prophetic. Important and succinct. I actually stopped reading half way through to check when this was written; it was first published in 1909. 1909! 114 YEARS AGO!! The futuristic technology described and the accompanying societal norms are SPOT ON. Forster clearly had an excellent understanding of humans' attitudes, needs, desires, and shortcomings. He described things such as remote control, video calls, and modular highly specialised automation. He also described the accompanying behaviours such as withdrawal, isolation, and intolerance, directly referring to the extreme discomfort experience by people not experiencing life through technology in their individual bubble as 'direct experience anxiety'.
The Machine stops forces the reader to contemporary reader to evaluate one's own self in the information/technology/machine age. How do I foster my growth as a human being? How can i stay truly connected to others and to nature? What are the benefits and/or damage done by hyper-individualism and the collapse of community? What is the line between machines supporting our lives meaningfully, freeing up our time and energy from labour for other pursuits (e.g., washing machines) and them dominating the way in which we spend our time and energy (social media addiction, digitalisation of processes, no opt out etc.) It's a quick sci-fi read but amazing for the time it was written and left me wondering how many times I've exchanged experiences for "ideas." I appreciate how Forster focused on the physical health aspects as well as mental health aspects of the machine age human.
A Celestial Omnibus
Some short stories, such as The Machine Stops, show us its meaning clearly and deliberately, and at the end of the story you have a clear and immediate reaction. Other short stories, like A Celestial Omnibus, the story's intent is less clear and you end the story trying to make sense of it. I enjoyed reading this story, but nowhere near as much as The Machine Stops. My take away is that the boy protagonist represented creativity and imagination, and that the moral of the story is that there is meaning in these pursuits in and of themselves. Illustrated by the elitist, arrogant, snob Mr Bons (snob written backwards! :)) whose superficial appreciation of the arts saw him being lost/damned/falling to his death? A petty point, but I also didn't appreciate the Greek bit at the end that didn't have a translation. I felt like I missed something important to the story.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death