Tuesday, February 27, 2018

On Stopping the Machine

The 1909 short story, The Machine Stops, by E. M. Forster is mind-blowing.

Written in the year of the first wireless broadcaster, six years after the Wright Brothers flew for the first time, and when only urban centers had electricity, this book essentially predicts the internet (as a series of "tubes") and social media. 

Humans are living in underground cradles, sustained by The Machine and connected with various tubes for music, talk, food, etc. This story gets so many things right, has great atmosphere, and is dripping with sarcasm. If you have a spare hour and like dystopian themes, it's absolutely worth your time and can be found online for free.

I like this cover illustration by Kelly Airo.

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