The Machine Stops

By: E. M. Forster

Narrated by: Carey Mulligan

"The Machine Stops" is a short science fiction story. It describes a world in which almost all humans have lost the ability to live on the surface of the Earth. Each individual lives in isolation in a "cell", with all bodily and spiritual needs met by the omnipotent, global Machine. Most humans welcome this development, as they are skeptical and fearful of first-hand experience. People forget that humans created the Machine, and treat it as a mystical entity whose needs supersede their own. Those who do not accept the deity of the Machine are viewed as "unmechanical" and are threatened with "Homelessness". Eventually, the Machine apocalyptically collapses, and the civilization of the Machine comes to an end.

Public Domain (P)2020 Audible, Inc.

A short thought provoking listen. well worth the hour & a half

I see many parallels in this book in our world and will probably continue to do so. the problem of primary experience verses stagnating knowledge seems core to the human experience

loved it. very creative and well read

It felt like an allegory of what makes us human and the intersection between human need, nature, and machine. It was a lovely audio to listen to.

Prescient

Amazing, especially for the time it was written and how much it gets right. Performance is great too.

Beautiful and poignant sci-fi

narration excellent and story so relevant - superior sci fi - conjures images of a world after our own with all imaginable luxury but something is missing....

Quick listen

I think I would have enjoyed the book more with a different narrator. My mind wandered at times, although it was a quick listen. The narrator didn’t change voices during character dialogue.