"She knew several thousand people, in certain directions human intercourse had advanced enormously."I'm amazed it took me so long to find that E.M. Forster wrote science fiction - and furthermore, science fiction that foresees the information age so astutely. Written in 1909, the "Machine" of this story is, in part, what we now know as the internet. The Machine allows people to instantly listen to music (like iTunes), attend lectures (like YouTube and online courses), and communicate with others (like instant messaging, email, and videoconferencing) without leaving their insulated little homes. As a result, people spend most of their lives inside a single room, rarely bother traveling, and regard face-to-face interaction as unnecessary and human touch as distasteful. As the title indicates, the story deals with what happens when the Machine stops. It's impressive not only because Forster anticipates these technologies, but also their impact on society as a whole. Despite unprecedented abilities to keep in touch, people become wrapped up in their own worlds and "don't have time" to attend to anyone else. The easy transmission of information means that people become reliant on second-hand (or tenth-hand) ideas that have been distilled and pre-processed by others, instead of their own direct observation of the world - reminiscent of blogs, wikipedia, and even many news sites. And maybe what resonated with me most was the description of (what is essentially) Skype and how it gives a semblance of being with someone in person, but is so different. But of course, the Machine is not identical to the internet - the internet doesn't have tentacles that pull back anyone who tries to set foot outdoors. In that sense, we're a lot better off than the people in this story. Across the century, Forster urges us to find inspiration in nature, to value direct experience, and to appreciate all the facets of face-to-face communication. Despite my initial surprise with this story, it's not so surprising that Forster still reminds us: "Only connect." The story revolves around an underground society where individuals live in completely-enclosed pods where all their needs are provided. Beds ascend from the floor when needed, armchairs (the primary location where lives are spent, a la, Wall-E) are on tracks that move about the pod, and conversation takes place via rudimentary technology still far ahead of the time the story was written. The story follows Vashti and her son Kuno as they struggle to keep their relationship and live underground in a corrupt world controlled by a machine. E.M. Foster’s The Machine Stops argues that a world controlled by technology will eventually turn catastrophic for the human race.
What do You think about The Machine Stops (1909)?
Wow--this is a must read. Forster was ahead of his time. .
—watermelons21
