The Machine Stops Audiobook By E. M. Forster cover art

The Machine Stops

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The Machine Stops

By: E. M. Forster
Narrated by: Carey Mulligan
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"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. Anthologies & Short Stories Fiction Science Fiction Short Stories
Prophetic Vision • Relevant Themes • Excellent Narration • Philosophical Depth • Vivid Imagery • Cautionary Tale
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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.

Quick listen

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While the topic is a little over done and easy guess the ending of it is still a very good quick listen.

Interesting dystopian short story

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It’s truly frightening to consider this was written about a century ago, and it still approximates today’s headlines, lectures, and (pop) philosophy. One can see how films like “The Matrix” or “”Wall-e,” have some variant of this story at their core.

Spine-chilling

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so many questions. why are people necessary who made the machine? a great measure of convenience

they trusted it with everything it was plugged into everything it was everything and then . .

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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.

loved it. very creative and well read

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

Prescient

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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....

Beautiful and poignant sci-fi

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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

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

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At first I wasn’t sure if I would be into this, after reading some of the reviews, but I’m so glad I listened to it! It’s an insightful characterization of the nature of humanity, and the pitfalls of our reliance on technology for survival. We as a society could all do with a reminder of what is really important, and rarely do I feel so inspired by an audiobook. Definitely give it a listen!

Profound and worth a listen

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We not so far from this type of life, dependence & disaster. How many generations before we forget what life was without our own machines, before we forget the beauty of the earth?

Happy the LLs pointed this out to me!

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