Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster is our May 2025 Short Story/Novella Read.

This discussion will open on May 1

Beware Short Story Discussions will have Spoilers

I listened to the audiobook of the story yesterday which I checked out from the Portland OR library. My county library also has a paper copy in "The Wesleyan Anthology of Science Fiction".
I admit I was surprised to find a story like this written by the author of "A Room with a View" and "Howard's End"- decidedly a different genre.
The agoraphobia of most of the characters reminded me of the main character in "Huddling Place" in another story of the future written by Clifford Simak about 40 years later. Some things were funny: everyone lived below ground and the airports were called "vomitories". It certainly has a grim ending.
Forster was somewhat prescient as now people can easily live their whole lives in their apartment /home, doing remote work on their computers and ordering deliveries of food, clothing and anything else they need with their computers. Even doctor visits can often be done with videoconference and prescriptions delivered.

Read this one about 2 years ago. It is just crazy of prophetic this story is. A lot has not become true, but still ...

Livestreaming with sound and video. In 1909! Moving images had been invented, but movies where without sound for yet 18 more years.

George P. wrote: "I listened to the audiobook of the story yesterday which I checked out from the Portland OR library. My county library also has a paper copy in "The Wesleyan Anthology of Science Fiction".
I admit ..."

Like J.Blueflower says it is prophetic for our real world. It also has ideas that are echoed in later stories.

There are so many stories where a society has atrophied due to over-reliance on technology. Sometimes the people's bodies have also atrophied. There is often a dissatisfied young person who tries to break free and start over. Still I respect the early stories that were the original versions of these ideas.

It was amazing how much the story reminded me of people isolating during the pandemic, especially if they were not living with their family or roommates, and getting everything delivered. "The Machine" supplied everything they needed, and all their interaction with other people was done through technology. The technology was similar to today's Internet and Zoom meetings.

This was an interesting futuristic story, and showed a different side of Forster's writing than his famous novels.

I thought of the pandemic and the explosion of Zoom meetings, as a way of communicating, Connie.

It's interesting that he chose for the machines to operate underground. It makes it all the more creepy that people could scared into compliance into this way of life.

Forster created a palpable atmosphere, which stifles and alienates the hero. The details of the machine, and its effects on the people, are indeed prescient. An enjoyable and thought-provoking story.

I just realized I never gave my review here. I read this story in 2020 and rated it 5* Here's my 2020 review:

"I really enjoyed this thought-provoking little novella. It is an allegory. At first the somewhat simplistic and predictable plot was off-putting until I realized it was an allegory. It is meant to be symbolic. It is very well done."

LOL I can't quite remember what I meant by allegory. I do think what makes this story good is that it was written so long ago, before many of the technological advances we live with were made.

Perhaps I was thinking about human agency. The beauty of the technology became a trap for the people. In the end it took a young person to rebel and start over on the surface. This "lesson" can be applied to many areas of life. When things become too comfortable we might need to break out and start over.

Sue wrote: "It's interesting that he chose for the machines to operate underground."

Well, the machine needs to be maintained by humans, and there's allusion to the surface having become uninhabitable at some point in the distant past (and which seems to be just recently becoming livable again, at least in certain sheltered places). And computers work better in cool temperatures, which is easier to maintain underground, especially if world temperatures have risen. It's also potentially safer, if the critical equipment is in a solid bunker. Underground makes sense for a lot of reasons.

Whatever originally drove people underground is so far in the past that no one thinks about it any more. Maybe there are records, but Vashti certainly isn't curious about it, so all we know is the world as it is in her time. I admire when a book does that well, to have the weight of a complete history even though the characters don't know much about it; I think Forster did an amazing job with that.

It's been a while since I've read his other books, but I think I remember him being very good at conveying atmosphere.

Kaylee wrote: "Sue wrote: "It's interesting that he chose for the machines to operate underground."

Well, the machine needs to be maintained by humans, and there's allusion to the surface having become uninhabit..."

Nice points. I hadn't considered Vashti's point of view in regards to the origin of the machine.

I'm enjoying reading your insights & opinions. Your thoughts are interesting & enhance my reading experience. Thanks.

It is astounding that this was written in 1909. Forster could clearly see the hindrances of reliance on technology & not just a reliance, but idolatry. These people worshipped The Machine. Forster tied it directly to the downfall of their humanity. Thought provoking...as I sit here with my cell phone having my complete & undivided attention.

(Also, I had to search if Wall-E movie makers sited The Machine Stopped as inspiration.)

I loved this one, there's a resemblance to where we are headed.