The Machine Stops
About this book
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 "H omelessness". Eventually, the Machine apocalyptically collapses, and the civilization of the Machine comes to an end.
Reader Profile
4.1/5 · 22307 readers · 36 pages · ≈ 40 min · Moderate
How long does it take to read The Machine Stops?
About ≈ 40 min — 36 pages, assuming roughly 250 words per page at 225 words per minute.
How many pages is The Machine Stops?
36 pages in its most-read edition.
What genre is The Machine Stops?
It sits on the Science Fiction, Fiction shelves.
Is The Machine Stops in the public domain?
Yes — it is free to read and share.
Who wrote The Machine Stops?
E. M. Forster.
Where can I read The Machine Stops online for free?
It is in the public domain — read it free on Open Library