I’d heard of Forster, but never made the time. After reading the first few pages of The Machine Stops it looks interesting. The hyper drive for ‘efficiency’, presented as rational but leading to absurdities I think fits our times and the dissatisfaction with Classical and Neoliberal economic policies, likely the culture war driven faux-Christian morality of many as well.
I think its time to have a look at Forster more carefully. He was involved in the Bloomsbury Set, which is where I’d heard of him before.
It’s a great story. Been awhile since I read it but IIRC it even has a bit about the society coddled by the machines deciding that primary sources are considered less valuable than the commentary that others make about those sources. It’s like if online commentary was somehow better than books.
Thanks for the recommendation.
I’d heard of Forster, but never made the time. After reading the first few pages of The Machine Stops it looks interesting. The hyper drive for ‘efficiency’, presented as rational but leading to absurdities I think fits our times and the dissatisfaction with Classical and Neoliberal economic policies, likely the culture war driven faux-Christian morality of many as well.
I think its time to have a look at Forster more carefully. He was involved in the Bloomsbury Set, which is where I’d heard of him before.
It’s a great story. Been awhile since I read it but IIRC it even has a bit about the society coddled by the machines deciding that primary sources are considered less valuable than the commentary that others make about those sources. It’s like if online commentary was somehow better than books.