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The Machine Stops [Classic Tales Edition]
- Narrated by: B. J. Harrison
- Length: 1 hr and 23 mins
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![The Machine Stops [Classic Tales Edition] cover art](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61-Z+NkbApL._SL63_.jpg)
The Machine Stops [Classic Tales Edition]
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Summary
The earth's surface is no longer habitable. All humanity is sequestered beneath the ground, couched in isolation and contentment. The Machine provides the needs of humanity. Mankind becomes subservient drones to the life-supporting Machine. But what happens when the Machine stops?
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What listeners say about The Machine Stops [Classic Tales Edition]
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- W o o d r u f f
- 19-05-20
Timeless and thought provoking
I heard about this book for the first time on a radio programme about AI, recently. It is intriguing and an enjoyable listen, short enough to finish in one sitting on a sunny day in the garden.
unbelievable that it was written a century ago, but still relevant.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Germaine
- 02-10-18
Riveting!
Loved this story as scarily perceptive considering it was written more than a hundred years ago. Thoroughly recommend.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- William Axtell
- 03-10-23
Prescient
It's extraordinary that this novel was written in 1909, for it so accurately describes today's world and some of the great challenges we are facing. Humanity, caught between safe and pleasureable intellectualism and harsh but vital experience, must choose one and opts for disaster. It's only short but has so much to say on the limits and vanity of human thought and the essence of being alive.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Colin Hopp
- 07-10-22
great listen!
genuine good listen considering the date of the book it's a real eye opener to today's world
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- PMC
- 17-05-22
So relevant even more today
Fantastic allegory of life today! Amazingly prescient . Read at school for GCE so that tells you how long ago it was!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jessica Bignell
- 22-12-22
Worryingly prophetic
Written in 1909, the technology and ‘progress’ depicted by Forster is alarmingly close to our recent reality especially when considering the way Covid19 lockdowns had us living and the division and alienation it had caused through much of society. It is a concisely put together story which leads to a contemplation over what else he may have written here that is yet to come to light.
The narration of B. J. Harrison was spot on for me. Dynamic without feeling over egged.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Elayne Donaldson
- 11-08-19
a tale for today
how prophetic, amazing how the author saw into our future so accurately. highly recomended to anyone who thinks technology should advance without strict regulation.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Joe Hatton
- 28-06-22
Splendid
Spiffing delivery. Delivery makes for a gripping listening experience of a perfectly succinct novella/short story.
Ever-increasing in relevance, poignant.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Big E
- 18-12-21
Makes you think
Strange how almost acurate this tale is. Well worth a listen,. Thought provoking allegory for modern times
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 19-04-20
The Machine Stops
Not only the machine has stopped but so has the excitement and the trills.
Firstly the book is far to short.
The fact that it's classified a classic can only be due to it's slightly revolutionary theme.
But it lacks excitement. What struggle and conquest is brief in description, thereby limiting much of the drama. I'm not one for padding out a sequence of events just to add milage to a story but to reduce it to its minimum is to delete the possibility of suspense there as I said limiting the drama.
Sorry to say it but this story was a great idea but needs seriously expanding. more action more drama more excitement and some sex or romance. In fact a lot more of everything.
Not what I would cal a classic in any way shape or form.
My advice is to leave this one on the shelf and find something more fulfilling. Maybe this author wrote something longer more exciting with more drama?
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