E.M. Forster’s “The Machine Stops” is no doubt an influential text in the genre of science fiction, and an important read for anyone seeking to learn about the history of the fear of technology. The beautiful part about science fiction is the freedom to create a true mystery for the reader. Since the reader is not privy to the rules and ways of the society portrayed in a science fiction piece, the author may release as little information as possible along the way to keep the reader guessing. Forster failed to take full advantage of this opportunity.  For example, when the concept of Homelessness was introduced, Forster left no room to the imagination: “Homelessness means death. The victim is exposed to the air, which kills him.” This was incredibly frustrating to read. For Forster to put such a dramatic, important element of the story in extremely simple, almost condescending sentences is disappointing to read. I would have much rather liked to be left guessing about the customs of this futuristic dystopia rather than explicitly told every detail. By handing us all the information about the world of “The Machine Stops” in such unexciting terms, it made the process of imagining the scenarios more difficult to read, because I simultaneously could not fill in any of the blanks with my own imagination and was left with very few specific details.

Perhaps Forster preferred to focus his efforts on social commentary rather than mystery and excitement. Perhaps, as a pioneer of the genre, he did not see the opportunity to add some real suspense. Or maybe, when it comes down to it, E.M. Forster just is not as big of a fan of science fiction mystery as I would like him to be.

At the very end of E.M. Forster’s short work “The Machine Stops” he writes, “For a moment they saw nations of the dead, and, before they joined with them, scraps of the untainted sky.”  This line stands out in many ways.  Initially, we notice the contrast between “nations of the dead” and “the untainted sky”.  Death and chaos paired with  serene imagery.  However, the line also provokes  another thought. That is, that life, the world, the universe will go on despite the folly of man.

In a similar vein, Michael Crichton’s work Jurassic Park tackles similar thoughts.   Throughout the novel, one of the main characters, Dr. Ian Malcolm, muses on the fact that should the human race wipe itself off the earth by way of dinosaurs (or the catastrophic failure of a globe spanning machine as the case may be) the world will keep on spinning.  Though underneath the earth’s surface there is death and destruction, above, the sky still remains.

In addition, once “civilized” life has fallen, life, to quote Malcolm, “finds a way”.   As the single sex dinosaurs in Jurassic park were able to adapt and breed, those homeless refugees on the surface of Forester’s world will grow and repopulate the earth, continuing humanity.

Perhaps the most thought provoking passage from “The Machine Stops” is when Kuno is essentially shun by his own mother. In her head, she claims that “she was ashamed at having borne such a son”. I personally felt that this highlighted an ironic generational dispute where the older individual is fighting for what is new and the younger is fighting for what is old. Kuno’s mother worships the Machine as if it is a deity. Despite having abolished religion in this fantasy world, the Machine and its followers have established their own worldwide cult. Kuno wants no part in this and feels that there is much more to be loved in the simpler side of life. Although we already receive hints that the mother is a rejecter of the old ways (like when she abhors the use of air travel which she deems archaic), it is her rejection of her own son that really alienates Vashti from the audience.