When you need a quick shot of dystopian goodness, find a copy of E. M. Forster's short story The Machine Stops (1909). I discovered this little beauty in 2009 (100 years after it was written, I just now realized) and was blown away. http://resqueezed.blogspot.com/2009/12/reading-machine-stops.html.
I suggest This Perfect Day by Ira Levin and Limbo by Bernard Wolfe. The first is one of my favourite dystopias, emotional and very well-written. Limbo is harsher; dark and sardonic.
Oh, yes, The Machine Stops' is brilliant. I've never heard of either of Peter's suggestions. I also recently bought (but haven't yet read) two nuclear war/post-nuke books by Philip Wylie, 'Tomorrow!' and 'Triumph'.
When you need a quick shot of dystopian goodness, find a copy of E. M. Forster's short story The Machine Stops (1909). I discovered this little beauty in 2009 (100 years after it was written, I just now realized) and was blown away. http://resqueezed.blogspot.com/2009/12/reading-machine-stops.html.
ReplyDeleteI suggest This Perfect Day by Ira Levin and Limbo by Bernard Wolfe. The first is one of my favourite dystopias, emotional and very well-written. Limbo is harsher; dark and sardonic.
ReplyDelete... and I second The Machine Stops!
ReplyDeleteDoc: thanks, I'll check it out. I like to throw in a short story every now and then.
ReplyDeletePeter: both of those are on my big list, but neither are currently on my bookshelf. I need to start with what I've got.
Oh, yes, The Machine Stops' is brilliant. I've never heard of either of Peter's suggestions. I also recently bought (but haven't yet read) two nuclear war/post-nuke books by Philip Wylie, 'Tomorrow!' and 'Triumph'.
ReplyDelete