“Famous Fantastic Mysteries,” March 1945, featuring Wayland Smith’s novel, “The Machine Stops.” Cover art by Lawrence Sterne Stevens.
“Picture the world of tomorrow – if all the scientific creations of three centuries were rendered useless at one stroke! A gripping thought-provoking novel about a world of the future suddenly at bay against – the Stone Age!” [Prologue]
“The Machine Stops” by Wayland Smith (aka Robert Hale) was originally published in London in 1936. Neil Barron describes the story in his critical guide to science fiction, “Anatomy of Wonder,” as follows:
“A notable tale emphasizing the vulnerability of modern civilization by following the imagined consequences of a ‘plague’ that destroys all metals. As the new barbarians gather to sack the last enclaves of rural harmony, a young genius tries to save the world by making an alloy that can resist the corrosion.”
[Note: What about a “plague” that destroys all electronics? That isn’t science fiction. It’s an EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) and it can have devastating real-world consequences for modern civilization. The immediate effects include the failure of electronic devices, power grid outages, and disruption of communication systems. In the long term, the lack of essential services could lead to societal collapse, economic devastation, and possible loss of life.]
[Note 2: Look on the bright side. We don't need a "young genius" to save the world. We already know how to shield vital infrastructure from an EMP. It's simply a matter of motivating the people in charge to do so.]
“Famous Fantastic Mysteries,” March 1945, featuring Wayland Smith’s novel, “The Machine Stops.” Cover art by Lawrence Sterne Stevens.
“Picture the world of tomorrow – if all the scientific creations of three centuries were rendered useless at one stroke! A gripping thought-provoking novel about a world of the future suddenly at bay against – the Stone Age!” [Prologue]
“The Machine Stops” by Wayland Smith (aka Robert Hale) was originally published in London in 1936. Neil Barron describes the story in his critical guide to science fiction, “Anatomy of Wonder,” as follows:
“A notable tale emphasizing the vulnerability of modern civilization by following the imagined consequences of a ‘plague’ that destroys all metals. As the new barbarians gather to sack the last enclaves of rural harmony, a young genius tries to save the world by making an alloy that can resist the corrosion.”
[Note: What about a “plague” that destroys all electronics? That isn’t science fiction. It’s an EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) and it can have devastating real-world consequences for modern civilization. The immediate effects include the failure of electronic devices, power grid outages, and disruption of communication systems. In the long term, the lack of essential services could lead to societal collapse, economic devastation, and possible loss of life.]
[Note 2: Look on the bright side. We don't need a "young genius" to save the world. We already know how to shield vital infrastructure from an EMP. It's simply a matter of motivating the people in charge to do so.]