The Machine Stops

Have you ever read The World Inside?  The first part of The Machine Stops follows a similar story, but it predates The World Inside by decades.  The Machine Stops was a rare and early version of the story of people relying too heavily on a mechanical device, a story that has grown in popularity in years since.  Its prose is unparalleled, and its story provokes both thoughts and emotions.  The book, in 1909, predicted as strange and futuristic of things as teleconferences and social networking.  The mother, Vashti, expresses the traits that we all have and we choose to ignore.  The fact that we ignore those traits is one of those traits, by the way.  The son, Kuna, is the one we all hope survives, but he seems half-mad, and it is unknown whether his hopeful prophecy at the end is nothing more than a delusion.  The religion is also a nice touch.  If you choose to read The Machine Stops, you will come out glad you read this brilliant and deep little novella.