The Machine Stops

Name: The Machine Stops
Price: 3.56 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.3 (4235 reviews)
Author: E. M. Forster

by E. M. Forster

Literary Fiction Science Fiction

4.3 (4,235)

4.3 stars from 4,235 reviews. Top 58% of Literary Fiction books we track.

44 pages< 1 hr readPublished by Wildside Press, LLCPublished 1909-01-01

$3.56At peak price

Last checked: May 21, 2026

Price history: Free – $3.56

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Fans of these authors will like this...

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Fans of these books will like this...

1984
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Perfect for you if...

You're curious about how prescient early science fiction can be, especially regarding technology and human behaviour.
You enjoy short, dense philosophical stories that ask big questions rather than provide answers.
You want to understand where modern anxieties about the internet and social isolation come from.

Maybe not for you if...

You prefer plot-driven narratives with action and character development over ideas and social critique.
You find older writing styles difficult to engage with, even when the ideas are relevant.
You're looking for escapist fiction rather than something that makes you uncomfortable about your own habits.

About this book

A science fiction story written in 1909 by E. M. Forster, a sixteen-time Nobel Prize in Literature nominee. The narrative depicts a future Earth where most humans live underground and rarely leave their individual rooms. All their needs are provided by the Machine, which also serves as their primary means of communication, allowing them to exchange ideas with one another. The inhabitants have come to view the Machine as omnipotent and omniscient, beyond questioning. When the Machine begins to malfunction, they continue to trust it rather than remember that they themselves created it. The story explores themes of social isolation and technological dependence. It was included in a Science Fiction Hall of Fame anthology and was originally published over a century ago.

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Price History

Kindle price over time. Green zones = periods when the book was free.

Free – $3.56

Price has dropped 6 times over the last 5 years. Goes on sale roughly every 146 days. Typically stays discounted for 28 days.

Sales Rank

Amazon sales rank: lower number = better selling book. #1 is the bestseller.

Currently around #131K in the Kindle store — a niche title. Climbing the charts — 51% improvement recently.

Rating & Reviews

Purple line = star rating over time. Blue area = total review count growth.

Currently 4.3★ from 4,235 reviews

Gaining approximately 27 new reviews per month. Steady word of mouth growth. Rating has remained stable at 4.3 over the tracking period.

Sale Prediction

Actual Predicted

Based on past patterns, a price drop could happen soon. It typically goes on sale every 146 days and the last drop was 989 days ago. It has gone completely free in the past.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.

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