The Big Engine by Fritz Leiber

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About this eBook

Author Leiber, Fritz, 1910-1992
Title The Big Engine
Note Reading ease score: 82.8 (6th grade). Easy to read.
Credits Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Summary "The Big Engine" by Fritz Leiber is a short story written in the early 1960s, showcasing philosophical themes wrapped in a narrative format. This work can be classified as speculative fiction, as it explores complex ideas regarding the nature of existence and human consciousness. The likely topic of the book revolves around the concept of human beings as machines, devoid of genuine emotions or thoughts, and how society is structured around this mechanical view of life. In the story, a character known as the Professor reflects on the nature of humanity and existence, questioning why life seems mechanical and devoid of true connection. Drawing on various philosophical influences, he concludes that people are merely machines programmed to perform specific roles without authentic interaction or emotion. The narrative presents a bleak view of the world, depicted as a grand, indifferent engine where individuals are isolated from each other, living in a state of ignorance and disconnection. The Professor perceives a symphony of mechanical sounds that underscore this theme, ultimately suggesting that real engagement between people is scarce, and most exist as puppets in a complex machine, subtly critiquing the state of human existence in modern society. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
Subject Science fiction
Subject Short stories
Subject Philosophy -- Fiction
Category Text
EBook-No. 51549
Release Date
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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