The Big Engine: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Big Engine: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
The Big Engine is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Leiber, Fritz (1910–1992).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"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.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Big Engine
- Author credits: Leiber, Fritz (1910–1992)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Philosophy -- Fiction
- Science fiction
- Short stories
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
- Category: Short Stories
- Science Fiction
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
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