Quando le macchine si fermeranno

by Christopher Anvil, Beata della Frattina (translator)

Trenta milioni di americani hanno qualcosa di nuovo e di memorabile in comune. Gli abitanti di New York City e di Burlington, di Boston, di Rochester e Providence, di decine di altre città e centinaia di cittadine e villaggi... tutti hanno vissuto insieme il "grande buio" del 1965, e d'ora in poi nelle loro conversazioni continuerà a ricorrere questa frase: "dove eravate quando le luci si spensero?" Così scrive il New York Times in un commento alla "catastrofe elettrica" che colpì gli stati americani del nord-est alle ore 17,27 del 9 novembre 1965. La catastrofe in questione potrebbe servire da introduzione a questo romanzo, il quale, peraltro, è stato scritto prima del grande buio. Solo che qui, per le ragioni che si vedranno, rimarranno in pochi a chiedersi: dove eravate quando le macchine si fermarono'

Copertina di Karel Thole

Genres: Science Fiction, Apocalyptic

128 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 1964

About the author

Christopher Anvil was a pseudonym used by author Harry C. Crosby. He began publishing science fiction with the story "Cinderella, Inc." in the December 1952 issue of the science fiction magazine Imagination. By 1956, he had adopted his pseudonym and was being published in Astounding Magazine.

Anvil's repeated appearances in Astounding/Analog were due in part to his ability to write to one of Campbell's preferred plots: alien opponents with superior firepower losing out to the superior intelligence or indomitable will of humans. A second factor is his stories are nearly always humorous throughout. Another was his characterization and manner of story crafting, where his protagonists slid from disaster to disaster with the best of intentions, and through exercise of fast thinking, managed to snatch victory somehow from the jaws of defeat.

Reviews

[Francesca kikkatnt 'Free Palestine, Stop Genocide' · Rating 1 out of 5]

Purtroppo un libro invecchiato male e, ad oggi, poco verosimile. Ma alla fine è un'opera di genere fantastico e noi ci passiamo sopra ;-) accettando tranquillamente che "una folata di aria ionizzata" possa bloccare qualsiasi tipo di circuito elettrico.
Fin qui poteva andare anche bene.
Ma la storia che ha sviluppato l'autore è stata veramente imbarazzante.
La trama principale verte sui due protagonisti che si contendono la stessa donna, arrivando addirittura a fare a botte..
Per non parlare del finale in stile americanata con tanto di giuramento solenne alla bandiera degli Stati Uniti..
Un vero peccato. L'idea era proprio bella.

[Andy Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was originally published in 1964. Bearing in mind that it's 50 years old at the time of writing, it holds up pretty well in a modern setting, and a similar idea has been seen in at least a few other books since.

A scientific experiment goes wrong and alters the laws of physics themselves such that all electrical machinery fails and properties of metals are altered due to the inability of electrons to flow. The hero of the story is working for a scientific research company at the time so he and his colleagues almost immediately understand what's going on, and the implications of the event. They decide to head across several US states in order to reach a site owned by their company in a more remote location.

Overlaid onto this backdrop is a kind of love story between the hero and his female colleague. His male colleague also wants the woman for himself so their rivalry becomes an important part of the story.

As with most of these types of books we follow a journey through a rapidly-decaying society. The lack of any machinery leads to a shortage of fuel and food, although there seems to be plenty of guns and ammunition. Although I enjoyed the book, my reason for only giving 4 stars is the way that the hero and his colleagues react to this situation, as it seems slightly unrealistic and feels dated. It's very 'black and white' in that the heroes are essentially decent people who want a quiet trip and protect innocent people, while most other people seem to be fighting or robbing one another. It's a bit of an old fashioned adventure story, rather than a gritty more realistic tale of what might happen, but quite enjoyable if you can find a copy.

[Adrian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually love a post apocalypse scenario, but this is a missed opportunity. A very "clean" apocalypse (all power everywhere goes out, even batteries) has a number of ways it could play out... Here, a group of scientists holed up in a lab with some of the few alternative fuel vehicles left obviously decide to leave the safety of the lab and drive to the middle of nowhere for no good reason. Unfortunately everyone in the USA other than the scientists has formed violent well equipped milita groups intent on having running gun battles. One of these groups then kidnaps the only female character in the book. A great concept spoiled by nonsense plotting and no real effort put into the world building.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a sucker for apocalyptic fiction, and this book delivers. The basic premise of the novel is that a disastrous Soviet experiment causes electricity to fail worldwide, and follows the aftermath. I would like to think that the United States wouldn’t fall into chaos & looting that fast, but the author is probably correct. Then the feudal system emerges, which does seem like a logical next step, followed by war between feudal states. I would happily read a sequel. If there was one, I hope Brian finally gets even with Carl. Friggen Carl.

[Tony · Rating 2 out of 5]

I probably would have stopped reading this if it hadn’t been so short. I could see this starting out as a short story pushed into a short novel. The central premise is both over and under-developed. And let’s not forget the cypher of a female character that solely exists as a point of contention between the protagonist and main antagonist.

I grabbed this at Half Price Books based on the title. I’m still on the lookout for a better execution of this premise.

[useFOSS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to it in the collection available on Overdrive/Libby

[Yeldrab Fatts · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read in these times

[Chase Bouzigard · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is unreadable in 2019.