Most of the humans potentially have gone extinct because of their own shortcomings.
The two machines seem happy about being free because they were aware of how much work they did for the humans and the fact that they could only do what the humans told them to do.
However, as the story progresses, it becomes evident that even these higher-thinking machines are missing important characteristics that could hinder their ability to create their own society.
At the end of the story, the machines find one human being. Even though he is “ravaged by starvation” as soon as he gives a command to the machines to get him food, they immediately reply, “Yes, Master…Immediately.”
In this story, humans have damaged Earth, but unlike the machines, they also have the ability to grow and change if they try. The machines may do all the work but they have no feelings for each other and can’t repair themselves without human intervention.
Fans of science fiction find themselves in the genre for a number of reasons. It could be a love of all the accoutrements that mark the genre: new species, alien warfare, spaceships and gripping anti-heroes.
But, it also serves as a crystal ball — showing humanity through imagined reactions to new technology, races or otherworldly locales, often in a way that’s stirring and a little bit scary — in a good way. Check out these best science fiction books to read shared by Washingtonpost.com.