I think this short story was written in 50's or 60's. The premise is that all of a sudden, all forms of electricity stopped working, and people had to revert to a simpler way of life.
-
In the same vein (but not a match as it's longer and more recent) is S.M. Stirling's Emberverse series– gowenfawrCommented Oct 30, 2014 at 13:44
-
Possible dupe; scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/60556/…– ValorumCommented Oct 30, 2014 at 13:56
-
I take it you are after a book - and not "The Day The Earth Stood Still"?– ChenmunkaCommented Oct 30, 2014 at 14:57
Add a comment
|
1 Answer
It could be The Waveries, from Fredric Brown (1945). In the story, true or not, the waves have the effect of interfering with electricity.
"The Waveries" describes the story of an invasion of Earth by beings not quite organic, drawn to the planet through space by radio and other transmissions that had drifted through space. Caught up in the "scent" the wave-like beings surround the Earth and begin siphoning off any electricity generated anywhere on the planet, effectively de-industrializing the earth overnight. And the story takes us just far enough ahead to see that humanity adapts and rebuilds society as best they can.
The protagonist of the story is a radio ad writer. Aliens who can live in wave forms come to Earth and make use of any wave communications impossible. People go back to a simpler way of life, and it seems that most of them are happier (the ride horses or carriages, they ride bikes and become healthier, play music themselves instead of listen to the one in the radio, they socialize more, because they have these bands, they don't stay at home glued to the radio, etc...).
-
1"But damn it, he missed the lightning"" Such a good story, I have acopy myself :) Commented Jul 6, 2015 at 5:31
-