Metropolis

Bys: Harbou, Thea Von and Gaughan, Jack

Step into the iconic cityscape of "Metropolis," a foundational work of science fiction. Thea von Harbou's vision of the future explores a society sharply divided into distinct social classes. Above, a privileged elite enjoys a utopian existence, while below, workers toil endlessly to maintain their world. This dystopian landscape is populated not only by humans but also by the marvels and potential perils of early conceptions of robots.

"Metropolis" remains a powerful exploration of social inequality, technological advancement, and the enduring human spirit. This meticulously prepared print edition brings von Harbou's classic novel to life, allowing readers to experience the story's timeless themes and imaginative world-building. A must-read for anyone interested in science fiction, dystopian literature, and the enduring questions about the future of humanity.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 102356582X
• ISBN13: 9781023565820
• Release Date: March 2025
• Publisher: Anson Street Press
• Length: 190 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

A story of love and redemption. sometime illustrations can subtract from imagination.

I was always fascinated by the movie "Metropolis" (1927, Fritz Lang). I followed the movie from the recovered fragments to the almost complete version with the added footage from Argentina. Then it dawned on me that the movie was probably adapted from a story. Looking at the credits, I found this story, "Metropolis" by Thea von Harbou (1888-1954). I had no idea that Thea Gabriele von Harbou was part of 77 great movie titles, including "M" and "Siegfried". She was a German screenwriter, author, film director, and actress. You might find Thea's (second wife of Fritz Lang) writing style quite interesting, not quite modern, but clear. She repeats herself quite often, sort of in the style of the Bible. As with many movies at that time, the story in the description stuck a lot closer to the book than they do nowadays. Today's movies should say inspired instead of adapted from. Reading the book, you could see the movie almost blow-by-blow. However, with a few strategic modifications here and there, the book and movie deviate greatly in their purpose and delivery. While the movie was about the class struggle between what was called the hands and the head, with a mediator, the heart. The book was more of a personal struggle for man's soul and redemption. Of course, the book had the freedom to take more time than the movie to describe actions and actors. Also, of course, there were a lot of scenes that would have to be cut out for the movie. But of those who left him, they were quite accurate. Whether you liked or didn't like the movie, you cannot afford to overlook this book. There are a lot of shocks and surprises awaiting you. And there is always time enough for love.