The eternal quest

"The Eternal Quest" by Joseph Gilbert is a science fiction story set in a future where machines control much of life, leaving people feeling lost and uninspired. A small but inspiring person appears, promising a new civilization that can bring humanity back to life. Robert Lawrence travels to Mars, realizing how much technology has caused emptiness. He meets a dying alien who reveals his search for a better place ended in sadness, like humanity's aimless existence. Lawrence then learns about the quiet sorrow of people searching for purpose, and about the deep sadness of dreams that never come true, showing the never-ending search for meaning in a world that doesn't care.