Showing results by author "Robert Sheckley" in All Categories

Final Examination by Robert Sheckley is a gripping mid-century science fiction tale that delves into the psychological and societal unraveling sparked by an impending cosmic reckoning. As the stars begin to vanish from the night sky, humanity is given a chilling countdown to judgment.

Set in a futuristic world of interplanetary travel and moral regulation, this darkly humorous sci-fi tale explores the perils of trading authentic human connection for artificial pleasure. When Ralph Garvey activates his mysterious companion, he gets far more than he bargained for—sparking a suspenseful, satirical battle for survival.

Untouched by Human Hands consists of 13 stories of beings who dwell on the strange borders of reality. Some of these stories tell of people you know or of events that might happen - but haven't yet. Some will take you to the furthermost reaches of the sky and to planets whose names are unknown this side of Arcturus. And some - perhaps the richest and most memorable of these stories - open into the interior of strange minds to reveal the reflection of ourselves.

Want to be immortal? You can be in AD 2110. Just go to the Hereafter Insurance Corporation and hook yourself up to the Machine. There’s nothing to fear. That is, if it happens to be working right, and if nobody slips another mind into your body when you’re not looking, and if you’re not on a poltergeist hatelist.

Launch your imagination and break the bonds of time and space with radio's highly acclaimed science-fiction anthology X Minus One! Produced in cooperation with science fiction magazines of the day, the series featured provocative stories by the genre's top genre authors. Ray Bradbury, Ernest Kinoy, Robert Sheckley, and more helped Americans of the 1950s look to the future. Dramatized with an atmosphere of excitement, top radio voices like Raymond Edward Johnson, Les Damon, Staats Cotsworth, Ruby Dee, Mandel Kramer, Joe DeSantis, and Bill Lipton gave voice to their visionary tales.

Dimension of Miracles is a satirical science fiction novel first published by Dell in 1968. It's about Tom Carmody, a New Yorker who, thanks to a computer error, wins the main prize in the Intergalactic Sweepstakes. Tom claims his prize before the error is discovered and is allowed to keep it. However, since Tom is a human from Earth without galactic status and no space traveling experience, he has no homing instinct that can guide him back to Earth once his odyssey begins - and the galactic lottery organizers cannot transport him home.

Interstellar travel to alien worlds is too expensive for Marvin, a college student in need of a good vacation. And so he signs up for what he can afford: a mind swap, in which his consciousness is swapped into the body of an alien life-form. Unfortunately, Marvin finds himself in the body of an interstellar criminal—a body that he has to vacate, fast.

One Man’s Poison by Robert Sheckley is a witty and suspenseful science fiction short story from the early 1950s that explores alien life and survival with a darkly comedic twist.

The second collection of science-fiction tales by Jimcin includes 31 stories.

This fourth volume of Favorite Science Fiction Stories contains 22 more gripping tales.

In "The Robot Who Looked Like Me," a busy man and a busy woman find a way to carve out time to romance each other—by having look-alike robots made to do the job—who then run away together.

When robotic drones known as "watchbirds" are deployed to eliminate murder and safeguard society, humanity embraces a technological miracle—until the machines begin to redefine what it means to kill. As the watchbirds evolve and extend their protection to all living beings, even insects, society unravels under their rigid logic.

A space explorer wearing a force shield encounters a little problem when he makes first contact. Based on a story by Robert Sheckley, this episode of X Minus One originally aired on July 11, 1957.

Incredible Science Fiction: Amazing Tales from the 50's and Beyond, Volume Two collates a collection of some of the very best science-fiction stories published in the '50s together. All these stories (with the exception of The Anatomy of Fear) are now in the public domain and were original published in various science-fiction magazines that were very popular in the 1950s. This is a lovingly curated collection of some of the very best stories published during this time. This collection includes a further story from the Hugo Award-nominated Rog Phillips.

"The Status Civilization" is a science fiction novel by Robert Sheckley. The protagonist is Will Barrent, who finds himself, without memory of any crime, or, indeed, of his previous life, being shipped across space to the planet Omega. Omega, used to imprison extreme offenders, has a hierarchical society of extreme brutality, where the only way to advance (and avoid dying) is to commit an endless series of crimes. The average life expectancy from time of arrival on Omega is three years.

Introducing "The Monsters" by Robert Sheckley, a thrilling sci-fi audiobook that explores the fascinating and bizarre world of a distant planet inhabited by sentient aliens who refer to themselves as "humans." On this strange planet, the aliens may look nothing like us, but their society is both intriguing and terrifying. While they pride themselves on being rational and ethical beings, their tendencies towards violence and argumentation make them truly monstrous. Witness their struggles with truth and deception.

One Man's Poison by Robert Sheckley is a science fiction short story published in the early 1950s. This narrative explores themes of alien life and survival in a comical yet suspenseful manner. The story revolves around two space travelers, Hellman and Casker, who find themselves in a predicament as they land on a mysterious planet devoid of food.

The Robert Sheckley Collection: 10 Signature Classic Stories brings together a selection of the finest works by one of the most imaginative and influential writers in science fiction. Known for his sharp wit, satirical edge, and visionary storytelling, Sheckley masterfully blends humor, irony, and philosophical depth in tales that challenge perceptions of reality, technology, and human nature. This collection features ten of Sheckley's most celebrated stories, each showcasing his ability to weave intricate narratives filled with unexpected twists, dark comedy, and profound social commentary.

Ask a Foolish Question by Robert Sheckley is a science fiction story written during the early 1950s. The narrative explores the philosophical implications of knowledge and inquiry through a central entity known as the Answerer, designed to provide answers to any question posed by the beings of the universe. The story raises intriguing questions about the nature of knowledge itself, highlighting how the formulation of a question can heavily influence the response received.

Warrior Race by Robert Sheckley is a science fiction novella written in the early 1950s. The story explores themes of cultural misunderstanding and the absurdity of war through the lens of two human characters, Fannia and Donnaught, who find themselves stranded on an alien planet inhabited by a unique civilization known for their warrior ethos. In Warrior Race, Fannia and Donnaught's space journey leads them to the planet Cascella, where they discover that the native inhabitants consider suicide as a form of warfare.