Short Story - Man lives in isolation in a compound, plays tennis against a robot, arranges meeting with a...
I read this story in an anthology in the late 1980s or early 1990s.
I don't remember the name of the anthology (that will be for a future question) but do remember it also had the first chapter of the "Stainless Steel Rat" as a stand alone short story if that helps, I'm pretty sure that Harry Harrison did not write the story I'm asking about here.
The story is set in the future, I think on another planet. The protagonist is a man who lives alone in a compound and has no contact with other humans - I think the population is low and they are spread out. He is attended to by various robots.
One detail I remember is he plays tennis with a robot and does something to slow it down so he will be able to win more often. I'm not certain but this might have been tightening its wheels.
I think the main point of the story was him arranging and having a meeting with a woman, I think to procreate. I don't remember details of this meeting (although I don't think there was anything explicit). But I do remember it ended after the meeting when she tried to contact him (maybe by videophone) and he was incredulous that she wanted to talk at a time when he didn't want to, reinforcing the view of his self centered and all needs met by robots lifestyle.
I read it in English.
Also if you can name the anthology and save me another question that would be super.
story-identification short-stories anthology-book
asked Feb 20 at 16:04
Wiggo the WookieWiggo the Wookie
1,2221612
add a comment |
I read this story in an anthology in the late 1980s or early 1990s.
I don't remember the name of the anthology (that will be for a future question) but do remember it also had the first chapter of the "Stainless Steel Rat" as a stand alone short story if that helps, I'm pretty sure that Harry Harrison did not write the story I'm asking about here.
The story is set in the future, I think on another planet. The protagonist is a man who lives alone in a compound and has no contact with other humans - I think the population is low and they are spread out. He is attended to by various robots.
One detail I remember is he plays tennis with a robot and does something to slow it down so he will be able to win more often. I'm not certain but this might have been tightening its wheels.
I think the main point of the story was him arranging and having a meeting with a woman, I think to procreate. I don't remember details of this meeting (although I don't think there was anything explicit). But I do remember it ended after the meeting when she tried to contact him (maybe by videophone) and he was incredulous that she wanted to talk at a time when he didn't want to, reinforcing the view of his self centered and all needs met by robots lifestyle.
I read it in English.
Also if you can name the anthology and save me another question that would be super.
story-identification short-stories anthology-book
asked Feb 20 at 16:04
Wiggo the WookieWiggo the Wookie
1,2221612
4
I don't recognize the story, but the original Stainless Steel Rat story only appears in one anthology that isfdb knows about. Take a look and see if any of these stories look familiar: isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?29172 The anthology had the very generic name "Science Fiction Stories".
– Organic Marble
Feb 20 at 16:15
2
If the anthology was all novel excerpts, perhaps it contained part of Isaac Asimov's The Robots of Dawn or The Naked Sun.
– Spencer
Feb 20 at 16:17
2
@OrganicMarble - Thanks! That is definitely the anthology I was after and the specific story is "Manners of the Age" by H. B. FYFE. You can read it here - gutenberg.org/files/32764/32764-h/32764-h.htm If you want to post it as an answer I'd be glad to accept. You've saved me a lot of work with other potential questions!
– Wiggo the Wookie
Feb 20 at 16:27
1
Thanks, I will. I just found the story in Galaxy magazine myself. Posting.
– Organic Marble
Feb 20 at 16:30
add a comment |
I read this story in an anthology in the late 1980s or early 1990s.
I don't remember the name of the anthology (that will be for a future question) but do remember it also had the first chapter of the "Stainless Steel Rat" as a stand alone short story if that helps, I'm pretty sure that Harry Harrison did not write the story I'm asking about here.
The story is set in the future, I think on another planet. The protagonist is a man who lives alone in a compound and has no contact with other humans - I think the population is low and they are spread out. He is attended to by various robots.
One detail I remember is he plays tennis with a robot and does something to slow it down so he will be able to win more often. I'm not certain but this might have been tightening its wheels.
I think the main point of the story was him arranging and having a meeting with a woman, I think to procreate. I don't remember details of this meeting (although I don't think there was anything explicit). But I do remember it ended after the meeting when she tried to contact him (maybe by videophone) and he was incredulous that she wanted to talk at a time when he didn't want to, reinforcing the view of his self centered and all needs met by robots lifestyle.
I read it in English.
Also if you can name the anthology and save me another question that would be super.
story-identification short-stories anthology-book
asked Feb 20 at 16:04
Wiggo the WookieWiggo the Wookie
1,2221612
I read this story in an anthology in the late 1980s or early 1990s.
I don't remember the name of the anthology (that will be for a future question) but do remember it also had the first chapter of the "Stainless Steel Rat" as a stand alone short story if that helps, I'm pretty sure that Harry Harrison did not write the story I'm asking about here.
The story is set in the future, I think on another planet. The protagonist is a man who lives alone in a compound and has no contact with other humans - I think the population is low and they are spread out. He is attended to by various robots.
One detail I remember is he plays tennis with a robot and does something to slow it down so he will be able to win more often. I'm not certain but this might have been tightening its wheels.
I think the main point of the story was him arranging and having a meeting with a woman, I think to procreate. I don't remember details of this meeting (although I don't think there was anything explicit). But I do remember it ended after the meeting when she tried to contact him (maybe by videophone) and he was incredulous that she wanted to talk at a time when he didn't want to, reinforcing the view of his self centered and all needs met by robots lifestyle.
I read it in English.
Also if you can name the anthology and save me another question that would be super.
story-identification short-stories anthology-book
story-identification short-stories anthology-book
asked Feb 20 at 16:04
Wiggo the WookieWiggo the Wookie
1,2221612
asked Feb 20 at 16:04
Wiggo the WookieWiggo the Wookie
1,2221612
edited Feb 20 at 16:13
Wiggo the Wookie
asked Feb 20 at 16:04
Wiggo the WookieWiggo the Wookie
1,2221612
asked Feb 20 at 16:04
Wiggo the WookieWiggo the Wookie
1,2221612
asked Feb 20 at 16:04
Wiggo the WookieWiggo the Wookie
1,2221612
1,2221612
4
I don't recognize the story, but the original Stainless Steel Rat story only appears in one anthology that isfdb knows about. Take a look and see if any of these stories look familiar: isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?29172 The anthology had the very generic name "Science Fiction Stories".
– Organic Marble
Feb 20 at 16:15
2
If the anthology was all novel excerpts, perhaps it contained part of Isaac Asimov's The Robots of Dawn or The Naked Sun.
– Spencer
Feb 20 at 16:17
2
@OrganicMarble - Thanks! That is definitely the anthology I was after and the specific story is "Manners of the Age" by H. B. FYFE. You can read it here - gutenberg.org/files/32764/32764-h/32764-h.htm If you want to post it as an answer I'd be glad to accept. You've saved me a lot of work with other potential questions!
– Wiggo the Wookie
Feb 20 at 16:27
1
Thanks, I will. I just found the story in Galaxy magazine myself. Posting.
– Organic Marble
Feb 20 at 16:30
add a comment |
4
I don't recognize the story, but the original Stainless Steel Rat story only appears in one anthology that isfdb knows about. Take a look and see if any of these stories look familiar: isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?29172 The anthology had the very generic name "Science Fiction Stories".
– Organic Marble
Feb 20 at 16:15
2
If the anthology was all novel excerpts, perhaps it contained part of Isaac Asimov's The Robots of Dawn or The Naked Sun.
– Spencer
Feb 20 at 16:17
2
@OrganicMarble - Thanks! That is definitely the anthology I was after and the specific story is "Manners of the Age" by H. B. FYFE. You can read it here - gutenberg.org/files/32764/32764-h/32764-h.htm If you want to post it as an answer I'd be glad to accept. You've saved me a lot of work with other potential questions!
– Wiggo the Wookie
Feb 20 at 16:27
1
Thanks, I will. I just found the story in Galaxy magazine myself. Posting.
– Organic Marble
Feb 20 at 16:30
4
4
I don't recognize the story, but the original Stainless Steel Rat story only appears in one anthology that isfdb knows about. Take a look and see if any of these stories look familiar: isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?29172 The anthology had the very generic name "Science Fiction Stories".
– Organic Marble
Feb 20 at 16:15
I don't recognize the story, but the original Stainless Steel Rat story only appears in one anthology that isfdb knows about. Take a look and see if any of these stories look familiar: isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?29172 The anthology had the very generic name "Science Fiction Stories".
– Organic Marble
Feb 20 at 16:15
2
2
If the anthology was all novel excerpts, perhaps it contained part of Isaac Asimov's The Robots of Dawn or The Naked Sun.
– Spencer
Feb 20 at 16:17
If the anthology was all novel excerpts, perhaps it contained part of Isaac Asimov's The Robots of Dawn or The Naked Sun.
– Spencer
Feb 20 at 16:17
2
2
@OrganicMarble - Thanks! That is definitely the anthology I was after and the specific story is "Manners of the Age" by H. B. FYFE. You can read it here - gutenberg.org/files/32764/32764-h/32764-h.htm If you want to post it as an answer I'd be glad to accept. You've saved me a lot of work with other potential questions!
– Wiggo the Wookie
Feb 20 at 16:27
@OrganicMarble - Thanks! That is definitely the anthology I was after and the specific story is "Manners of the Age" by H. B. FYFE. You can read it here - gutenberg.org/files/32764/32764-h/32764-h.htm If you want to post it as an answer I'd be glad to accept. You've saved me a lot of work with other potential questions!
– Wiggo the Wookie
Feb 20 at 16:27
1
1
Thanks, I will. I just found the story in Galaxy magazine myself. Posting.
– Organic Marble
Feb 20 at 16:30
Thanks, I will. I just found the story in Galaxy magazine myself. Posting.
– Organic Marble
Feb 20 at 16:30
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
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It's "Manners of the Age" by H. B. Fyfe. The story is available online here or here.
It starts
The red tennis robot scooted desperately across the court, its four
wide-set wheels squealing.
The anthology mentioned in the question is the generically named "Science Fiction Stories".
answered Feb 20 at 16:32
Organic MarbleOrganic Marble
26.1k491134
add a comment |
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It's "Manners of the Age" by H. B. Fyfe. The story is available online here or here.
It starts
The red tennis robot scooted desperately across the court, its four
wide-set wheels squealing.
The anthology mentioned in the question is the generically named "Science Fiction Stories".
answered Feb 20 at 16:32
Organic MarbleOrganic Marble
26.1k491134
add a comment |
It's "Manners of the Age" by H. B. Fyfe. The story is available online here or here.
It starts
The red tennis robot scooted desperately across the court, its four
wide-set wheels squealing.
The anthology mentioned in the question is the generically named "Science Fiction Stories".
answered Feb 20 at 16:32
Organic MarbleOrganic Marble
26.1k491134
add a comment |
It's "Manners of the Age" by H. B. Fyfe. The story is available online here or here.
It starts
The red tennis robot scooted desperately across the court, its four
wide-set wheels squealing.
The anthology mentioned in the question is the generically named "Science Fiction Stories".
answered Feb 20 at 16:32
Organic MarbleOrganic Marble
26.1k491134
It's "Manners of the Age" by H. B. Fyfe. The story is available online here or here.
It starts
The red tennis robot scooted desperately across the court, its four
wide-set wheels squealing.
The anthology mentioned in the question is the generically named "Science Fiction Stories".
answered Feb 20 at 16:32
Organic MarbleOrganic Marble
26.1k491134
edited Feb 20 at 18:40
answered Feb 20 at 16:32
Organic MarbleOrganic Marble
26.1k491134
answered Feb 20 at 16:32
Organic MarbleOrganic Marble
26.1k491134
answered Feb 20 at 16:32
Organic MarbleOrganic Marble
26.1k491134
26.1k491134
add a comment |
add a comment |
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I don't recognize the story, but the original Stainless Steel Rat story only appears in one anthology that isfdb knows about. Take a look and see if any of these stories look familiar: isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?29172 The anthology had the very generic name "Science Fiction Stories".
– Organic Marble
Feb 20 at 16:15
2
If the anthology was all novel excerpts, perhaps it contained part of Isaac Asimov's The Robots of Dawn or The Naked Sun.
– Spencer
Feb 20 at 16:17
2
@OrganicMarble - Thanks! That is definitely the anthology I was after and the specific story is "Manners of the Age" by H. B. FYFE. You can read it here - gutenberg.org/files/32764/32764-h/32764-h.htm If you want to post it as an answer I'd be glad to accept. You've saved me a lot of work with other potential questions!
– Wiggo the Wookie
Feb 20 at 16:27
1
Thanks, I will. I just found the story in Galaxy magazine myself. Posting.
– Organic Marble
Feb 20 at 16:30