Showing results for "Robert Sheckley" in Literature & Fiction

Step into the visionary worlds that defined a genre. *Golden Age Science Fiction Short Stories Anthology* brings together unforgettable tales from Isaac Asimov, Kurt Vonnegut, Philip K. Dick, Ray Bradbury, E. E. Smith, and Robert Sheckley—masters who shaped modern science fiction with bold ideas, cosmic adventure, and thought-provoking storytelling. From distant planets and advanced civilizations to sharp social commentary and mind-bending twists, this collection captures the imagination, innovation, and timeless wonder of classic sci-fi at its very best.

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.

It's the 21st Century and the ugliness of war no longer exists, except on a very personal level. Nowadays, people like Marcello Polletti, seller of Roman sunsets, and Caroline Meredith, lithe, beautiful, blonde, and backed by corporate sponsors and the Roy Bell Dancers, hunt, chase, and kill each other for sport and for the entertainment of the masses - until something oddly like personal human feelings pops up to confuse the players and up the stakes...as each of them seeks to kill their 10th victim and rise in the ranks of the hunters.

All secret agents need to look out for William Nye, now known as Agent X. His recruitment was simple and his legend is brilliant but un-earned. Somehow, he thinks he's the best there is and we all know how pride goeth before a fall. The master of SF hilarity and biting social satire creates a spy world that has gathered praise from the greats of the genre.

Alastair Crompton skilled nosologist at Psychosmell, Inc. sniffs out something he's been missing his whole life - his other selves. His disturbed psyche was divided into three parts and the other parts were implanted in other bodies on other planets. His obsession to re-unite himself leads to disturbing discovers about the underpinnings of the society he lives in, personal conflicts, a vastly destructive war and a shocking ultimate revelation.

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. 

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.

The Journey of Joenes, also published as Journey Beyond Tomorrow, tells the tale of a picaresque journey through an imagined future taken by a naive and innocent man unprepared for the wonders and oddities he encounters. Sheckley examines the present through the distorting lens of a future wonderfully skewed from and yet darkly, hilariously, similar to our own world.

In 2092, the world's ecology is in ruins, drought and famine are widespread and survival is a never-ending challenge. Harold Erdman leaves his dying community with one goal, to make his way to Esmeralda, an island paradise run by the Huntworld Corporation which has turned public murder, among willing competitors, into a thriving and lucrative business. Can he survive the journey and then the many rounds of deadly competition on his way to the Big Payoff.

Take a look at a dark, deadly future where the game is hunting and the results are killing - human to human - with status, money, power, and sex as the prizes. The operation runs underground and Frank Blackwell is a new recruit who is destined to change the game and turn it into legitimate popular entertainment for the masses.

In the heart of London, chaos reigns as a mysterious man snatches a steel-lined briefcase right from under the noses of armed secret agents. The stakes? The fate of nations hangs in the balance. Enter Stephen Dain, a resourceful detective called upon when the intelligence services of the entire Western world are left baffled and helpless. With only a single clue—a beautiful, clever, and dangerously alluring woman—Dain plunges into a high-stakes race against time. Will he outsmart the enemy and reclaim the briefcase before it’s too late? Join us for 'Dead Run,' a gripping detective ...

Ready for a story? Here's a selection of some of the finest science fiction shorts of recent years, including stories from Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, William Gibson, Robert Sheckley, Terry Bisson, Avram Davidson, and Philip K. Dick.

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.

When two space travelers encounter a planet of proud warriors with a bizarre concept of honor, diplomacy takes an unexpected turn. Sheckley's signature wit and social commentary shine in this clever exploration of alien values and human folly.

Explore eerie frontiers, alien worlds, and imaginative futures in Golden Age Science Fiction Short Stories Vol. 4. This classic collection features inventive tales by Philip K. Dick, Robert Sheckley, and Stanley G. Weinbaum, perfect for fans of vintage sci-fi adventure and timeless speculative fiction.

THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICES OF THE ENTIRE WESTERN WORLD WERE BAFFLED, HELPLESS. THE WORD WENT OUT: "CALL STEPHEN DAIN!" In broad daylight, in the middle of a London street, a little man nobody knew snatched a steel-lined briefcase from the hands of armed secret agents. The briefcase held the fate of nations. Stephen Dain had to get it before the enemy did. He had one clue-a beautiful clever, dangerous girl!!!!! Summary from the Back cover, Bantam Books 1961 Paperback Edition

A gripping collection of classic science fiction tales filled with mystery, alien encounters, and interstellar danger. Golden Age Science Fiction Short Stories Vol. 7 brings together unforgettable stories by Murray Leinster and Robert Sheckley, capturing the imagination and wonder of vintage speculative fiction.

Step into the golden age of imagination with A Vintage Science Fiction Short Stories Collection, a masterfully curated anthology featuring some of the most influential voices in classic science fiction. This timeless volume brings together visionary storytelling from Frank Herbert, Philip K. Dick, Fredric Brown, E. E. Smith, John W. Campbell Jr., Murray Leinster, Robert Sheckley, Stanley G. Weinbaum, and William Tenn—authors who helped shape modern speculative fiction.

Step into a chilling future where warfare isn’t just fought with weapons—but with the mind. The Hour of Battle by Robert Sheckley delivers a gripping tale of suspense, set against the vast backdrop of deep space.

Set in a world where every comfort and convenience comes at a staggering cost, the story follows Carrin, an ordinary man crushed beneath the weight of debt in a society obsessed with technological luxury. As he reflects on the tragic suicide of a neighbor and prepares for a visit from a relentless finance agent, Carrin confronts the unsettling truth about consumerism, inherited debt, and the price of happiness.