Robert Sheckley

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...

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...

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. The twelve other stories in this collection are "Slaves of Time," "Voices," "A Supplicant in Space,"...

Twenty-four of the greatest science fiction stories of all time in this fourth sci-fi short story collection, including works by Jerome Bixby, Frederik Pohl, Roger Dee, Arnold Marmore, James H. Schmitz, Lester del Rey, Cordwainer Smith, Ray Bradbury, Philip K. Dick, and more....

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...

In 2092, the world's ecology is in ruins, drought and famine are widespread and survival is a never-ending challenge....

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....

Rediscover - or discover for the first time - a master of science fiction who, according to the New York Times, was "a precursor to Douglas Adams"....

Alastair Crompton skilled nosologist at Psychosmell, Inc. sniffs out something he's been missing his whole life - his other selves....

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....

Robert Sheckley was recognized by fans, reviewers and fellow authors as a master storyteller and the wittiest satirist working in the science fiction field....

Step into a haunting post-apocalyptic world where imagination is the only tool left to reshape reality. Proof of the Pudding by Robert Sheckley is a thought-provoking science fiction tale that explores the boundaries of creation, perception, and human connection. As one man struggles to rebuild...

Step into a chillingly plausible future in Cost of Living by Robert Sheckley, a sharp and thought-provoking science fiction short story from the 1950s. Set in a world where every comfort and convenience comes at a staggering cost, the story follows Carrin, an ordinary man crushed beneath the...

Warrior Race by Robert Sheckley is a sharp and darkly humorous science fiction tale that examines the absurdities of war and cultural misunderstanding. When two space travelers encounter a planet of proud warriors with a bizarre concept of honor, diplomacy takes an unexpected turn. Sheckley's...

Beside Still Waters by Robert Sheckley is a quietly powerful science fiction novella that explores the nature of companionship, memory, and human longing in the loneliness of deep space. Set on a remote asteroid, this introspective tale weaves emotion and philosophy into a timeless meditation on...

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. As Earth relies on its last line of defense, the psychological toll of an...

Step into the mind of Anders in Warm by Robert Sheckley—a hauntingly cerebral sci-fi tale that delves into the boundaries of love, perception, and identity. As a mysterious voice invades his thoughts, Anders is forced to question the very fabric of reality during what should be a simple...

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. Through...

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...

“Keep Your Shape” by Robert Sheckley is a thought-provoking science fiction short story from the early 1950s that blends satire, social commentary, and classic sci-fi themes. The tale follows Pid, a shape-shifting alien from the Grom species, on a mission to Earth using advanced Displacer...