The Tactful Saboteur by Frank Herbert:
Science Fiction Inventions, Technology and Ideas

Not Herbert's easiest-to-read story, it introduces the ConSentiency in which humans live with extraterrestrials in a common society. Saboteur extraordiary Jorj X. McKie challenges the head of the Bureau of Sabotage, climaxing in a protracted legal battle. Select an invention:

Chairdog - the ultimate ergonomic chair
A chair that is alive and partly sentient; it shapes itself to the person sitting in it.

Chalf (Quick-Scribe Powder) - wave the stick
A special powder that forms itself into words and symbols.

Chalf-Memory Stick
Device that organizes special dust in the shape of words and symbols.

Court Robo-Clerk - hear ye, hear ye!
A robotic law clerk.

Courtarena - trial by fire
A combination of a court of law, and an arena of combat, in which every participant could be called out and executed under legal circumstances.

 

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Science Fiction
in the News

Japan's AI Buddharoid Automonks
re: Ray Naylor
(1/25/2026)

MIT Computerized Bionic Leg Is Part Of The User
re: Charles Recour
(1/23/2026)

The New Habitable Zones Include Asimov's Ribbon Worlds
re: Harl VIncent
(1/23/2026)

California Governor Candidate Calls For Voting By Phone
re: John Brunner
(1/21/2026)

Robots For Hire En Masse
re: Raymond E. Banks
(1/19/2026)

China's Handheld Electromagnetic Gun
re: Richard Morgan
(1/17/2026)

3D Printing A 12-Meter Boat Hull
re: Murray Leinster
(1/15/2026)

China Still Working On Rescue Robot That Eats People
re: Various
(1/13/2026)

Lawyer AIs Create Chaos In Our Legal System
re: David Brin
(1/11/2026)

Chinese Hospital Tries Vonnegut's 'Harrison Bergeron' Cosplay
re: Kurt Vonnegut
(1/9/2026)

Robot Clerks Become A Reality In China
re: Miriam Allen deFord
(1/7/2026)

Can One Robot Do Many Tasks?
re: Robert Sheckley
(1/5/2026)

Atlas Robot Makes Uncomfortable Movements
re: James Cameron
(1/3/2026)

Boring Company Drills Asimov's Single Vehicle Tunnels
re: Isaac Asimov
(1/1/2026)

More SF in the News
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