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"I've come across more and more people who've actually tried reading science fiction and can't make it make sense."
- Samuel R. Delany
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| Robot Clerk | ||
| An autonomous clerical unit - a robot that could wait on you in a store. |
| The robot clerk in the waiting-room checked her number, then let her into the little room where the towering Counselor took up all of one wall. She shut the inward-locking door, peered through the one-way glass to watch the robot go back to its desk, and lay down on the long couch.
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| Technovelgy from Throwback,
by Miriam Allen deFord. Published by Startling Stories in 1952 Additional resources -
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Isaac Asimov also uses the idea of a robot clerk in his 1954 story Caves of Steel:
The manager of the store was cooling down, adjusting his twisted jacket, smoothing his hair, muttering angry threats at the vanishing crowd. One of the robot clerks advanced on the cowering woman with the hat and removed a shoe deftly. The robot’s eye regarded it dispassionately for half a moment, then called out. “Size 6-C, last 14-X Alcove D-second shelf.” A second clerk was already on the way to the indicated section.
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Additional
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More Ideas
and Technology from Throwback
More Ideas
and Technology by Miriam Allen deFord
Tech news articles related to Throwback
Tech news articles related to works by Miriam Allen deFord
| Atlas Robot Makes Uncomfortable Movements |
| Humanoid Robots Tickle The Ivories |
| Golf Ball Test Robot Wears Them Out |
| PaXini Supersensitive Robot Fingers |
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Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
'...there's a narrow belt where the climate is moderate.'
'... with the Master-operator all you have to do is push one! A remarkable achievement!'
'Not like me. A T-1000, advanced prototype. A mimetic poly-alloy. Liquid metal.'
'It was riddled with holes that were the mouths of tunnels.'
'The massive feet working the pedals, arms and hands flashing and glinting...'
'There were cubic miles of it, and it glistened like a silvery Christmas tree...'
'Jason had been guiding the caravan of cars as usual...'
"The robot solemnly hit a ball against the wall, picked it up and teed it, hit it again, over and again...'
