Second Variety by Philip K. Dick:
Science Fiction Inventions, Technology and Ideas

"The claws were bad enough in the first place - nasty, crawling little death-robots. But when they began to imitate their creators, it was time for the human race to make peace - if it could!"


('Second Variety' by Philip K. Dick)

The story takes place after a war between Russia and the UN; Russian victories force the American government to flee to the Moon. UN technicians develop robots called 'claws' to protect remaining UN forces.

This short story was the inspiration for the 1995 film Screamers, starring Peter Weller, Roy Dupuis and Jennifer Rubin.

Select an invention:

Claws (Attack Robot) - screamers!
Autonomous guard robots that attack living tissue.

Machine Evolution
An early look at the idea that machines can evolve all by themselves, physically and intellectually.

 

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