The Mechanical Mice by Maurice G. Hugi:
Science Fiction Inventions, Technology and Ideas

"The inventor had spent twelve years perfecting the machine — a thing of marvelous complexity. Trouble was — he didn't know what it was he'd invented!"


('The Mechanical Mice' by Maurice Huigi [Eric Frank Russell])

Fantastic short story about a terrifying device constructed from a design stolen from the future. Apparently, the story was first written by Hugi, then rewritten by Eric Frank Russell. This remarkable story anticipates important elements of Bradbury's stories, as well as the mindlessly malevolent autonomous machines of Philip K. Dick's early stories like Autofac. Unfortunately, it can only be found in various out-of-print collections - or here.

Select an invention:

Golden Shuttles (Mechanical Mice) - tiny robots
Very small robots with an appetite for watch parts.

Psychophone
A device that allows the user to tune their mind to a future reality - a time-traveling device.

Robot Mother - self-reproducing automaton
A self-replicating robot, which creates a series of helper bots that adapt to conditions as needed.

 

Technovelgy.com is devoted to the creative inventions of science fiction authors and movie makers. Look for the Science Fiction Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary of Science Fiction Inventions, the Timeline of Science Fiction Inventions, or see what's New.
Find
new authors and technologies - Shop for yourself, your library and your lab.

 

 

 

 

Science Fiction
in the News

Proof Of Robothood - Not A Person
re: James Cameron
(10/19/2025)

Dancing Robots Taught Dance Moves
re: Jerome K. Jerome
(10/19/2025)

Indonesian Clans Battle
re: Jack Vance
(10/17/2025)

The 'Last Mile' In China Crowded With Delivery Robots
re: Robert Heinlein
(10/15/2025)

Tornyol Microdrone Kills Mosquitoes
re: Neal Stephenson
(10/13/2025)

PLATO Spacecraft, Hunter Of Habitable Planets, Now Ready
re: Edmond Hamilton
(10/11/2025)

Factory Humanoid Robots Built By Humanoid Robots
re: Isaac Asimov
(10/9/2025)

iPhone Air Fulfils Jobs' Promise From 2007 - A Giant Screen!
re: Kazuo Ishiguro
(10/7/2025)

ChatGPT Now Participates in Group Chats
re: James Blish
(10/5/2025)

iPhone Pocket All Sold Out!
re: Margaret St. Clair
(10/3/2025)

Did The Yautja Have These First?
re: Harry Bates
(10/1/2025)

Jetson ONE Air Races Begin, Can Air Polo Be Far Behind?
re: John Victor Peterson
(9/29/2025)

Will Space Stations Have Large Interior Spaces Again?
re: Orson Scott Card
(9/27/2025)

Mornine Sales Robot
re: Philip K. Dick
(9/25/2025)

More SF in the News

Home | Glossary | Invention Timeline | Category | New | Contact Us | FAQ | Advertise |
Technovelgy.com - where science meets fiction™

Copyright© Technovelgy LLC; all rights reserved.