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"If we're going to be consistent and advocate freedom of speech we have to advocate freedom of encrypted speech too. The genie is out of the bottle, cryptologically."
- Neal Stephenson
 |
| Construct | ||
| An artificial being, a pastiche of living and robotic pieces. |
As far as I know, this is the first use of this expression in science fiction.
| There was a sharp click! a whirring and clattering, a stir of
massive forms all across the gloomy chamber. Magnan yipped and leaped back as a construct the size of
a fork-lift stirred into motion,
turned, creaking, and surveyed
him with a pair of what were indisputably glowing amber eyes.
"We're surrounded," Magna chirped faintly. "And they told us the planet was uninhabited'!" "It is," Retief said, as more giant shapes moved forward, accompanied by the squeak of unlubricated metal.
 (Construct from 'Retief, the Long-Awaited Master' by Keith Laumer) "Then what are these?" Magnan came back sharply. "Oversized spooks?" "Close, but not kewpie doll," Retief said. "This. is the city garage, and these are maintenance robots." "R-r-robots?" "Our coming in must have triggered them to come to alert status." They moved along the row of giant machines, each equipped with a variety of limbs, organs, and sensors. |
| Technovelgy from Retief, the Long-Awaited Master,
by Keith Laumer. Published by Worlds of IF in 1969 Additional resources -
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'What would you do,' Eric asked the robot cabdriver, 'if your wife had turned to stone, your best friend were a toad, and you had lost your job?'
'those suits they wear -- call them 'stillsuits' -- that reclaim the body's own water...'
'Now, except for weight and heat, the same conditions prevail in this chamber as in space.'
'there were so many worms and counterworms loose in the data-net...'
'Now, look, let's start with the three fundamental Rules of Robotics...'
'..the synthetic intellects at the Place of Knowledge had far outstripped the minds of men.'
'But after washing and drying clothes had to be smooth - free from fine lines and wrinkles ...'
