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"SF looks towards an imaginary future, while fantasy, by and large, looks towards an imaginary past."
- Frederik Pohl
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| Talking Pamphlet | ||
| An instructional pamphlet that instructs you through ordinary speech. |
Madge Rubichek had a problem; her husband. But, she was nothing if not methodical, so she acquired a do-it-yourself murder kit.
Did you ever have a problem trying to both read the instructions for something and perform the actions stated in the instructions - at the same time?
Marge was somewhat unprepared when the pamplet spoke to her.
| "Uh, where are you?" Madge asked nervously. "Where am I where? the pamphlet responded in confusion. "Yes, precisely," she responded. "Dear Purchaser, you are perplexing me," the pamphlet cried. "If you wish to carry forward smartly to the objective for which this Kit was designed, please do not strain my conversational and analytical faculties." |
| From Ellison Wonderland,
by Harlan Ellison. Published by Signet in 1974 Additional resources -
|
This marvelously dark story loses nothing in the years since its first publication. Harlan Ellison is not, strictly speaking, a hard science fiction writer. He says he writes more in the style of magical realism.
Whatever the genre, don't miss do-it-yourself from this fine book of short stories.
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and Technology from Ellison Wonderland
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and Technology by Harlan Ellison
Tech news articles related to Ellison Wonderland
Tech news articles related to works by Harlan Ellison
Talking Pamphlet-related
news articles:
- Books of Hope Talk to Everyone
- Interactive Paper Four Sounds Off
| 'A Sign in Space' Gives Practice In Decoding ET Messages |
| MyManu Titan 'Screenless Smartphone' |
| 'Courier Commons' By Tomorrow Lab, From Karl Schroeder (and Bruce Sterling?) |
| Mouth Haptics Invented By Frederik Pohl In 1965, CMU Now Has Prototype |
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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
'The Consul remembered his first glimpse of the kilometer-long treeship...'
'Do you know what window washing used to cost by the hour?'
'Once the target is confirmed, it uses an IR laser to send a coded signal back to the parent, clearing it to attack.'
'I filled your bullet hole with flesh putty and the lattice.'
'... it will be easy to form an alphabet which shall enable us to converse with the inhabitants of the moon.'
'From the tower's huge octagonal base radiate wide silvery strips...'
'It was about five feet long... a black bullet head and red camera eyes.'
'The Law Society has strict rules on the use of pseudo-intelligent software...'
