Store of Infinity

by Robert Sheckley

One neurotic amoeba casually placed can alter the entire course of world history. Robert Sheckley says it's like that tiny pebble that sends ripples to the edge of the lake.
And since Sheckley figures absolutely anything can happen, the possible futures he envisions romp buoyantly all the way from wretched to raucous.
If you balk and boggle at some of these predictions, think of it this The future won't just happen - it will sneak up on you a little at a time!



The Prize of Peril (1958) shortstory
The Humours (1958) novella (aka Join Now)
Triplication (1960) essay
The Minimum Man (1958) novelette
If the Red Slayer (1959) shortstory
The Store of the Worlds (1959) shortstory
The Gun Without a Bang (1958) shortstory
The Deaths of Ben Baxter (1957) novelette

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Short Stories, Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy, Collections, Humor

151 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

One of science fiction's great humorists, Sheckley was a prolific short story writer beginning in 1952 with titles including "Specialist", "Pilgrimage to Earth", "Warm", "The Prize of Peril", and "Seventh Victim", collected in volumes from Untouched by Human Hands (1954) to Is That What People Do? (1984) and a five-volume set of Collected Stories (1991). His first novel, Immortality, Inc. (1958), was followed by The Status Civilization (1960), Journey Beyond Tomorrow (1962), Mindswap (1966), and several others. Sheckley served as fiction editor for Omni magazine from January 1980 through September 1981, and was named Author Emeritus by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2001.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Store of Infinity is a collection of eight Sheckley stories that originally appeared in his remarkably prolific late-1950s. There are two stories that were first published in Playboy (for which he probably was paid more than all of the others put together), one each from F & SF and Amazing, and the other four are from Galaxy magazine. Sheckley had a smooth, slick, effortless style and keen and clever wit with his storytelling, like Robert Bloch or Richard Matheson, though his slyly satiric themes are more like Frederik Pohl at his best. My favorite in this collection is The Prize of Peril, in which he quite presciently foresees the future of reality television game shows, foreshadowing The Running Man and his own The Tenth Victim.

[Manuel Alfonseca · Rating 4 out of 5]

ENGLISH: Eight stories by Robert Sheckley. The three I liked best are "The minimum man" (one of my Sheckley favorite stories of all time), "The store of the worlds" and "The gun without a bang." "Join now" (or "The humors") is also quite ingenious.

SPANISH: Ocho cuentos de Robert Sheckley. Los tres que más me gustaron fueron "El hombre mínimo" (uno de mis cuentos favoritos de Sheckley), "La tienda de los mundos" y "El arma que no hacía pum". "Únete ahora" (titulado también "Los humores") también es muy ingenioso.

[Peter Tillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic stories by the Old Master, collection first published in 1960. Stories from 1957 to 1959, and they (mostly) hold up well to rereading. And I remember most of them well, even decades since I last read them. Sheckley was a remarkably talented story-teller. Recommended.

TOC:http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?6...
1 • The Prize of Peril • (1958) • short story. Reality TV, 1958 style. Famous story, 4 stars by memory. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pri...
19 • The Humours • (1958) • novelette. Practical multiple-personality fission into artificial Durier bodies. 4 stars
61 • Triplication • (1959) • short story. Frontier justice. Silly & fun, 3 stars.
66 • The Minimum Man • (1958) • novelette. A minimum-survival space colony explorer in action. Clever & fun. 4 stars
97 • If the Red Slayer • (1959) • short story. Modern warfare, with really good surgeons. 3 stars
104 • The Store of the Worlds • (1959) • short story. A quiet story with a memorable sting. 4 stars
111 • The Gun Without a Bang • (1958) • short story. "The Weapon" had a bad design flaw. 4 stars.
120 • The Deaths of Ben Baxter • (1957) • novelette. Three alternate futures. This one didn't hold up for me. 2.5 stars.

[Artem Gavrishev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Не самый сильный сборник Шекли. А вообще деда, я от тебя устал!

[Alex Memus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Шекли взял несколько хороших рассказов, подпортил прямолинейным морализаторством в духе басен и еще замаскировал три черновика под короткий рассказ. Но твисты всё ещё королевские у парня.

1. Премия за риск - 4
2. Четыре стихии - 2
3. Триптих - 3
4. Человекоминимум - 3,5
5. Право на смерть - 4
6. Лавка миров - 4
7. Пушка, которая не бабахает - 3,5
8. Три смерти Бена Бакстера - 3,5

Я прочитал эту книгу для обсуждения на подкасте про научную фантастику «Худо Не Было». Послушать можно тут: https://share.transistor.fm/s/b40eb519

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a rolickingly fun romp through the world of a twisted mind. Imagine the love child of Philip K. Dick and Franz Kafka, where the world and bureaucracy always get you in the end. It was an absolute delight.

[Sarah B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book published in 1960 contains 8 short science fiction stories. They are all very creative and one had a very unexpected twist. A wide range of stories too, everything from testing out new weapons on an alien planet to trying to save the future by preventing the death of a certain individual. Not all of them end happily. The stories are different enough that there is something for everyone to enjoy. My favorites we're the explorer who became friends with intelligent mole-like aliens while being annoyed by his own robot and the thrilling case of the man who had to survive a week against trained killers. Each story explores different questions and themes. Does the military have the right to ask their men to die over and over in combat? If men and women are exact duplicates of each other, is it cheating if one man decides he likes woman number 10 better while he is married to woman number 26? Can you really save a life if a person is fated to die? Great book! I read it in a few hours.

[Jarosław Loretz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeden z niewielu wydanych po polsku oryginalnych zbiorów opowiadań Sheckleya. Zbiór jak zwykle pełen świetnych, dowcipnie zrealizowanych pomysłów, choć z perspektywy dzisiejszego polskiego czytelnika lekko denerwujący powtarzalnością tekstów. "Cena ryzyka", notabene sfilmowana przez Francuzów w roku 1983 jako "A stawką jest śmierć", była u nas drukowana książkowo - wliczając "Magazyn nieskończoności" - już cztery razy, podobnie "Człowiek minimum" (bardziej znany jako "Zwiadowca minimum") i "Magazyn światów", zaś "Bezgłośna broń" trzy razy. I to nie licząc wydanego w drugim obiegu zbioru opowiadań Sheckleya oraz wydań prasowych. Z kolei "Humory" rozrosły się później w słabą powieść, wydaną przez Amber pod tytułem "Potrójna reintegracja".

Jak więc dobre by te teksty nie były, trafianie na nie w kolejnej książce, w dodatku w wyczuwalnie gorszym przekładzie (nie oszukujmy się, Anna Minczewska-Przeczek nie jest jakimś wybitnym tłumaczem), potrafi odjąć trochę przyjemności z lektury. Zawarte w zbiorze opowiadania pochodzą jednak z wcześniejszego okresu twórczości Sheckleya i wciąż mają w sobie wiele nieprzemijającej świeżości, więc znowuż nie ma co aż tak mocno narzekać na powtórki, zwłaszcza że obok nich znajduje się w zbiorze kilka tekstów, które ukazały się w języku polskim tylko w tym wydawnictwie. Owszem, "W trzech częściach" może rzeczywiście lekko razi szkicowością i rzuceniem "na rybkę" kilku pomysłów, pobieżnie tylko zarysowanych, ale dwa pozostałe opowiadania, "Jeśli czerwony zabójca" (problemy raz po raz ożywianego żołnierza wojny przyszłości) i "Trzy śmierci Bena Baxtera" (świetnie odmalowane trzy warianty diametralnie różniących się ustrojem wersji Nowego Jorku A.D. 1959), potrafią pobudzić szare komórki do myślenia i zmusić do podjęcia zabawy z autorem.

Ogólnie więc zbiór swobodnie można uznać za udany, nawet jeśli spora część opowiadań była już u nas raz po raz drukowana w innych zestawach autorskich Sheckleya czy w rozmaitych antologiach. Wciąż - co Sheckley, to Sheckley.

[Phoenix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Magazine quality collection of short stories

Prize of Peril" is a 1959 look at a reality TV game show where contestants risk their lives against near certain death for cash prizes and ratings for their sponsors. "The Humours" concerns a man with a literally split personality and his quest to reintegrate the components of his childhood self. "Triplicate is actually 3 short story notions in one, a bit wry but throwaways that could have been developed further. , "The Minimum Man" is a slightly humourous twist - instead of selecting colonists for their ability to survive to test out new planets, Earth sends out accident prone individuals least likely to survive in order find planets most suitable for the rest of us. Anton Perceval is one such man, but when he proves to be more competent than expected his robot assistant starts to even the odds against him. I liked this one best of all. "If the Red Slayer" features a future trench war between America and the Soviets, and given the medical technology to bring a soldier back from the dead, at what point does the soldier get to say enough?

"The Store of Worlds" is a tale where one can give up one's net worth and 10 years of one's life in exchange for a single year in a better world - and questions whether it would be worth it. "The Gun Without a Bang" reminds me somewhat of Larry Niven's "What Good is a Glass Dagger" - sometimes it's the other end of a weapon that proves to be more useful. And finally there's "The Deaths of Ben Baxter", a cautionary fable of selecting alternate time strands to improve the future. Ben Baxter must be saved to save the world. The World Planning Council selects 3 different strands - but which one will work out in the end?

So so as a collection. Most of the stories appear to be quickly written.

[Michael Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 1960 collection of eight stores published in science fiction magazines or in Playboy between 1957 and 1960. Getting published in Playboy was a big deal in 1960. Everyone joked about getting Playboy to read the stories, but they did publish distinguished authors and they paid much more than the pulps.

One of the pleasures of reading old science fiction is seeing what they got wrong, and what they got right. In one of these far future stories the hero learns that he is being sent to explore a distant planet when a Western Union envelope is slid under his door.

On the other hand, the first story, " The Prize of Peril", is a thoroughly modern take on the insanity of reality TV. Jim Reader has worked his way up the ranks of reality shows until he qualifies to compete in "The Prize of Peril". The game is that he is released in New York City. A gang of trained assassins try to kill him. If he is alive at the end of the week, he wins $200,000. (That is 1960 dollars) The fun part is that the whole week is covered live on TV. Pretty impressive prediction in 1960.

All the stories are solid. Sheckley has a wry wit. The last story, "The Deaths of Ben Baxter", is a very clever time traveling paradox story.

[Beata Dąbrowska · Rating 3 out of 5]

We wczesnej młodości bardzo lubiłam opowiadania Sheckleya, zdecydowanie przedkładając je nad jego pełnowymiarowe książki, w których często zdarzało mu się nudzić czytelnika. Ostatnio zaś przypomniałam sobie o nim i postanowiłam sprawdzić, jak moje ulubione opowiadania sprawdzą się po latach. I nie doznałam zawodu. Owszem, niektóre historie, które dawniej czytałam z zapartym tchem, teraz mnie śmieszyły, ale znalazłam też takie, które nie tylko się nie zestarzały, ale wręcz przybrały na aktualności. Takie np. "Trzy śmierci Bena Baxtera" - zdaje się, że konsekwencje tej wymyślonej historii dzieją się tu i teraz, a do używania inhalatorów i butli z tlenem doprawdy niewiele brakuje. Podobnym wizjonerstwem autor wykazał się w "Cenie ryzyka".
Ot, niby lektura na jeden wieczór. A jednak w przypadku tych kilku ważnych opowiadań, lektura obowiązkowa.

[Tim Deforest · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent anthology of Scheckley's always entertaining and witty short stories. "The Minimum Man" is one I'd never read before and I loved it. The premise is that the best way to explore a planet and evaluate whether it would be a good location for a new colony is to send an accident-prone explorer. If HE can survive, then so should any colonists.

"Gun without a Bang" is another favorite, about how the most advanced technology doesn't always make for the most effective tools. In this case, a disintegrator gun that makes no noise and leaves no visible corpses will not stop wild animals from attacking no matter how many you kill--because they simply won't be able to recognize what is killing them and learn from the experience.

The other stories in the book are also strong, but these two are my personal favorites.

[Joachim Boaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review: https://sciencefictionruminations.com...

4.5/5

"Robert Sheckley’s collection Store of Infinity (1960) contains eight remarkable short stories — three of which are near masterpieces. Sheckley’s visions are satirical, mordant, and replete with vivid imagery conveyed in solid prose. A few selections remind me of the lighthearted (yet thought-provoking in content) robot fairy tales by Stanislaw Lem — for example, those collected in The Cyberiad (1965) — although Sheckley’s visions are less whimsical.

‘The Prize of Peril’ (1958), ‘Triplication’ [...]"

[Josie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and interesting read. I don't love short stories as a format in general, and with this collection particularly, each of the concepts were so interesting that I wished the author took the time to develop one of them into a full length sci fi novel. I enjoyed how his writing style suits a dry take on a futuristic world and he has very original notions of how our existing structures might operate in the far future. Despite being so short, each story was intriguing and left me thinking. Reading this reminded me of blazing through some of the shorter Black Mirror episodes - fascinating, but left wanting more.

[Ian Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sheckly’s stories are consistently A-level - not all A+, and maybe a few A- in there, but they’re all enjoyable and timeless. It’s hilarious to think that many of these appeared in Playboy; it’s hard to fathom anything comparable today, with the exception of the high standards of short fiction featured in the Atlantic or the New Yorker. These short stories transcend the label of 50s era pulp and are important pieces of literature within the sci fi genre.

[Diana Lillig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know until recently that it was a story in this collection that was the basis of that wonderful Italian movie starring Marcello Mastroianni "The 10th Victim" (and its many descendants including The Hunger Games.)

Truly entertaining, thought-provoking, sometimes frightening stories (despite the now quaint 'futuristic' communication technologies that must often be evoked!)

Strong recommend, especially if you haven't yet read anything by Robert Sheckley.

I'll be looking for more.

[Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely love Sheckley's unexpected stories. Each one even being so short keeps you trying to guess the grand finale and latter rarely disappoints.

[Brad Guy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad collection of short stories, but not great. Very much a work of its time. 2.5 stars.

[X · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5⭐️

Charming, but I found it to be quite mediocre overall.

[Jenny Doyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A couple of these stories are really unique and memorable.

[Patrick Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

More excellent short stories from a 1950's master. Some were the basis for a few 'Twilight Zone' episodes. Dated, but wonderful.

[Patrick Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twisted mind-boggling stories of potential futures for mankind. Sheckley really let his imagination go wild on this series of eight (sort of) interconnected stories. Brilliant stuff.

[Kristaps · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although it was interesting to read (most of the stories), for some reason I read it and forgot about it. Some of the ideas were quite cool and for a sci-fi short story compilation. But was it fantastic? Probably not for me. If you enjoy the genre, want a quick read and stories, this is not bad. But overall nothing special for my liking.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the first science fiction books I ever bought for myself. I was in my mid-teens, living in Westport, CT. The store was called "The Bookworm", I think, and it was run by an aging hippie. The shop was small and dark, with a largish brass bowl filled with sand and sticks of burning incense on the counter; it was a magical sort of place.

And so it was only appropriate that I lucked into buying a rather magical sort of book. Store of Infinity is one of those all too rare, gem-like books of remarkably clever short science fiction stories; stories that stick in your mind, tickling your funny bone and stimulating your imagination. Sheckley has produced an astonishing number of such stories over his career (he's far better in that form than in novels), and these stories were written at the very height of his talent. I'm reminded of O. Henry, and even more so of Fredric Brown. Ron Goulart has also written many books which are similar to Sheckley's short story style, although Goulart in general tends to be a bit more surreal and quirky than Sheckley in his best period.

Credit must be given to Sheckley for great prescience; his story "The Prize of Peril" (one of the longer stories in the book) is a brilliant prediction of the current reality-TV fad, and a logical projection of where that trend might go in the future. What makes that story particularly amazing is that it was written in the late 1950s. And while being a stunning piece of sociological prediction, it also manages to be gripping, extremely exciting, funny, and a biting satire.

The story seems to have been ripped off wholesale by Steven King for his novel and movie The Running Man, but it's so much better than either of those that it shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath.

And yet that's only one of the incredibly memorable stories in this book. If you like clever, witty, imaginative short stories than this is definitely a book you don't want to miss.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another used book store find - I've just started to explore Sheckley's works - this particular collection seems like a cross between Robert A. Heinlein and Philip K. Dick.

The opening story, "The Prize of Peril" seems a direct inspiration for Bachman/King's "The Running Man" - the main difference being that the spectator public can choose to help the star of the show. "The Humours" takes multiple personalities (called schizophrenia in the story) to the next logical level; while "The Deaths of Ben Baxter" explores time travel to multiple universes. I vaguely recalled reading a couple of these stories before: "The Minimum Man" takes a pragmatic approach towards settling new worlds, and "The Gun Without a Bang" pokes fun at the next incarnation of The Big White Hunter.

Like much science fiction from this time (late 50's - early 60's) not only is the technology dated, but some of the concepts are as well. Nonetheless, the stories are tightly written and touches of black humour make this collection worth reading.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

A set of 8 science fiction short stories dealing with alternate realities (The Store of the World), alternate time lines (The Deaths of Ben Baxter), The Values of Life and Death (The Prize of peril, If The Red Slayer), Psychology taken to the ultimate (The Humours), and Man Against Machine (The Minimum Man, The Gun Without a Bang). The short story Triplication is really three, short, unrelated vignettes.

The beauty of all these short stories is Sheckley's skill at disguising what is really going on and leading the reader to a surprising and totally unexpected ending in the classic style of O. Henry and some of Asimov's thought-provoking short stories.

Light, bright, and delicious!

[Chris Weidner · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first time reading Shockley and what a wonderful surprise. Really fun, funny, creative, science fiction! Reminds me of Douglas Adams but more relatable, if that makes sense. Looking forward to reading more of his work.

[Timothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

8 stories:

The Prize of Peril (1958)
The Humours (1958)
Triplication (1959)
The Minimum Man (1958)
If the Red Slayer (1959)
The Store of the Worlds (1959)
The Gun Without a Bang (1958)
The Deaths of Ben Baxter (1957)

[Freder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably deserves a higher ranking; but it's been so very long since I read it, and this is one elephant whose memory ain't what it used to be. . .

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to "Prize of Peril", "Пушка, которая не бабахает", "Человекоминимум", "Четыре стихии", "Лавка миров", "Право на смерть", "Премия за риск", "Трипликация", "Три смерти Бена Бакстера".