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Gimmicks Three
"Gimmicks Three" is a fantasy short story by Isaac Asimov. It was first published in the November 1956 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction under the title "The Brazen Locked Room", and reprinted under Asimov's original title in the 1957 collection Earth is Room Enough. The title refers to what Asimov called "the three well-worn gimmicks of pact with the devil, locked room mystery, and time travel".
Isidore Wellby has just left the army and, abandoned by his girlfriend, feels lost and let down. In desperation, he signs away his soul in blood to a demon named Shapur. On the proviso that eventually he will be forced to enter hell, either as an ordinary damned soul or as a member of the cadre, he is allotted a number of demonic powers, the nature of which are not initially explained to him.
Isidore Wellby has just left the army and, abandoned by his girlfriend, feels lost and let down. In desperation, he signs away his soul in blood to a demon named Shapur. On the proviso that eventually he will be forced to enter hell, either as an ordinary damned soul or as a member of the cadre, he is allotted a number of demonic powers, the nature of which are not initially explained to him.
7 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 1956
59 people want to read
About the author
Isaac Asimov
4,338 books27.7k followersWorks of prolific Russian-American writer Isaac Asimov include popular explanations of scientific principles,
The Foundation Trilogy
(1951-1953), and other volumes of fiction.
Isaac Asimov, a professor of biochemistry, wrote as a highly successful author, best known for his books.
Asimov, professor, generally considered of all time, edited more than five hundred books and ninety thousand letters and postcards. He published in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey decimal classification but lacked only an entry in the category of philosophy (100).
People widely considered Asimov, a master of the genre alongside Robert Anson Heinlein and Arthur Charles Clarke as the "big three" during his lifetime. He later tied Galactic Empire and the Robot into the same universe as his most famous series to create a unified "future history" for his stories much like those that Heinlein pioneered and Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson previously produced. He penned "Nightfall," voted in 1964 as the best short story of all time; many persons still honor this title. He also produced well mysteries, fantasy, and a great quantity of nonfiction. Asimov used Paul French, the pen name, for the Lucky Starr, series of juvenile novels.
Most books of Asimov in a historical way go as far back to a time with possible question or concept at its simplest stage. He often provides and mentions well nationalities, birth, and death dates for persons and etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Guide to Science, the tripartite set Understanding Physics, and Chronology of Science and Discovery exemplify these books.
Asimov, a long-time member, reluctantly served as vice president of Mensa international and described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs." He took more pleasure as president of the humanist association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, an elementary school in Brooklyn in New York, and two different awards honor his name.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_As...
Isaac Asimov, a professor of biochemistry, wrote as a highly successful author, best known for his books.
Asimov, professor, generally considered of all time, edited more than five hundred books and ninety thousand letters and postcards. He published in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey decimal classification but lacked only an entry in the category of philosophy (100).
People widely considered Asimov, a master of the genre alongside Robert Anson Heinlein and Arthur Charles Clarke as the "big three" during his lifetime. He later tied Galactic Empire and the Robot into the same universe as his most famous series to create a unified "future history" for his stories much like those that Heinlein pioneered and Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson previously produced. He penned "Nightfall," voted in 1964 as the best short story of all time; many persons still honor this title. He also produced well mysteries, fantasy, and a great quantity of nonfiction. Asimov used Paul French, the pen name, for the Lucky Starr, series of juvenile novels.
Most books of Asimov in a historical way go as far back to a time with possible question or concept at its simplest stage. He often provides and mentions well nationalities, birth, and death dates for persons and etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Guide to Science, the tripartite set Understanding Physics, and Chronology of Science and Discovery exemplify these books.
Asimov, a long-time member, reluctantly served as vice president of Mensa international and described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs." He took more pleasure as president of the humanist association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, an elementary school in Brooklyn in New York, and two different awards honor his name.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_As...
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 15, 2020
Gimmicks Three/ La Treta o El Artilugio tridimensional - Isaac Asimov (1956)
"No es tan fácil reclutar cuadros de mando para el infierno —explicó el demonio, con un encogimiento de hombros que intensificó levemente el tenue aroma a bióxido de azufre que impregnaba el aire—. Todos apuestan a que terminarán en el cielo. Es una mala apuesta, pero así son las cosas. Creo que tú eres demasiado sensato para eso. Pero, entre tanto, tenemos más almas condenadas de las que podemos atender con nuestra creciente escasez de personal administrativo"
"—Te pagamos por adelantado —dijo persuasivamente Shapur—. Durante diez años tendrás todo lo que quieras, dentro de lo razonable, y luego serás un demonio. Serás uno de nosotros, con un nuevo nombre de potencia demoníaca y muchos otros privilegios. Ni siquiera te darás cuenta que estás condenado. Y, si no firmas, quizá igual termines en el fuego, de cualquier modo. Nunca se sabe. Mírame a mí, por ejemplo. No me va tan mal. Firmé, tuve mis diez años y aquí estoy. Nada mal"
personalmente me gustan mucho las historias fausticas, con el tan conocido pacto. Porque se prestan a una gran versatilidad y dan a lugar a jugar con infinidad de aspectos, matices, inclusive muy diversos géneros, amplias resoluciones , y por supuesto... ¿quien saldrá ganando con el trato?
en esta ocasión algunos de los detalles son: un contrato muy especifico, con sus respectivos atenuantes y un cuarto cerrado.
Es un relato ameno, divertido, que no apela ni al terror,ni a la tensión.
Y a fin de cuentas tiene una resolución que es una declaración de principios del autor CIENCIA Y VOLUNTAD.
"No es tan fácil reclutar cuadros de mando para el infierno —explicó el demonio, con un encogimiento de hombros que intensificó levemente el tenue aroma a bióxido de azufre que impregnaba el aire—. Todos apuestan a que terminarán en el cielo. Es una mala apuesta, pero así son las cosas. Creo que tú eres demasiado sensato para eso. Pero, entre tanto, tenemos más almas condenadas de las que podemos atender con nuestra creciente escasez de personal administrativo"
"—Te pagamos por adelantado —dijo persuasivamente Shapur—. Durante diez años tendrás todo lo que quieras, dentro de lo razonable, y luego serás un demonio. Serás uno de nosotros, con un nuevo nombre de potencia demoníaca y muchos otros privilegios. Ni siquiera te darás cuenta que estás condenado. Y, si no firmas, quizá igual termines en el fuego, de cualquier modo. Nunca se sabe. Mírame a mí, por ejemplo. No me va tan mal. Firmé, tuve mis diez años y aquí estoy. Nada mal"
personalmente me gustan mucho las historias fausticas, con el tan conocido pacto. Porque se prestan a una gran versatilidad y dan a lugar a jugar con infinidad de aspectos, matices, inclusive muy diversos géneros, amplias resoluciones , y por supuesto... ¿quien saldrá ganando con el trato?
en esta ocasión algunos de los detalles son: un contrato muy especifico, con sus respectivos atenuantes y un cuarto cerrado.
Es un relato ameno, divertido, que no apela ni al terror,ni a la tensión.
Y a fin de cuentas tiene una resolución que es una declaración de principios del autor CIENCIA Y VOLUNTAD.
June 28, 2018
Clever nonsense! A cute story with an escaping Faust -- unless that's a spoiler.
The worldbuilding in this one is pretty optimistic, hopeful, and satisfying for a story that's essentially about whether or not to sell your soul to the devil. I'm not sure that I've ever quite seen this specific take anywhere else.
The worldbuilding in this one is pretty optimistic, hopeful, and satisfying for a story that's essentially about whether or not to sell your soul to the devil. I'm not sure that I've ever quite seen this specific take anywhere else.
May 28, 2018
A little bit of a Rumpelstiltskin enigma which, if you won't predict the answer to, will make this short story a fun short read with an interesting plot twist ending.
July 20, 2023
This is a fun little story. There’s a clever anti-military message hidden between the lines. Asimov was honorably discharged from the military and the world was better for it.
November 22, 2025
Isaac Asimov’s Gimmicks Three is one of his more playful and genre-bending short works, blending science fiction with fantasy, wit, and a devilish sense of humour.
Though best known for his rigorous approach to scientific speculation, Asimov occasionally indulged in lighter, mischievous tales that allowed him to explore the loopholes of logic rather than its structures.
Gimmicks Three is a prime example—a story that feels like a puzzle wrapped in a prank, delivered with Asimov’s characteristic clarity and intellectual sparkle.
The plot revolves around a Faustian bargain, but Asimov being Asimov, the devilish pact becomes less a moral cautionary tale and more an opportunity to examine the mechanics of loopholes. A man gains access to supernatural abilities—abilities granted by a demon whose confidence in human stupidity would be touching if it weren’t so misguided.
Yet, being an Asimov protagonist, the man uses not brute force but cunning and analytical precision to turn the bargain on its head. The fun of the story lies in watching logic triumph over the supernatural, as if reason itself were a magical force.
What makes Gimmicks Three particularly appealing is its tone. Asimov writes with a light touch, relishing the absurdity of the situation without ever mocking the reader. The narrative plays with genre expectations: the devil is wry rather than terrifying, the magical feats are treated with almost bureaucratic mundanity, and the protagonist’s triumph hinges not on destiny but on clever wording. It is a story about intellect as a superpower and about the delight that comes from outwitting cosmic forces through technicality.
Thematically, the story engages with Asimov’s enduring fascination with rules—how they shape behaviour, how they can be manipulated, and how sometimes the letter of the law contradicts its spirit. In Gimmicks Three, supernatural contracts function like a parody of scientific laws: internally consistent but vulnerable to creative interpretation.
This satirical framing allows Asimov to poke fun at gullibility, arrogance, and the human (and demonic) tendency to underestimate the power of logic.
Structurally, the story is compact yet effective. Asimov wastes no time on elaborate world-building; instead, he focuses on the interaction between protagonist and demon, building tension through the careful placement of clues that attentive readers can appreciate. The pacing is swift, with each narrative beat pushing toward the clever twist ending—a hallmark of Asimov’s short fiction. While the final reveal may not shock modern readers accustomed to twist-driven storytelling, it remains charming and earns its payoff through fair, consistent setup.
One of the story’s strengths is its accessibility. Readers who find hard science fiction intimidating will appreciate the lighter, almost folkloric feel of Gimmicks Three. Yet Asimov never abandons intellectual engagement; the puzzle is the point.
The story illustrates that science fiction does not always need spaceships, robots, or equations to embody the scientific mindset. Sometimes, all it needs is a problem, a clever solver, and a set of constraints that invite imaginative play.
As a minor work in Asimov’s enormous bibliography, Gimmicks Three may not reach the philosophical depth of The Last Question or the narrative sophistication of the Foundation tales, but it occupies a charming niche. It showcases Asimov’s versatility, his sense of humour, and his love of mental games.
For readers who enjoy stories with sharp wit, logical elegance, and a touch of the supernatural, this piece is a delightful excursion into Asimov’s lighter side.
Though best known for his rigorous approach to scientific speculation, Asimov occasionally indulged in lighter, mischievous tales that allowed him to explore the loopholes of logic rather than its structures.
Gimmicks Three is a prime example—a story that feels like a puzzle wrapped in a prank, delivered with Asimov’s characteristic clarity and intellectual sparkle.
The plot revolves around a Faustian bargain, but Asimov being Asimov, the devilish pact becomes less a moral cautionary tale and more an opportunity to examine the mechanics of loopholes. A man gains access to supernatural abilities—abilities granted by a demon whose confidence in human stupidity would be touching if it weren’t so misguided.
Yet, being an Asimov protagonist, the man uses not brute force but cunning and analytical precision to turn the bargain on its head. The fun of the story lies in watching logic triumph over the supernatural, as if reason itself were a magical force.
What makes Gimmicks Three particularly appealing is its tone. Asimov writes with a light touch, relishing the absurdity of the situation without ever mocking the reader. The narrative plays with genre expectations: the devil is wry rather than terrifying, the magical feats are treated with almost bureaucratic mundanity, and the protagonist’s triumph hinges not on destiny but on clever wording. It is a story about intellect as a superpower and about the delight that comes from outwitting cosmic forces through technicality.
Thematically, the story engages with Asimov’s enduring fascination with rules—how they shape behaviour, how they can be manipulated, and how sometimes the letter of the law contradicts its spirit. In Gimmicks Three, supernatural contracts function like a parody of scientific laws: internally consistent but vulnerable to creative interpretation.
This satirical framing allows Asimov to poke fun at gullibility, arrogance, and the human (and demonic) tendency to underestimate the power of logic.
Structurally, the story is compact yet effective. Asimov wastes no time on elaborate world-building; instead, he focuses on the interaction between protagonist and demon, building tension through the careful placement of clues that attentive readers can appreciate. The pacing is swift, with each narrative beat pushing toward the clever twist ending—a hallmark of Asimov’s short fiction. While the final reveal may not shock modern readers accustomed to twist-driven storytelling, it remains charming and earns its payoff through fair, consistent setup.
One of the story’s strengths is its accessibility. Readers who find hard science fiction intimidating will appreciate the lighter, almost folkloric feel of Gimmicks Three. Yet Asimov never abandons intellectual engagement; the puzzle is the point.
The story illustrates that science fiction does not always need spaceships, robots, or equations to embody the scientific mindset. Sometimes, all it needs is a problem, a clever solver, and a set of constraints that invite imaginative play.
As a minor work in Asimov’s enormous bibliography, Gimmicks Three may not reach the philosophical depth of The Last Question or the narrative sophistication of the Foundation tales, but it occupies a charming niche. It showcases Asimov’s versatility, his sense of humour, and his love of mental games.
For readers who enjoy stories with sharp wit, logical elegance, and a touch of the supernatural, this piece is a delightful excursion into Asimov’s lighter side.
November 4, 2021
Collected in Earth Is Room Enough, This story begins in an intriguing fashion, detailing Wellby's failed attempts to escape a locked room, because of a deal he made with a demon.
It has been ten years previously (to the day, naturally) that Isidore Wellby had signed up.
"We pay you in advance," said Shapur persuasively. "Ten years of anything you want, within reason, and then you're a demon. You're one of us, with a new name of demonic potency, and many privileges beside. You'll hardly know you're damned. And if you don't sign, you may end up in the fire, anyway, just in the ordinary course of things. You never know... Here, look at me. I'm not doing too badly. I signed up, had my ten years and here I am. Not bad."
If Wellby fails to escape the room, he'll become a demon and be dumped into an administrative role, as there is a terrible shortage of administrators. I don't know about you, but for some people that's already a type of Hell.
Does Wellby escape? And if so, how? Read and find out.
Note: The title refers to what Asimov called "the three well-worn gimmicks of
It has been ten years previously (to the day, naturally) that Isidore Wellby had signed up.
"We pay you in advance," said Shapur persuasively. "Ten years of anything you want, within reason, and then you're a demon. You're one of us, with a new name of demonic potency, and many privileges beside. You'll hardly know you're damned. And if you don't sign, you may end up in the fire, anyway, just in the ordinary course of things. You never know... Here, look at me. I'm not doing too badly. I signed up, had my ten years and here I am. Not bad."
If Wellby fails to escape the room, he'll become a demon and be dumped into an administrative role, as there is a terrible shortage of administrators. I don't know about you, but for some people that's already a type of Hell.
Does Wellby escape? And if so, how? Read and find out.
Note: The title refers to what Asimov called "the three well-worn gimmicks of
January 7, 2025
Isaac Asimov presenta la historia de un hombre que elige ser turista en lugar de ejecutivo del infierno, destacando la victoria del conocimiento sobre la fantasía.
El autor reflexiona sobre la tentación y las apuestas inciertas de la vida a través de una narrativa inspirada en Fausto y su propio conocimiento como físico.
El autor reflexiona sobre la tentación y las apuestas inciertas de la vida a través de una narrativa inspirada en Fausto y su propio conocimiento como físico.
March 16, 2018
A great short story with a great plot twist, which I had kind of predicted!
May 30, 2022
Interesting short story with a smart twist at the end that felt just a little too forced.
July 25, 2022
Otra muy buena historia o cuento de Asimov, muy curiosa, sobre tratos con un demonio,.
April 26, 2025
Highly amusing short-story - although I wasn't particularly fond of the Puritan ending.
August 2, 2025
A very interesting “ moral of the story.”
September 20, 2025
Una idea interessant que com a petit relat funciona
November 26, 2025
I will not talk about the plot because they do that at the top of this summary also I do not want to ruin the plot for those who have not read the story.
I think the plot of this story was very well thought out and very unique.
Maybe this story was not very deep and profound, perhaps it was not one of Asimov's best stories, perhaps it was not HARD-CORE science fiction, but I just really liked it.
It did have a real twist at the end.
I think the plot of this story was very well thought out and very unique.
Maybe this story was not very deep and profound, perhaps it was not one of Asimov's best stories, perhaps it was not HARD-CORE science fiction, but I just really liked it.
It did have a real twist at the end.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews