The Robot MEGAPACK®: 19 Gear-Grinding Robot Stories!

by Fritz Leiber, Harry Harrison, Lester del Rey

This volume collects 19 stories of robots in their many guises. Some obey Asimov's 3 Rules of Robotics. Some are of alien design. Some serve mankind. And some...don't. All are great reading. Included HELEN O'LOY, by Lester del Rey
SIDNEY, THE SCREWLOOSE ROBOT, by William P. McGivern
JAMES P. CROW, by Philip K. Dick
HAVE IT YOUR OWN WAY, by Richard Wilson
A BAD DAY FOR SALES, by Fritz Leiber
THE SPECTACLES, by Frank Belknap Long
ALL JACKSON'S CHILDREN, by Daniel F. Galouye
MADE TO MEASURE, by William Campbell Gault
ROBOT JUSTICE, by Harry Harrison
A POUND OF CURE, by Lester del Rey
THE ROBOT MEN OF BUBBLE CITY, by Rog Phillips
THE MAD ROBOT, by William P. McGivern
HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS, by Jim Harmon
THE ROBOT EMPIRE, by Frank Belknap Long
NOT QUITE HUMAN, by Emil Petaja
THE LAST OF THE MASTERS, by Philip K. Dick
THE CREATURE FROM CLEVELAND DEPTHS, by Fritz Leiber
THE WORLD OF WULKINS, by Frank Belknap Long
ROBOTS SHOULD BE SEEN, by Lester del Rey
If you enjoy this ebook, don't forget to search your favorite ebook store for "Wildside Press Megapack" to see more of the 300+ volumes in this series, covering adventure, historical fiction, mysteries, westerns, ghost stories, science fiction -- and much, much more!

Genres: Science Fiction, Anthologies

445 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 20, 2017

About the author

Fritz Reuter Leiber Jr. was one of the more interesting of the young writers who came into HP Lovecraft's orbit, and some of his best early short fiction is horror rather than sf or fantasy. He found his mature voice early in the first of the sword-and-sorcery adventures featuring the large sensitive barbarian Fafhrd and the small street-smart-ish Gray Mouser; he returned to this series at various points in his career, using it sometimes for farce and sometimes for gloomy mood pieces--The Swords of Lankhmar is perhaps the best single volume of their adventures. Leiber's science fiction includes the planet-smashing The Wanderer in which a large cast mostly survive flood, fire, and the sexual attentions of feline aliens, and the satirical A Spectre is Haunting Texas in which a gangling, exo-skeleton-clad actor from the Moon leads a revolution and finds his true love. Leiber's late short fiction, and the fine horror novel Our Lady of Darkness, combine autobiographical issues like his struggle with depression and alcoholism with meditations on the emotional content of the fantastic genres. Leiber's capacity for endless self-reinvention and productive self-examination kept him, until his death, one of the most modern of his sf generation.

Used These Alternate Names: Maurice Breçon, Fric Lajber, Fritz Leiber, Jr., Fritz R. Leiber, Fritz Leiber Jun., Фриц Лейбер, F. Lieber, フリッツ・ライバー

Reviews

[Jim Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The future past

Quite simply , I chose the rating because this anthology contained a good sample of robotic SF from the late 50's and early 60's when robots were restricted to fiction. Then we had no idea where such technology would lead us. Frankenstein possibilities worried us. Today for the most part we see them as useful "servants" . What will they be in the next 50 or 60 years ? People who enjoy robotic science fiction and people who like to read what writers in the past forecast for the future would both find this book an interesting read.

[Almustafa Couch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, challenging read, in which various foibles of humanity are adressed. Specifically, racism and consciousness are dealt with, and a good argument about Cogito Ergo Sum (I think therefore I am) is followed through. It was useful to have some philosophical knowledge to back me up during this many faceted adventure, so a nice philosophical dictionary may be useful for all reading this fine piece of prose.

[Denise McLachlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting

These robot stories are from decades ago, so it's interesting to see how writers viewed the future and robotic technology. Wouldn't they be surprised that we have phones that creates small computers. Some of the older stories didn't even know about computers, they used human brains in the robots. This was a great look back at technology then compared to now.

[Wayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with many of the Megapack collections, the stories were about two thirds pretty good, with a few of those being excellent. The last third were less good, though I wont go as far as to say bad. This book also seemed a bit shorter than the average megapack offering. I would definitely recommend for anyone who loves classic sci fi stories with an emphasis on artificial life in all its variety.

[I B Broome · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay two of these stories where in my opinion very poor. Considering that most of these stories were written 70 years ago a lot of the ideas still hold water.That was when what was science fictio is partially our reality.

[Andie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy reading the Megapack vintage SF bundles and this anthology is a lot of fun. Standout stories include “Sidney, the Screwloose Robot,” by William P. McGivern, “The Robot Men of Bubble City,” by Rog Phillips, and “The World of Wulkins,” by Frank Belknap Long.

[Earl Truss · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the worst of the Megapacks that I've read. The stories in the first half were OK but the last half were awful. Part of the problem was that some of the stories were written as long ago as the 1930s and they are WAY out of date.

[Carole O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

This megapack was great, loved every story read it from beginning to the very end, I hope they bring out more Robot Megapack in the series.

[Mo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the stories were great. I can see why my dad liked it as they were all from the 40s and 50s. I didn't realize that when he recommended it.

[Pieter V Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice assortment of robot stories

Four stars because an assortment such as this will be a bit uneven though some of the stories were truly excellent.

[John Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just the kind of tales I read as a young man!

A nice little collection of robot tales almost as good as those by Isaac Asimov! I must get some more of these MySpace books!

[Randall Shipp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great writers whose stories invite your imagination to join in the stories and keeps you there with the character's to the end.

[Chris Fryar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun reading!

I had a good time with this. Love golden age science fiction! I recommend this collection and others like it.