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“Keep Your Shape” by Robert Sheckley is a thought-provoking science fiction short story from the early 1950s that blends satire, social commentary, and classic sci-fi themes. The tale follows Pid, a shape-shifting alien from the Grom species, on a mission to Earth using advanced Displacer technology. As the Grom crew confronts both the alien terrain and their own internal conflicts, the story dives into questions of conformity, identity, and rebellion against rigid societal roles.

First published in the early 1950s, the story follows beings from across the universe—especially Morran and Lingman—as they seek out the enigmatic Answerer, a near-omniscient entity designed to reveal the answers to any question. But as the seekers discover, the quality of the answer depends entirely on the quality of the question.

In "The Robot Who Looked Like Me," a busy man and a busy woman find a way to carve out time to romance each other—by having look-alike robots made to do the job—who then run away together.

Interstellar travel to alien worlds is too expensive for Marvin, a college student in need of a good vacation. And so he signs up for what he can afford: a mind swap, in which his consciousness is swapped into the body of an alien life-form. Unfortunately, Marvin finds himself in the body of an interstellar criminal—a body that he has to vacate, fast.

"The Status Civilization" is a science fiction novel by Robert Sheckley. The protagonist is Will Barrent, who finds himself, without memory of any crime, or, indeed, of his previous life, being shipped across space to the planet Omega. Omega, used to imprison extreme offenders, has a hierarchical society of extreme brutality, where the only way to advance (and avoid dying) is to commit an endless series of crimes. The average life expectancy from time of arrival on Omega is three years.

Untouched by Human Hands consists of 13 stories of beings who dwell on the strange borders of reality. Some of these stories tell of people you know or of events that might happen - but haven't yet. Some will take you to the furthermost reaches of the sky and to planets whose names are unknown this side of Arcturus. And some - perhaps the richest and most memorable of these stories - open into the interior of strange minds to reveal the reflection of ourselves.

Launch your imagination and break the bonds of time and space with radio's highly acclaimed science-fiction anthology X Minus One! Produced in cooperation with science fiction magazines of the day, the series featured provocative stories by the genre's top genre authors. Ray Bradbury, Ernest Kinoy, Robert Sheckley, and more helped Americans of the 1950s look to the future. Dramatized with an atmosphere of excitement, top radio voices like Raymond Edward Johnson, Les Damon, Staats Cotsworth, Ruby Dee, Mandel Kramer, Joe DeSantis, and Bill Lipton gave voice to their visionary tales.

Dimension of Miracles is a satirical science fiction novel first published by Dell in 1968. It's about Tom Carmody, a New Yorker who, thanks to a computer error, wins the main prize in the Intergalactic Sweepstakes. Tom claims his prize before the error is discovered and is allowed to keep it. However, since Tom is a human from Earth without galactic status and no space traveling experience, he has no homing instinct that can guide him back to Earth once his odyssey begins - and the galactic lottery organizers cannot transport him home.

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The Robert Sheckley Collection: 10 Signature Classic Stories brings together a selection of the finest works by one of the most imaginative and influential writers in science fiction. Known for his sharp wit, satirical edge, and visionary storytelling, Sheckley masterfully blends humor, irony, and philosophical depth in tales that challenge perceptions of reality, technology, and human nature. This collection features ten of Sheckley's most celebrated stories, each showcasing his ability to weave intricate narratives filled with unexpected twists, dark comedy, and profound social commentary.

One Man's Poison by Robert Sheckley is a science fiction short story published in the early 1950s. This narrative explores themes of alien life and survival in a comical yet suspenseful manner. The story revolves around two space travelers, Hellman and Casker, who find themselves in a predicament as they land on a mysterious planet devoid of food.

When robotic drones known as "watchbirds" are deployed to eliminate murder and safeguard society, humanity embraces a technological miracle—until the machines begin to redefine what it means to kill. As the watchbirds evolve and extend their protection to all living beings, even insects, society unravels under their rigid logic.

Cost of Living by Robert Sheckley is a science fiction short story written in the early 1950s. The narrative explores a future society marked by technological advancements that provide individuals with a luxurious lifestyle, yet this comes with a heavy burden of debt. The story likely delves into themes of consumerism, existential anxiety, and the implications of a society built on material ownership. The story follows Carrin, a middle-aged man grappling with the suicide of his neighbor, Miller, who seemingly had a perfect life filled with modern conveniences.

In this episode of GL Deep Dives, we explore the classic sci-fi short story “The Day the Aliens Came” by Robert Sheckley. Through a calm reading and fresh commentary, we unpack its humor, hidden messages, and eerie relevance to our world today. Was it just a satire—or a deeper truth wrapped in fiction? Join us as we reflect on what this timeless piece says about humanity, otherness, and our own strange expectations of first contact.

Want to be immortal? You can be in AD 2110. Just go to the Hereafter Insurance Corporation and hook yourself up to the Machine. There’s nothing to fear. That is, if it happens to be working right, and if nobody slips another mind into your body when you’re not looking, and if you’re not on a poltergeist hatelist.

Death Wish by Robert Sheckley is a science fiction short story from the mid-20th century, specifically published in 1956. The tale centers around the space freighter "Queen Dierdre" and the perilous situation faced by its crew as their ship hurtles out of the Solar System.

Salvatore commands the battleship Endymion. He's seen his share of battles and fought them bravely, too. So he doesn't hesitate when beautiful Princess Hatari pleads for his help. She wants to regain her throne, but it may be more than Salvatore can accomplish, for the deadly race known as the Balderdash has taken over the planet Melchior--and now, even his own men have turned against him!

Warrior Race by Robert Sheckley is a science fiction novella written in the early 1950s. The story explores themes of cultural misunderstanding and the absurdity of war through the lens of two human characters, Fannia and Donnaught, who find themselves stranded on an alien planet inhabited by a unique civilization known for their warrior ethos. In Warrior Race, Fannia and Donnaught's space journey leads them to the planet Cascella, where they discover that the native inhabitants consider suicide as a form of warfare.

The Journey of Joenes, also published as Journey Beyond Tomorrow, tells the tale of a picaresque journey through an imagined future taken by a naive and innocent man unprepared for the wonders and oddities he encounters. Sheckley examines the present through the distorting lens of a future wonderfully skewed from and yet darkly, hilariously, similar to our own world.

Ask a Foolish Question by Robert Sheckley is a science fiction story written during the early 1950s. The narrative explores the philosophical implications of knowledge and inquiry through a central entity known as the Answerer, designed to provide answers to any question posed by the beings of the universe. The story raises intriguing questions about the nature of knowledge itself, highlighting how the formulation of a question can heavily influence the response received.