Showing results for "Robert Sheckley" in Space Exploration

When two space travelers encounter a planet of proud warriors with a bizarre concept of honor, diplomacy takes an unexpected turn. Sheckley's signature wit and social commentary shine in this clever exploration of alien values and human folly.

“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.

Man was leaving Earth. Man--but not woman. Light-years from Earth were little worlds without women - and men were not happy about it. Since real women could not go to them, scientists on Earth developed substitutes. Android females were developed, the surrogates, and shipped to the colonies. Everything seemed to go well - for a while. Ralph Garvey is about to find that the package containing the promise of extreme sexual delight is not quite what he had expected.