Benefactor by George H. Smith
QR code
"Benefactor" by George H. Smith is a science fiction novella written in the mid-20th century. The story explores themes of progress and societal backlash against technological advancements, particularly the role of robots in the workforce. It delves into the consequences of innovation and the fear that such changes evoke in humanity, ultimately questioning what it means to be a benefactor of mankind. The narrative follows Jacob Clark, an inventor whose revolutionary robots
lead to mass unemployment, inciting a furious mob that seeks to harm him for what they perceive as his betrayal. In a desperate attempt to escape, Clark inadvertently activates a time machine, transporting him a thousand years into the future. There, he discovers that robots have thrived and taken over the Earth, while humans have become extinct. As Clark regains consciousness, he is mistaken for a damaged robot and disassembled by the very creations he once brought to life. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the unintended consequences of technological progress and highlights the tensions between creator and creation. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Download for free
For your e-reader or reading app — Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, Calibre etc.
Kindle → Use Send-to-Kindle
Kobo, Nook etc → Transfer via USB
Phone, tablet or computer → Open in a reading app
Other formats & older devices
There may be more files related to this item.
About this eBook
| Author | Smith, George H. (George Henry), 1922-1996 |
|---|---|
| Title | Benefactor |
| Series Title | Produced from Fantastic Universe August 1958. |
| Credits |
Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 84.5 (6th grade). Easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Science fiction |
| Subject | Short stories |
| Subject | Time travel -- Fiction |
| Subject | Robots -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 28892 |
| Release Date | May 20, 2009 |
| Last Update | Jan 5, 2021 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 263 downloads in the last 30 days. |
Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free!