Looking for a short story with a "Surprise Beginning"

[SF_Enthusiast]

I have been looking for this for years without success. I probably first read the story in a book obtained from the Science Fiction Book club about 40 years ago. The story is told in three parts. It starts with the ending, in which the protagonist quickly dispatches his enemy, gets fame, fortune, etc. Then comes the middle section (the main portion of the story). That section starts with the protagonist entering a tent to see a fortune-telling gypsy. His glasses are knocked off by something, he sees a flash of light, and the gypsy proceeds to tell hims many private things that only he would know about himself. The gypsy then gives him lots of advice about how to pursue his goals (the "fame, fortune, etc" stuff). The advice includes dealing with some enemy who might try to attack him in some way (the enemy that he dispatches in the ending above). He generally follows the advice that the gypsy gives him, which leads him to the ending (described above).

Stop reading now if you don't want to have the "surprise-beginning" spoiled.

In the beginning of the story, we find that the "enemy" was actually the protagonist's assistant, and the "gypsy" was actually a clever robot that the protagonist was pursuing. The assistant warns the progatonist that the robot might try to brainwash him, and that he should keep his protective glasses on at all times. The assistant also tells the protagonist that he will un-brainwash him if the robot does get to him. Thus, the robot appears to have gotten away (and the protagonist appears to have killed his assistant, even though he does not realize it).

Thanks to anyone who can help me out here!

 

[K. Riehl]

It sounds like a Kuttner/Moore title from the 50's or maybe the 40's.

I think it is, Happy Endings by Kuttner

"
This is the middle of the story:
As he pushed aside the canvas curtain something – a carelessly hung rope – swung down at his face, knocking the horn-rimmed glasses askew. Simultaneously a vivid bluish light blazed into his unprotected eyes. He felt a curious, sharp sense of disorientation, a shifting motion that was almost instantly gone.
Things steadied before him. He let the curtain fall back into place, making legible again the painted inscription: HOROSCOPES – LEARN YOUR FUTURE – and he stood staring at the remarkable horomancer.
It was a – oh, impossible!
The robot said in a flat, precise voice, “You are James Kelvin. You are a reporter. You are thirty years old, unmarried, and you came to Los Angeles from Chicago today on the advice of your physician. Is that correct?”

The story is told in reverse sequence and is the inspiration for the movie, "Memento"

 

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

I was thinking Kuttner/Moore! Sadly, I haven't read this particular story, but it sounds like a real treat.

 

[SF_Enthusiast]

Hello K.,

Thank you very much for your rapid (and accurate) response! I will get the book and look for the movie.

Thanks again!