Help with another short story please

[kdjohns2001]

I'm looking for the name and author of a short story I used to have. It is about this planet that has discovered a way for everyone who wears this belt, that when worn also acts as clothing, that lets them share skills and knowledge. Several other races from other planets want to get their hands on a belt so they can also prosper as the people on the main planet in the story have done. One character in the story is from a highly militaristic society and he wants to find out about the planet so his people can invade it. One of the things the people have is a stone shaped waste disposal unit that absorbs human waste...I remember it's function was described to the man as 'it absorbs any non living substance within an inch or two above it'. Anyway, the man accidentally sits on it and has his clothing absorbed, so he finally breaks down and accepts a belt. The thing is it not only enables him to share all the skills of the people on the planet but also bestows an overwhelming desire for freedom. So he leaves to take his knowledge and the belts home with him. Any help identifying the name and author will be greatly appreciated.

A quick note on why I am seeking help...I have been collecting Science Fiction since I was 10. I'm now 58. My entire library, of over 500 books was lost in a storage shed in Florida. I'm trying to replace so many of my much loved books. The short stories are the hardest to replace as they were in collections that featured stories by many different authors. Please help me regain my lost collection.

 

[J-Sun]

Theodore Sturgeon's "The Skills of Xanadu". It's collected in The Worlds of Theodore Sturgeon, The Golden Helix, of course the complete stories series, and probably several anthologies.

Sorry to hear of your loss. I don't think I'd be in a condition to type if that happened to me.

 

[kdjohns2001]

Thank you! I went and put it on my wish list at amazon! It's been awhile since I lost my books. I had moved to Florida to marry my wife, and unfortunately there was not room for my stuff and hers. Mine ended up in storage, which would not have been bad but my new wife skipped paying for it and my stuff was sold at auction...books, models I had for years, some of which were gifts from long dead relatives {{{SIGH}}} A large part of my life vanished. I'm trying to recover what I can though.

 

[Moss Ryder]

I know what its like to lose many books, so i'm there with ya bud.

 

[Ravensquawk]

How painful. I loved "The Skills of Xanadu". Was going to help but someone else recognized this delightful story.