Robert Sheckley - Favourite Short Story?

[Keith Bliss]

I love Sheckley's laconic style, which makes the absolutely amazing seem simply matter-of-fact. Although I'm a great fan of his novels, I personally think Sheckley's true genius shines more brightly in his short stories. My all-time favourite is "Specialist", which I read MANY years ago as a teenager. Written in 1953, this tale can not only be seen as the precursor of Star Trek's galactic federation, but also offers an explanation of the (extremely important!) role of humans in the great scheme of things.

The fact that there's no thread for Robert Sheckley in the "Authors" section of SFF is for me a sad confirmation that this great SF author is gradually drifting into the realm of forgotten writers. I therefore hope to revive his memory here by sharing your thoughts on his short stories.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

There are so many ... I have some novels.
I've read some of the short stories in anthologies also there are these, copyright never renewed magazine short stories
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/2960

I agree, he is one of the Classic SF authors.

 

[GOLLUM]

I have a NYRB Classic that collects a 'best of' short stories but I have not even opened the front cover yet. Looks like I should bump this up the TBR pile.

Here is the link for anyone interested....

http://www.nybooks.com/books/imprints/classics/store-of-the-worlds/

 

[BAYLOR]

I read one novel by him, Immortality Inc. Which was a terrific read. The film Freejack based off of the novel was godawful.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

There are several brilliantly satiric short stories that come to mind.

"Watchbird"

"Something for Nothing"

"A Ticket to Tranai"

"The Accountant"

"Pilgrimage to Earth" AKA "Love, Incorporated" AKA "Love, Inc."

"The Prize of Peril"

"The Store of the Worlds" AKA "The World of Heart's Desire"

"The People Trap"

"Can You Feel Anything When I do This?"

"Cordle to Onion to Carrot"

"Pas De Trois of the Chef and the Waiter and the Customer" AKA "Three Sinners in the Green Jade Moon" (not speculative fiction, but an excellent mainstream story)

"Is That What People Do?"


and many, many others.

Grab any Sheckley collection and enjoy.

 

[J Riff]

I have to agree. Victoria hit most of my favorites.

 

[hardsciencefanagain]

"Pïlgrimage" is brilliant.
Fact of the matter is ,I can't remember Bob ever having written a mediocre story,let alone a bad one.