Beside Still Waters

by Robert Sheckley

Beside Still Waters appeared in the October-November 1953 issue of Amazing Stories.

When people talk about getting away from it all, they are usually thinking about our great open spaces out west. But to science fiction writers, that would be practically in the heart of Times Square. When a man of the future wants solitude he picks a slab of rock floating in space four light years east of Andromeda. Here is a gentle little story about a man who sought the solitude of such a location. And who did he take along for company? None other than Charles the Robot.

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Ebooks, Fiction, Classics

22 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1953

About the author

One of science fiction's great humorists, Sheckley was a prolific short story writer beginning in 1952 with titles including "Specialist", "Pilgrimage to Earth", "Warm", "The Prize of Peril", and "Seventh Victim", collected in volumes from Untouched by Human Hands (1954) to Is That What People Do? (1984) and a five-volume set of Collected Stories (1991). His first novel, Immortality, Inc. (1958), was followed by The Status Civilization (1960), Journey Beyond Tomorrow (1962), Mindswap (1966), and several others. Sheckley served as fiction editor for Omni magazine from January 1980 through September 1981, and was named Author Emeritus by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2001.

Reviews

[Frank Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mark decides that he wants to "get away from it all" so ships himself out to an isolated asteroid in the belt with only his robot, Charles, for companionship.

Over time he programs enough responsive material into Charles that he considers the robot a true friend.

I liked the concept very much but I thought it wasn't explored enough and I didn't love the chosen dialogue at all.

The ending while gloomy had a sweetness to it.

[رزی - Woman, Life, Liberty · Rating 3 out of 5]

ترجمه‌ی جدیدم یه داستان کوتاه ساده و بی‌شیله‌پیله‌ست درباره دوستی انسان و ربات.
کلاً چهار صفحه‌ست.
جای عمیقی نمی‌ره و خوانش سریعی از رابرت شکلیه.

فایل ترجمه‌هام رو اینجا می‌ذارم:
https://t.me/TranslationZahra

اگه خوندید نظرتون رو درباره‌ش رو این پایین بگید^_^
در ضمن اگه قبلی رو نخوندید اول برید سراغ اون، اون قشنگ‌تره😂 قبلی:
«پرنده نگهبان» اثر رابرت شکلی

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent VERY short story from 1953.

Curiously, the blurb says the story takes place four light years from Andromeda (which, in itself, is a curious statement) when the story clearly is located in this solar system's asteroid belt. (Not that it makes any difference.)

An excellent read.

[Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short story about a lonely man eking out his existence on a tiny planetoid. It was a rather sad story really, a simple and poignant snapshot into one lonely life. Well two, if you count the robot.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining space listening 🎶🔰

Another will written fantasy space Sci-Fi adventure thriller short story by Sheckley about a man and a robot 🎸 life on a planet until it all ends. I would recommend this novella to readers looking for a quick read. Enjoy the adventure of novels 👍🔰 and books 📚. 2022

[Akrabar · Rating 5 out of 5]

great story

free audiobook

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtIRy...

[Al Lock · Rating 3 out of 5]

At what point is a robot a friend?

[Benndii · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 Minuten Lesezeit, die sich lohnen.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solitude. Even a crusty old miner needs a friend to talk to, even if it is a robot. Audible edition narrated by Stefan Rudnicki.

[PAR · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.
Read: 5/26/22

[Chris Aldridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very short and bittersweet... Man bot and planetoid in perfect harmony? Poetic imagery, haunting atmosphere.....cool

[Taaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Die letzten Zeilen haben dem Ganzen einen Twist gegeben, der mir nicht wirklich gefällt. Ansonsten ganz gut.

[Phil Giunta · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quiet tale about a prosector who settles on an asteroid with a robot companion that becomes more human in its attitude as the years pass.

[Forked Radish · Rating 2 out of 5]

When machines lose their souls they become human.

[Scott Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Using the "old prospector/hermit" caricature, Sheckley creates a tidy short story in which he explores on some level the ideas of loneliness, adaptation, aging, loyalty and God-hood. Psychological seeds are planted through the mirror personality that gets created gradually and imperfectly. It raises questions about the quality and meaning of life and death. A good read that resolves itself into abstract reflections.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb, poignant short story about an old asteroid miner and his only (mechanical) friend.

[Adhoc · Rating 1 out of 5]

An asteroid with an atmosphere maintained by an air pump , vegetables growing in the dark and a robot that is programmed using tape, enough said.

[Brian W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never read this book and have no idea how it came about that I had started it.

[Jono · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet. Gives you a bit to think about.