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"...a market economy is essentially a genetic algorithm for solving resource allocation problems..."
- Charles Stross

Luggage  
  A trunk made from sapient pearwood.  

Made of infinitely precious pearwood, the trunk had a life of its own.

Something else Hugh saw nearly made him gibber.

The massive wooden chest, which he had last seen rest solidly on the quayside, was following on its master's heels with a gentle rocking gait. Slowly, in case a sudden movement on his part might break his fragile control over his own legs, Hugh bent slightly so that he could see under the chest.

There were lots of little legs.

Technovelgy from The Color of Magic, by Terry Pratchett.
Published by Not Known in 1983
Additional resources -

Here's another glimpse:

Rincewind turned in his saddle and glanced at Twoflower's Luggage, which was currently ambling along on its little legs, occasionally snapping its lid at butterflies...

Here's another:

...Hrun had already pushed Twoflower away and was reaching for the Luggage...

...which sprouted legs, backed away, and raised its lid threateningly. In the uncertain light Rincewind thought he could see rows of enormous teeth, white as bleached beech.

Thanks to Blue Monkey for suggesting this item.


(The Colour of Magic cover)

Compare to the autoporter from The Shockwave Rider (1975) by John Brunner.

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Additional resources:
  More Ideas and Technology from The Color of Magic
  More Ideas and Technology by Terry Pratchett
  Tech news articles related to The Color of Magic
  Tech news articles related to works by Terry Pratchett

Luggage-related news articles:
  - Nissan ProPILOT Slippers Are Self-Parking, Autonomous

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