Second Variety by Philip K. Dick:
Science Fiction Inventions, Technology and Ideas

"The claws were bad enough in the first place - nasty, crawling little death-robots. But when they began to imitate their creators, it was time for the human race to make peace - if it could!"


('Second Variety' by Philip K. Dick)

The story takes place after a war between Russia and the UN; Russian victories force the American government to flee to the Moon. UN technicians develop robots called 'claws' to protect remaining UN forces.

This short story was the inspiration for the 1995 film Screamers, starring Peter Weller, Roy Dupuis and Jennifer Rubin.

Select an invention:

Claws (Attack Robot) - screamers!
Autonomous guard robots that attack living tissue.

Machine Evolution
An early look at the idea that machines can evolve all by themselves, physically and intellectually.

 

Technovelgy.com is devoted to the creative inventions of science fiction authors and movie makers. Look for the Science Fiction Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary of Science Fiction Inventions, the Timeline of Science Fiction Inventions, or see what's New.
Find
new authors and technologies - Shop for yourself, your library and your lab.

 

 

 

 

Science Fiction
in the News

Miss Alabama Beauty Contest Offers Different Standards
re: Jack Vance
(11/29/2024)

Has Musk Given Up On Full Self Driving (FSD)?
re: Charles Stross
(11/27/2024)

Prufrock-3 'The Monster' Ready To Launch
re: Frank Philips
(11/25/2024)

Drones In Vast Airborne Grids
re: Neal Stephenson
(11/23/2024)

Starship Special Edition For Lunar Shuttle
re: Arthur C. Clarke
(11/21/2024)

Capturing Asteroids With Nets
re: VE Thiessen
(11/19/2024)

Project Hyperion - Generation Ship Designers Needed!
re: Judson W. Reeves
(11/17/2024)

AI Welfare Position At Anthropic Filled By Human
re: Isaac Asimov
(11/15/2024)

Marslink Proposed By SpaceX
re: George O. Smith
(11/13/2024)

Simple Way To Defeat AI Face Recognition
re: Neal Stephenson
(11/11/2024)

Wood-Panelled LignoSat Launched
re: Dan Simmons
(11/9/2024)

Laser-Beam Welding In Orbital Factories
re: Jerry Pournelle
(11/7/2024)

'Iceberg House' Of Travis Kelce Reflects Science Fiction Of Past Century
re: Clifford Simak
(11/5/2024)

Mechazilla Arms Catch A Falling Starship, But Check Out SF Landing-ARMS
re: Edmond Hamilton
(11/3/2024)

More SF in the News

Home | Glossary | Invention Timeline | Category | New | Contact Us | FAQ | Advertise |
Technovelgy.com - where science meets fiction™

Copyright© Technovelgy LLC; all rights reserved.