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"Science fiction is the very literature of change. In fact, it is the only such literature we have."
- Frederik Pohl
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| Robot Cat | ||
| A biological feline with mechanical parts. |
As far as I know, this is the first use of the phrase "robot cat", even though the reference is not to a fully mechanical feline.
| "So I was right, Robert. It was you who betrayed me — you and your robot cat.” “Betrayed, Jason? I would hardly call it that. Salvation — for a whole world — would be better. But robot, did you say?” The scientist laughed suddenly. “I’m afraid Old Tom resents that.” The cat had risen now as Robert Cartwright released the straps. Its back arched at the sight of Jason’s face. He snarled and clawed the air. ‘‘You must have mistreated Old Tom. He doesn’t like you.” Jason’s eyes grew wilder. “You mean he isn’t a robot? Then, how — No! Robert, I’ll never believe you tricked me into coming here with merely a live cat. My office was spied upon, my secret papers . . , and the Xrays — ” "Yes, Old Tom did it all right,” said Robert. “But he’s still no robot. He’s alive... “It wasn’t simple, but the Venusians figured it out after I showed them what I wanted. The useless parts of the cat’s brain were removed as were other nonessential organs or portions of organs. In their place were built tiny masterpieces of electronic equipment. To the cat’s optic nerves were connected visual recorders, to his ears, audio instruments. And all that he saw and heard was impressed upon infinitesimal records. See, I have just removed one. It is taken out just below his ribs on the right side with a large size hypodermic needle, and a new record inserted in its place. The operation is practically painless to Old Tom. The only other thing needed was a means of guiding him here by radio control when he was safely out of the field of your screens. It was easy to direct him here by inciting a small amount of pain or discomfort in certain nerves when lie moved in any direction but the one required to bring him here. |
| Technovelgy from The Cat and the King,
by Raymond F. Jones. Published by Astounding Science Fiction in 1946 Additional resources -
|
Compare to the electric cat (robot cat) from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1968) by Philip K. Dick.
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More Ideas
and Technology from The Cat and the King
More Ideas
and Technology by Raymond F. Jones
Tech news articles related to The Cat and the King
Tech news articles related to works by Raymond F. Jones
Robot Cat-related
news articles:
- MarsCat and MetaCat, Your Robot Cat Companions
| Tactile Skin Supplier Map |
| Robot Bees 3D Printed By Festo |
| DIY Robot Scorpion Crushes It |
| How To Settle An Argument Between Two Robots |
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Science Fiction
Timeline
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'So, Ender, we will now begin your education.'
'What strange sensitivity! What an amazing development of science was manifested in every move and act and word of this Robot!'
'Forget the head atop it, the legs below, feet, arms, hands. It compels erasure.'
'That explains how it was so easy for me to remain motionless in midair or to perch on a flagpole in imitation of a giant bird, even in the windy city of Chicago.'
'The thirty-odd miles of The Factory’s circumference...'
'Wandering mines, you took them out on the edge of the desert, set them down and activated them.'
'Once in the very first weeks of the war, before everyone had been evacuated from the surface...'
'For a while your colonists will have to come up to the [orbital] Hospital...'
