A Hodgepodge Collection of Soft Science Fiction Stories

A HODGEPODGE COLLECTION OF SOFT SCIENCE FICTION STORIES
This book is a collection of soft science fiction stories consisting of two novelettes and five short stories. A brief description of each story follows:
A Past That May Have Existed, is a novelette, which is the tragic story of a French citizen, Paul Lamont, as narrated by Claude Deauve. The period of this story is post World War II. Paul has a deep hatred of the Germans. As an associate professor in the physics department at the University of Paris, Paul gains access to an early time machine. By going back in time, he changes history with Hitler coming to power, which results in World War II.
The Tragic Time Travel Story of a Nerd, is a short story about a nerd, Charles Switchmotter, who is a computer wiz. He discovers time travel, and using a device it takes him back to the year, 1895, where he is ambushed by a tug, Burley Petermann. Burley activates the device and is transported to the year, 2015, where he is thoroughly confused by what is happening to him. Meanwhile, Charles, is now isolated in the year, 1895, with no chance of returning to the year, 2015.
Rulers of the Universe, is another short story which takes place in the far future. An alien space ship descends on a distant planet. An inhabitant of the planet describes his reaction to this event.
The Amoree Plague, is a short story about a planet discovered by an Earth Exploration Team. There are signs that intelligent beings at one time inhabited the planet. Eventually, it is determined that a plague wiped out the intelligent beings. A log by an inhabitant is discovered, and he describes his reaction to the plague.
The Creature in the Gray Robe, is a short story which revolves around the characters who control and operate a company, which manufacture's kitchenware and appliances. The son of the CEO was recently divorced. After a drunken night he brutally assaults his ex-wife. She will die of the assault if help doesn't soon arrive. However help does come from an unusual source, whereby the ex-wife acquires the ability to project a Character in a Gray Robe. She then seeks revenge on her ex-husband.
Xerrus, is a novelette about a planet in a distant galaxy, where the gray robed creature originated. This planet is dominated by a corrupt male society. Eventually, women acquire the ability to project the Creature in the Gray Robe to overturn the male dominated government of one small country.
Androids Don't Bleed, is a short story about an android, which originally was intended to supplement soldiers for Hitler's army. However at the end of World War II, an android specimen without a functioning brain is moved to the resident basement of the scientist who developed the android specimen. Eventually, the scientist passes away and his American niece becomes the sole heir to his estate. With her husband, the niece discovers the android specimen. The android specimen is turned over to the Americans who develop a brain for it. In time, the android, Greg, becomes the president/CEO of a dairy equipment manufacturing plant. Anyway, the story ends in a way left to a reader's imagination on how this story could end.

Dettagli