Project Gutenberg
2010-06-01
Public domain in the USA.
115
Boyd, Waldo T.
1918
2012
Andreassen, Karl
Andreassen, K. (Karl)
The Salesman
Produced from IF Worlds of Science Fiction March 1953.
Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
"The Salesman" by Waldo T. Boyd is a science fiction short story written in the early 1950s. The narrative unfolds in a futuristic department store where customers encounter high-tech merchandise, specifically humanoid robots referred to as "Roboids." The story focuses on the interactions between a salesman and a couple inquiring about the product, providing a glimpse into consumer behavior and the salesman’s strategies. The plot centers around Trevor Anson, a salesman at Tracy's Roboid Department Store, who skillfully navigates a challenging customer, referred to as "Red-tie," and his wife, Millicent. As Anson attempts to adhere to various sales rules from his guide, he faces skepticism regarding the Roboids, particularly their functionality and safety. Despite his best efforts to demonstrate the product's appeal, the customer remains unconvinced and ultimately leaves without making a purchase. Reflecting on the encounter after the couple departs, Anson finds solace in his routine, symbolizing the pressures and peculiarities of modern salesmanship in a technologically advanced society. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
http://book.klll.cc/files/32636/32636-h/images/cover.jpg
Reading ease score: 74.9 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
en
Science fiction
Short stories
Robots -- Fiction
Sales personnel -- Fiction
PS
Text
Category: Short Stories
Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
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