Project Gutenberg 2020-02-03 Public domain in the USA. 359 Mason, David 1924 1974 Road Stop Produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, January 1963 Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "Road Stop" by David Mason is a science fiction short story written in the early 1960s. The narrative takes place at an automated roadside stop where a lone attendant named Sam watches as a couple arrives in their car, which is in need of repairs. The story captures themes of automation, nostalgia, and the eerie implications of technology, particularly focusing on an ominous vehicle known as the "Traveler," which represents the darker side of reliance on automated systems. The plot centers around Sam, who reflects on the past when cars were driven by people rather than machines, sparking a conversation with the couple about how much has changed. As they wait for their own vehicle to be repaired, they discuss the legend of the Traveler, a car that once drove itself but never reached its destination, leaving its passengers trapped inside. The story builds a sense of unease as the Traveler makes its appearance, showcasing its eerie, ghostly presence on the highway. The climax reveals the couple's shock upon witnessing the Traveler's haunting journey, leading to Sam’s anxious reflection on what happens when the machines that are supposed to serve humanity turn against it, leaving readers pondering the future of technology and human connection. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 87.4 (6th grade). Easy to read. en Science fiction Short stories Automated vehicles -- Fiction Automation -- Fiction PS Text Category: Short Stories Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy 35982 2025-07-24T10:04:09.719503 text/html 12123 2024-10-17T16:10:09 text/html 100281 2025-07-24T10:04:11.449496 application/epub+zip 99121 2025-07-24T10:04:10.138500 application/epub+zip 72691 2025-07-24T10:04:09.884511 application/epub+zip 133182 2025-07-24T10:04:12.614504 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 126314 2025-07-24T10:04:11.255507 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 99987 2022-09-27T17:23:06.464930 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 29697 2025-07-24T10:04:09.626495 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 9995 2024-10-17T16:10:09 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 16691 2025-07-24T10:04:12.742493 application/rdf+xml 30880 2025-07-24T10:04:09.978512 image/jpeg 4865 2025-07-24T10:04:09.929491 image/jpeg 326696 2025-07-24T10:04:09.729503 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog