The Salesman

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Boyd, Waldo T., 1918-2012

Series:

Produced from IF Worlds of Science Fiction March 1953.

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"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.)

Credits:

Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

Notes:

Reading ease score: 74.9 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.

Release date is 2010-06-01