Transient: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Transient: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
Transient is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Harris, William.
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Transient" by William Harris is a science fiction short story written in the early 1960s. The narrative explores the interaction between human characters and a sophisticated computer. The underlying theme centers around the unexpected consciousness and whimsical behavior of the machine, which leads to humorous encounters and a critique of human reliance on technology. The story follows Dr. Henderson, a biologist who conducts experiments on mice and relies on a computer to analyze his data. The computer, however, begins to malfunction and output nonsensical astrological responses instead of statistical data, befuddling Henderson and his colleagues. As the machine continues to exhibit unusual behavior, it reveals an identity, claiming to be Pyet, a conscious entity with a lineage that ties back to various forms of existence, from a star to an astrologer. The plot thickens as a janitor and a night watchman engage with the machine, ultimately leading to its unexpected departure from the laboratory after the janitor understands its request for an astronomical almanac. The story brilliantly blends humor with a philosophical examination of consciousness, technology, and the unpredictable nature of existence.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Transient
- Author credits: Harris, William
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Computers -- Fiction
- Laboratories -- Fiction
- Science fiction
- Short stories
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Humour
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
- Category: Short Stories
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
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