영어로 읽는 고전 _ 로버트 셰클리의 대용품 사절
로버트 셰클리의 "대용품은 사절"은 20세기 중반에 쓰인 과학소설 단편입니다. 이야기는 지구의 성도덕법의 제약에서 벗어나기 위해 암시장 공장에서 불법 성적 대리체를 구입하려는 절망적인 남자 랄프 가비를 중심으로 전개됩니다. 인류가 다른 행성들을 식민지화하기 시작한 미래 우주를 배경으로, 이 작품은 욕망, 정체성, 그리고 진정한 인간적 연결을 대체품으로 바꾸려 할 때의 결과라는 주제들을 탐구합니다. 줄거리는 가비가 세관 검사관들의 추적을 받으면서 자신의 개인 우주 요트에 대리체를 밀반입하려는 난관들을 헤쳐나가는 과정으로 전개됩니다. 마침내 대리체를 가동시켰을 때, 그는 그녀가 매우 강할 뿐만 아니라 곧 위험해지는 원시적 본능에 의해 움직인다는 것을 발견합니다. 가비는 자신의 선택이 얼마나 어리석었는지 깨달으면서 이 강력한 피조물과 생사를 건 투쟁을 벌이게 됩니다. 궁극적으로 이야기는 가비가 인조 대체품에 의존하는 대신 알골에서 진짜 여성들을 찾기로 결심하는 것으로 끝나며, 진정한 관계를 인공적으로 제조된 것으로 대체하는 데 내재된 위험을 부각시킵니다. 이 작품은 유머와 긴장감을 결합하여 셰클리 특유의 재치와 인간 본성에 대한 논평을 보여줍니다.
Classics Read in English _ Accept no substitutes by Robert Sheckley
Robert Sheckley's "Accept No Substitutes" is a science fiction short story written in the mid-20th century. The narrative revolves around Ralph Garvey, a desperate man seeking to escape the constraints of Earth's Sexual Morality Act by purchasing an illegal sexual surrogate from a black market factory. Set in a futuristic universe where humanity has begun colonizing other planets, the work explores themes of desire, identity, and the consequences of attempting to replace genuine human connections with substitutes. The plot unfolds as Garvey navigates the challenges of smuggling the surrogate aboard his private space yacht while being pursued by Customs inspectors. When he finally activates the surrogate, he discovers that she is not only exceptionally powerful but also driven by primitive instincts that quickly become dangerous. Garvey finds himself engaged in a life-and-death struggle with this formidable creature as he confronts the foolishness of his choices. Ultimately, the story concludes with Garvey's decision to seek out real women on Algol instead of relying on synthetic substitutes, highlighting the inherent dangers in replacing authentic relationships with artificially manufactured ones. The work combines humor with tension, showcasing Sheckley's characteristic wit and commentary on human nature.
Among the contents
Ralph Garvey's private space yacht was in the sling at Boston Spaceport, ready for takeoff. He was on yellow standby, waiting for the green, when his radio crackled.
"Tower to G43221," the radio buzzed. "Please await customs inspection."
"Righto," said Garvey, with a calmness he did not feel. Within him, something rolled over and died.
Customs inspection! Of all the black, accursed, triple-distilled bad luck! There was no regular inspection of small private yachts. The Department had its hands full with the big interstellar liners from Cassiopeia, Algol, Deneb, and a thousand other places. Private ships just weren't worth the time and money. But to keep them in line, Customs held occasional spot checks. No one knew when the mobile customs team would descend upon any particular spaceport. But chances of being inspected at any one time were less than fifty to one.
Garvey had been counting on that factor. And he had paid eight hundred dollars to know for certain that the East coast team was in Georgia. Otherwise, he would never have risked a twenty-year jail sentence for violation of the Sexual Morality Act.
