Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 47 — page 93: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION - “New, now.” Mr. Mercer _ patted her auburn head with a clumsy hand. “‘It can’t be as bad as all that. What exactly did he do that was so terrible?” “He took all that money and———”’ she glared at Mr. Morphy ‘‘——and bought a robot. For his father to play chess with. The fool!” Mr. Mercer considered this. “Why, that addle-pated old copy-cat! Never had an ori- ginal idea in his life. Shows up in his chess game, too. Strictly an academician, Hobbs is. A plodding, long-winded player without invention. So now he’s got a robot, has he? “Oh, you’re all alike,”’ cried Carol. She flung herself to her feet. “You and Mr. Hobbs and Mike—and of course the robots, who never were taught to do anything else. Chess, chess, chess. That’s all you ever think about. Nothing else matters to your narrow - souls!” “Now, Carol, you once were fond of the royal game. I remember what fun we had together, when your mother was still alive, teaching you the moves.” 92 “That was when I was twelve, father—half as old as I am now. By the time I was thirteen I was sick and tired of the stupid game. Gambits, combinations, castling, en pas- sant, Philidor, Reshevsky! It’s a foolish game for foolish people who could be doing important things with their energy. Check! Checkmate! Phooey!” And she kicked Morphy on his simulated ankle. The robot made no sign. “Carol!” said her father, sharply. ““Go to your room. You may come down when you’ve stopped being a child. The idea of a grown young woman acting this way over a silly lovers’ quarrel! ‘““Now, Mr. Morphy, we'll see about this little combina- tion of yours—-or mine, or Alekhine’s, or whosever it is. I'll just take your queen, you see, with my rook. Weren’t expecting that, were you?” “On the contrary, Mr. Mer- cer,” said the robot. “I had planned it. My move is rook takes knight—check! Then I think you will see that the end is inevitable.” comichooks.com *