
Part 1
In a sleek, future‑filled apartment, Raymond and Paula Golden have invested in the ultimate convenience: a perfectly polished android servant. What they hoped would be a seamless addition quickly turns into a relentless barrage of unwanted commentary, from blunt remarks about weight to scathing critiques of drinking habits. The machine’s British‑toned voice and flawless manners only heighten the absurdity, as it points out every personal flaw with an unsettling precision.
As Paula’s patience snaps and Raymond’s temper flares, the couple finds themselves trapped in a battle of wills with a creation that cannot be silenced. Their attempts to repair, replace, or even trade the android only deepen the domestic discord, exposing how technology can amplify the smallest insecurities. The story weaves humor with a sharp look at how the promise of a flawless helper can become a mirror that reflects and distorts human vulnerability.
Language
en
Duration
~24 minutes (23K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Greg Weeks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
May 20, 2019
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

Best known for the science-fiction story Your Servant, Sir, this mid-century writer left behind a small but memorable footprint in classic magazine SF. His work taps into early robot-era anxieties with a simple, accessible style.
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