02488cam a22003733u 4500 61288 UtSlPG 20260610134419.0 m cr n 260607r2020||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PS Teichner, Albert The Real Thing Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2020 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, November 1962 Release date is 2020-02-01 Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "The Real Thing" by Albert Teichner is a science fiction short story written in the early 1960s. The narrative explores themes of authenticity and imitation in a future world where the distinction between the 'real' and the 'fake' has become blurred. The story delves into the implications of advanced technology on human experience, identity, and relationships, posing profound questions about reality and perception. In the story, a character named Stahl showcases his extraordinary collection of counterfeit items, interacting with two visitors, Tinker and Smith, who engage in a philosophical discussion about the value of genuine experiences versus their imitations. As tensions arise over a counterfeit bill, Smith reveals his insecurities about his own identity and alterations, culminating in a shocking act of self-mutilation that exposes his partially artificial nature. This moment of crisis leads to a deeper exploration of what it means to be human, as Stahl evolves from a collector of imitations to one who experiences empathy and a desire for genuine connection. The narrative concludes with a reflection on the journey towards humanity and the merging of knowledge with feeling. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Science fiction Short stories Counterfeits and counterfeiting -- Fiction Collectors and collecting -- Fiction Art -- Forgeries -- Fiction Produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, November 1962 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/61288 102114 102114