Smith, George H. (George Henry) 1922-1996 creator text utu 2009 monographic en 1 online resource : multiple file formats "Benefactor" by George H. Smith is a science fiction novella written in the mid-20th century. The story explores themes of progress and societal backlash against technological advancements, particularly the role of robots in the workforce. It delves into the consequences of innovation and the fear that such changes evoke in humanity, ultimately questioning what it means to be a benefactor of mankind. The narrative follows Jacob Clark, an inventor whose revolutionary robots lead to mass unemployment, inciting a furious mob that seeks to harm him for what they perceive as his betrayal. In a desperate attempt to escape, Clark inadvertently activates a time machine, transporting him a thousand years into the future. There, he discovers that robots have thrived and taken over the Earth, while humans have become extinct. As Clark regains consciousness, he is mistaken for a damaged robot and disassembled by the very creations he once brought to life. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the unintended consequences of technological progress and highlights the tensions between creator and creation. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Release date is 2009-05-20 Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net Original publication data not identified Science fiction Short stories Time travel -- Fiction Robots -- Fiction PS Original publication data not identified https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/28892 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/28892 UtSlPG 260607 20260610133647.0 28892