02511cam a22003493u 4500 29458 UtSlPG 20260610133654.0 m cr n 260607r2009||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PS Sheckley, Robert, 1928-2005 Cost of Living Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2009 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Produced from Galaxy Science Fiction December 1952. Release date is 2009-07-19 Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "Cost of Living" by Robert Sheckley is a science fiction short story written in the early 1950s. The narrative explores a future society marked by technological advancements that provide individuals with a luxurious lifestyle, yet this comes with a heavy burden of debt. The story likely delves into themes of consumerism, existential anxiety, and the implications of a society built on material ownership. The story follows Carrin, a middle-aged man grappling with the suicide of his neighbor, Miller, who seemingly had a perfect life filled with modern conveniences. As Carrin prepares for a visit from the finance man of the Avignon Electric company, he reflects on his own burdensome debt of over two hundred thousand dollars, accumulated in order to afford various household appliances and luxuries that define his life. The visit reveals the insidious nature of consumerism, where even his son's future earnings are up for negotiation to further finance this lifestyle. Throughout the story, Carrin's interactions with his family and the finance man accentuate the pressure to maintain appearances and the emotional toll of living in a society where happiness is deeply intertwined with material possessions, leading to a poignant examination of individual purpose and fulfillment in a technologically saturated existence. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Science fiction Short stories Emshwiller, Ed, 1925-1990 Produced from Galaxy Science Fiction December 1952. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29458 70306 70306