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001 61288
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040 _aUtSlPG
041 7 _aen
_2iso639-1
050 4 _aPS
100 1 _aTeichner, Albert
245 1 4 _aThe Real Thing
264 1 _aSalt Lake City, UT :
_bProject Gutenberg,
_c2020
300 _a1 online resource :
_bmultiple file formats
336 _atext
_btxt
_2rdacontent
337 _acomputer
_bc
_2rdamedia
338 _aonline resource
_bcr
_2rdacarrier
490 1 _aProduced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, November 1962
500 _aRelease date is 2020-02-01
508 _aProduced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
520 _a"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.)
534 _nOriginal publication data not identified
653 _aScience fiction
653 _aShort stories
653 _aCounterfeits and counterfeiting -- Fiction
653 _aCollectors and collecting -- Fiction
653 _aArt -- Forgeries -- Fiction
830 0 _aProduced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, November 1962
856 4 0 _uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/61288
999 _c102114
_d102114