A man is bound for a new world but nervous about the dangers of space travel. Every voice tells him not to worry, and every voice is wrong. But then when disaster strikes, his real and very great life finally begins.
"He looks downward. The mold is made from a shiny pseudosolid, and it's human-shaped but oversized. Surrounding it and him are a variety of clean machines, humming as if impatient. Kneeling, he places one hand on the mold's wall, finding it cool and slick. An odd stink lingers in his nose and throat. He coughs and looks up, seeing the mold's cap dropping. The robot tells him to lie on his back, please, and please remain still. The pouring will follow his sizing, the process completely safe … and with that the voice fades away, closed out. As promised, the walls flow and close on him. He feels himself being lifted and centered, held motionless by invisible hands. Clucking his tongue, he measures the distance around his face. Beside the faintest glow, there is no illumination. It's like an old-fashioned coffin, he thinks; then the robot's voice comes from everywhere at once."
Robert Reed is the author of hundreds of published stories. "Coffins" is from Reed's earliest years, and this version has been lightly edited, and hopefully, slightly improved upon too.
Genre: Science Fiction
"He looks downward. The mold is made from a shiny pseudosolid, and it's human-shaped but oversized. Surrounding it and him are a variety of clean machines, humming as if impatient. Kneeling, he places one hand on the mold's wall, finding it cool and slick. An odd stink lingers in his nose and throat. He coughs and looks up, seeing the mold's cap dropping. The robot tells him to lie on his back, please, and please remain still. The pouring will follow his sizing, the process completely safe … and with that the voice fades away, closed out. As promised, the walls flow and close on him. He feels himself being lifted and centered, held motionless by invisible hands. Clucking his tongue, he measures the distance around his face. Beside the faintest glow, there is no illumination. It's like an old-fashioned coffin, he thinks; then the robot's voice comes from everywhere at once."
Robert Reed is the author of hundreds of published stories. "Coffins" is from Reed's earliest years, and this version has been lightly edited, and hopefully, slightly improved upon too.
Genre: Science Fiction
Used availability for Robert Reed's Coffins