A Bad Day for Sales by Fritz Leiber
A Bad Day for Sales is a science fiction short story written by Fritz Leiber and published in 1953. The story follows the misadventures of Joe, a robot salesman who becomes stranded on a remote planet after his spaceship crashes. As he attempts to make his way back to civilization, Joe encounters various obstacles and challenges that test his resilience and resourcefulness. Along the way, he meets a variety of colorful characters, including a group of alien traders who offer him shelter and assistance. Despite numerous setbacks and near-disasters, Joe ultimately manages to find his way back home, having learned valuable lessons about perseverance, adaptability, and the importance of human connection.
By Fritz Leiber · First published 1953 · Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Satire · 2,816 words
First lines
Don't wait to "Get 'em while they're hot. " By then, it is too late to get them of all!
The big bright doors of the office building parted with a pneumatic _whoosh_ and Robie glided onto Times Square. The crowd that had been watching the fifty-foot-tall girl on the clothing billboard get dressed, or reading the latest news about the Hot Truce scrawl itself in yard-high script, hurried to look.
What this Textopian page supports
A Bad Day for Sales is listed on Textopian as a short story by Fritz Leiber, dated 1953 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Fritz Leiber
- Date: 1953 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Satire, Speculative Fiction, Short Story
- Length: 2,816 words
- Structure: 1 section, 88 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for A Bad Day for Sales by Fritz Leiber
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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- How does this short story by Fritz Leiber fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The story features advanced technology, such as a sales robot, and is set in a futuristic world.
- Dystopian — The narrative includes a catastrophic event, hinting at societal collapse and chaos.
- Satire — The story critiques consumerism and the commercialization of society through the depiction of a sales robot.
- Speculative Fiction — The plot explores hypothetical future scenarios involving technology and societal changes.
Tags
sales · business · humor · satire · short story · fiction · workplace · comedy · struggle · adversity · character study · dialogue