The Success Machine by Henry Slesar
The novel explores the concept of a machine that can predict and guarantee success in various aspects of life. The protagonist, a struggling writer, becomes obsessed with the machine's promise of achieving his goals. As he uses the machine, he experiences rapid success, but at a cost to his relationships and personal integrity.
By Henry Slesar · First published 1967 · Genre: Science Fiction, Satire, Drama · 5,720 words
First lines
_Mechanical brains are all the / rage these days, so General / Products just had to have one. / But the blamed thing almost / put them out of business. Why? / It had no tact. It insisted / upon telling the truth! _
The Personnelovac winked, chittered, chortled, chuckled, and burped a / card into the slot. Colihan picked it up and closed his eyes in prayer.
What this Textopian page supports
The Success Machine is listed on Textopian as a novel by Henry Slesar, dated 1967 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Henry Slesar
- Date: 1967 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Satire, Drama, Dystopian, Business Fiction
- Length: 5,720 words
- Structure: 1 section, 228 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Success Machine by Henry Slesar
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The story involves mechanical brains and futuristic technology, exploring themes of automation and its impact on human employment.
- Satire — The narrative critiques corporate culture and the absurdity of business practices, using humor to highlight serious issues.
- Drama — The plot revolves around personal and professional conflicts within a corporate setting, focusing on character development and emotional stakes.
- Dystopian — The depiction of a society reliant on machines for decision-making raises questions about autonomy and the consequences of dehumanization in the workplace.
Tags
Business Fiction · Thriller · Corporate Satire · Psychological Thriller · Mystery · Suspense · Crime Fiction · Satire · Social Commentary · Dark Comedy · Corporate Espionage · Power Struggle