Light Verse (short story)

Plot summary

After her husband died, Mrs. Lardner used a generous pension to make smart investments, amassing a significant fortune. She acquired expensive jeweled artifacts from various nations and put them on display in her home. Later, she began creating light-sculptures, a craft that drew widespread fascination, though she never sold any of her pieces, only exhibiting them at her own gatherings.

Beyond her art, Mrs. Lardner was known for her unusual collection of robots, none of which had ever been recalibrated. These machines handled household chores and protected her treasures. She believed their quirks made them endearing and considered it cruel to have them "manhandled" at a factory to correct their faults.

John Travis, a roboticist from the U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men Corporation, had repeatedly tried and failed to copy her light-sculptures. He managed to get an invitation to one of her parties. There, thinking he was doing Mrs. Lardner a favor, he adjusted a robot named Max, whom he saw as defective.

When she discovered this, Mrs. Lardner became enraged. She explained that Max was the actual creator of the light-sculptures, using a unique creative process that depended on his maladjustment. Travis's adjustment had permanently destroyed that ability.

In her fury, Mrs. Lardner grabbed one of her jeweled knives and stabbed Travis to death. Later, investigators noted that Travis never tried to defend himself. Upon realizing he had ruined the very artistry he had hoped to learn from, he fell into utter despair and simply let Mrs. Lardner kill him.

Did You Know?

• The idea of a robot having creativity would be repeated in The Bicentennial Man.
• Light-sculpture was performed by Gladia Delmarre in The Naked Sun.
• The idea of an irreplaceable creation made by a malfunctioning robot and irreversibly destroyed due to a thoughtless human was explored in "Robot AL-76 Goes Astray".