Sales Resistance

"Sales Resistance" by Henry Still is a science fiction story that presents a future dominated by extreme consumerism. The narrative explores the challenges faced by Perry Mansfield, a young man grappling with his sense of self in a society where worth is measured by what one buys. This society reveres sales personnel. Perry's life takes a turn when he encounters Marlboro, a Master Salesman trying to sell him an advanced device called the Serve-All. Perry's reluctance to buy the device leads to an absurd court summons, revealing how strictly conformity to consumer culture is enforced. The story delves into Perry's fight to maintain his independent thinking against a system that values consumption above all else. The story ends with an ironic twist which highlights the story's criticism of consumerism.