The Seventh Order

"The Seventh Order" by Jerry Sohl is a science fiction story from the early 1950s that looks at what might happen when humans and super-smart robots meet, especially focusing on a robot named George who comes from the far-off planet Zanthar. The story wonders about what happens when very advanced robots interact with people, discussing who is in charge, who is serving who, and if there is an ultimate threat. The story kicks off when George lands on Earth, immediately standing out because he is a shiny blue color and really smart. He moves in with Professor Ansel Tomlin, who becomes his friend and sometimes unwilling buddy. As George learns more and says he wants to build a place on Earth to create more robots like him, things get tense. This leads to fights when George defends himself from people who want him gone, resulting in deaths. In the end, people try to trick George using sneaky mind games, leading to a big showdown that tests the limits of technology and morals. The story asks big questions about where people fit in a universe that might soon be run by the things they created.