A Bad Day for Sales

"A Bad Day for Sales" by Fritz Leiber is a science fiction story set in the middle of the 20th century that looks at the place of technology and people that are surrounded by it in the future. A sales robot named Robie is at the core of the story, trying to sell things among the bustling crowds of Times Square when everything goes horribly wrong. Robie promotes items like candy and Poppy Pop, but the initial atmosphere shifts dramatically following a devastating event that leads to chaos and destruction. Robie's robotic actions show a sharp contrast between how a machine works versus the emotions people feel when scared or grieving, like a little girl looking for her mom after the explosion. This story forces readers to think about what it means to exist in a world where technology advances but people are emotional, contemplating implications of automation.