# Short Fiction — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for Short Fiction by Robert Sheckley.

- [Final Examination](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/final-examination.md): An alien voice announces that judgment of Earth will occur in five days. The narrator, Mr. Ostersen, goes to work despite the impending end, witnessing chaotic crowds and a sudden global outpouring of peace, charity, and
- [Proof of the Pudding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/proof-of-the-pudding.md): The last man on Earth, a former space-pilot, carves an epitaph into a cave wall after a devastating war has wiped out all life. He discovers he has the power to create anything he imagines, but struggles with the meaning
- [Warrior Race](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/warrior-race.md): Fannia and Donnaught, stranded on the planet Cascella after running out of fuel, attempt to refuel from a Galactic Survey cache. They discover the Cascellans have a unique social structure where suicide is honorable and 
- [Cost of Living](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/cost-of-living.md): Carrin, a man haunted by the recent suicide of his friend Miller, spends his day off preparing for a visit from an Avignon Electric finance man. Despite the luxury of his automated home, he cannot shake a vague fear. He 
- [The Leech](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/the-leech.md): An alien leech, a spore-like organism that consumes matter and energy, drifts through space and lands on Earth. Professor Micheals, during his resting week, discovers it in a ditch when his neighbor Frank Conners shows h

> 22 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=short_fiction_48_se_746kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [Writing Class](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/writing-class.md)
- [Watchbird](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/watchbird.md)
- [Ask a Foolish Question](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/ask-a-foolish-question.md)
- [Warm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/warm.md)
- [Diplomatic Immunity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/diplomatic-immunity.md)
- [The Hour of Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/the-hour-of-battle.md)
- [Beside Still Waters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/beside-still-waters.md)
- [Keep Your Shape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/keep-your-shape.md)
- [One Man's Poison](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/one-man-s-poison.md)
- [Death Wish](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/death-wish.md)
- [Forever](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/forever.md)
- [The Sweeper of Loray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/the-sweeper-of-loray.md)
- [Prospector's Special](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/prospector-s-special.md)
- [Meeting of the Minds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/meeting-of-the-minds.md)
- [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/part-ii-i.md)
- [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/part-ii-ii.md)
- [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/part-ii-iii.md)
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/part-ii-iv.md)
- [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/part-ii-v.md)
- [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/part-ii-vi.md)
- [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/part-ii-vii.md)
- [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/endnotes.md)

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters