Insert Knob A in Hole B
Encyclopedia
Insert Knob A in Hole B is a science fiction
short story
by Isaac Asimov
. The story was first published in the December 1957 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction and reprinted in the 1969 collection Nightfall and Other Stories
.
The story is unusually short, less than one thousand words, and arose from a televised panel discussion that Asimov took part in on 21 August 1957. During the panel discussion, Asimov was challenged to write a story on the spot. He accepted, and this story is the result. Asimov later admitted to some preparation prior to the interview, as he suspected that other panel members might make such a request.
, which receives its equipment from Earth unassembled, waste large amounts of time assembling the devices which are shipped to them, and they can not adequately build their equipment because the shipments are accompanied by vague and confusing instructions. They eagerly await the arrival of a complex, sophisticated assembly robot
that will do the job for them.
Upon its arrival, they are nonplussed to find out that the robot had been shipped unassembled and accompanied by vague, confusing instructions.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
by Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...
. The story was first published in the December 1957 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction and reprinted in the 1969 collection Nightfall and Other Stories
Nightfall and Other Stories
Nightfall and Other Stories is a book collecting previously published science fiction short stories by Isaac Asimov. Asimov added a brief introduction to each story, explaining some aspect of the story's history and/or how it came to be written. The main criteria for inclusion were that they had...
.
The story is unusually short, less than one thousand words, and arose from a televised panel discussion that Asimov took part in on 21 August 1957. During the panel discussion, Asimov was challenged to write a story on the spot. He accepted, and this story is the result. Asimov later admitted to some preparation prior to the interview, as he suspected that other panel members might make such a request.
Plot summary
Two men on a remote space stationSpace station
A space station is a spacecraft capable of supporting a crew which is designed to remain in space for an extended period of time, and to which other spacecraft can dock. A space station is distinguished from other spacecraft used for human spaceflight by its lack of major propulsion or landing...
, which receives its equipment from Earth unassembled, waste large amounts of time assembling the devices which are shipped to them, and they can not adequately build their equipment because the shipments are accompanied by vague and confusing instructions. They eagerly await the arrival of a complex, sophisticated assembly robot
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
that will do the job for them.
Upon its arrival, they are nonplussed to find out that the robot had been shipped unassembled and accompanied by vague, confusing instructions.