Ten Tales [Moxon’s Master and Other Tales]

2015 Reprint of 1925 Edition. Full Facsimile of the original edition. Not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. Moxon’s Master speculates on the nature of life and intelligence. It describes a chess-playing automaton that murders its creator. First published in the 1893, it is one of the first descriptions of a robot in English literature. The master, Moxon, converses with the unnamed narrator. After a thorough discussion about what it is to be thinking and intelligent, the narrator leaves. The narrator returns to Moxon’s house later to learn more. He enters and finds Moxon playing chess with an automaton. Moxon wins the game, and the automaton kills him in an apparent fit of rage. The narrator later questions whether what he saw was real. Includes other short stories by Bierce: John Bartine’s watch – A baby tramp – The death of Halpin Frayser – One summer night – My favorite murder – The damned thing – A resumed identity – The night-doings at Deadman’s – A sole survivor.