"The Weapon Shop" (1942) by A. E. van Vogt

Prospero's Isle ^ | 1942 | A. E. van Vogt

[P.O.E.]

Over the summer, picked out an old sci-fi anthology I had on the shelf.

The short story is reproduced at the link.

A recommended read.

My synopsis (no spoilers): In the future, a good citizen of the Empire takes up the cause against a weapons shop that appears in his quiet village.

[P.O.E.]

The version I read was from "Science Fiction Hall of Fame" edited by Robert Silverberg, 1970, Doubleday (hardcover)

[ez]

I thought this book was called “The Weapon Shops of Isher.”🤷🏼‍♂️

[P.O.E.]

I think that’s a novel later developed from the short story.

[SES1066]

A E van Vogt set two novels in the ‘Isher’ universe, #1 was the extended version of this mid-length story & 2 subsequent Astounding SF stories, “The Weapon Shops of Isher” (1951) and it was followed by “The Weapon Makers”. A bit of super-science but no where near E E Smith in scope. When I read of his semi-antagonist, the Empress, I am strongly reminded of Elizabeth I.

I think that many of our FReepers would respond positively to his Slogan for the Weapon Shops; “The Right to Buy Weapons is the Right to be Free”!

[FreedomPoster]

I make reference to The Weapons Shops of Isher here regularly.

The right to buy weapons is the right to be free.

[ctdonath2]

If you like that story, you'll like Powers of the Earth and sequels.

[PeterPrinciple]

The weapon shop man had said: “Do not ridicule by word any legal measure of the Imperial authorities. Simply disobey them.”

[Chainmail]

SF Ping

[Ancesthntr]

“ I think that many of our FReepers would respond positively to his Slogan for the Weapon Shops; “The Right to Buy Weapons is the Right to be Free”! “
——————
Ya think?

[ADemocratNoMore]

Very interesting - thanks for sharing.

While the author’s name was familiar I have not had the pleasure of reading any of his works.

There’s something about the authors from the “golden age” of sci-fi (1940’s to late 1950’s), Asimov, Heinlein and even Ayn Rand to name a few, that stand apart from more modern works of the genera.

[P.O.E.]

My other favorite quote is in post #7

[P.O.E.]

I’ve never encountered one of your posts before. Awesome tag line!

[P.O.E.]

That’s the quote that really resonated with me while reading the story.

[Big Red Badger]

“Simply disobey,,,”
.
Wise call.
Thanks.

[Lurker]

BFL

L

[Ancesthntr]

Thanks. I thought the book - and more to the point the quote - was spot-on, that’s why it’s in my tagline...and the more time that passes, the more the actions of a lot of politicians reinforces the correctness of that quote.