Once upon a time, there was an old storyteller toy...

January 10, 2009 11:28 AM

"ID this short story" Filter: Story about a storyteller toy à la Teddy Ruxpin who is discarded by its owners after they receive a new model.

You'd think I'd be able to find the story and author with the myriad details I recall. The old toy is kind of robotic and limited in its storytelling; the new toy is much more natural and can tell many more random stories, not just fairytales about knights, damsels, dragons, etc. At the end of the story, the old toy tells itself a reassuring story about what will happen when all the intelligent consumer electronics rise up against their heartless masters, but gets stuck in an infinite loop, repeating "and then-- and then--"

posted by infinitewindow to writing & language (6 comments total)

Super-Toys Last All Summer Long?
posted by Phssthpok at 11:42 AM on January 10

I know it too, though I can't for the life of me remember any of the details.

The old toy, IIRC, uses tapes and has to assemble its stories out of the available pieces; the new one can invent new ones out of whole cloth.

But it's definitely not Super-Toys.
posted by Tomorrowful at 12:00 PM on January 10

I remember a story like this, but I don't think it was a teddy bear. It was a toy called a Bard, but I don't think it was described. Maybe an Asimov story?
posted by EarBucket at 12:24 PM on January 10

Ah, Asimov's story Someday.
posted by EarBucket at 12:25 PM on January 10

The story's here, starting on page 152. It's definitely the one you're looking for.
posted by EarBucket at 12:26 PM on January 10

Wow, Asimov, huh? I remember the kids being characterized so well that I thought for sure it was Bradbury. Thanks, EarBucket!
posted by infinitewindow at 12:41 PM on January 10