Ed M Clinton, Jr's "The Small World of M-75" (short story, free): When a "servomech" tending a nuclear pile became sentient!

Fast paced action story.

Story summary.

Hot Room of a nuclear power plant is manned by three "servomechs" - sort of robots, but not completely autonomous. Periodically tended by lead-suited human repairmen who can enter the place of robots but only briefly.

Now, one of these robots, M-75, has mysteriously gained sentience, & wants to explore his little room & the world beyond with the curiosity of a baby! Only, he's too radioactive, & his baby curiosity has thrown the whole plant into panic...

Fact sheet.

First published: If, July 1954.
Download full text from Project Gutenberg, Manybooks.
Rating: A.