Autofac

Dick, Philip K. "Autofac." Galaxy Nov. 1955. Coll. Robots, Androids, and Mechanical Oddities, and The Best of Philip K. Dick, q.v. under Anthologies and Collections. See Contento, Index, for rpts.

Under a post-holocaust wasteland, an automated factory still produces goods—and begins "to show the instinct for survival which organic living entities have" ("Afterthoughts . . .," Best of Philip K. Dick 449). At the end of the story the autofac network begins to seed the world, and possibly the universe, with automated factories. See under Literary Criticism the CW essay by M. Abrash on PKD. See Warrick 119. Cf. W. Miller, "Dumb Waiter" and cf. and contrast R. Bradbury, "There Will Come Soft Rains," both in this section. See under Drama, DAYBREAK.[]