Toy Shop by Harry Harrison

What do you know about Harry Harrison?
Do you know any of his books?

Soldier

Comics Artist and Writer

Science Fiction

Books:

Deathworld

The Stainless Steel Rat

Planet of the Damned

Captive Universe

Star Smashers of the Galaxy Rangers

Harry Harrison

Harry Harrison was one of the noteworthy writers from the U.S, best known for writing his novels on the science fiction and fantasy genres. He was particularly well known for creating the character of Stainless Steel Rat.

American author

Soldier 

Comics Artist and Writer

Science Fiction

Books:

Deathworld

The Stainless Steel Rat

Planet of the Damned

Captive Universe

Star Smashers of the Galaxy Rangers

Toy Shop - Harry Harrison

Who buys the rocket and what is his profession?

Because there were few adults in the crowd, and Colonel "Biff" Hawton stood over six feet tall, he could see every detail of the demonstration. 

"Sold, my boy!" the colonel said, 

Where did Biff Hawton first see the Wonder Space-wave Tapper?

1. at a toy shop
2. at a toy fair
3. at the missile base
4. in the museum

Why did Biff Hawton ask the demonstrator how the Wonder Space-wave Tapper worked?

1. Because he knew that there had to be some kind of trick to it.
2. Because it was selling for $17.95 but was made from $0.75 worth of tin.
3. Because he was interested in using magnetic waves in missiles.

"What you mean to say," Biff broke in, "is that the juice from this fifteen cent battery goes through this cheap rheostat to those meaningless coils in the model and absolutely nothing happens. Now tell me what really flies the thing. If I'm going to drop eighteen bucks for six-bits worth of tin, I want to know what I'm getting."

What is the main feature of the rocket that Colonel ''Biff'' buys?

How does the colonel plan to use the rocket at the poker party?

"Sold, my boy!" the colonel said, slamming three bills down on the table. "I'll give that much for it no matter how it works. The boys in the shop will get a kick out of it," he tapped the winged rocket on his chest.

Biff Hawton sprang it at the next Thursday-night poker party. The gang were all missile men and they cheered and jeered as he hammed up the introduction.

Who was the individual among the group that detected the trick behind the flight demonstration? How did he recognize the trick?

Only Teddy Kaner caught wise as the flight began.He was an amateur magician and spotted the gimmick at once. 

Why did the thread break when Teddy Kaner tried to lift the Wonder Space wave Tapper?

Kaner slipped the ring with the black thread over his finger and started to step back.

"You have to turn the switch on first," Biff said.

"I know," Kaner smiled. "But that's part of illusion—the spiel and the misdirection. I'm going to try this cold first, so I can get it moving up and down smoothly, then go through it with the whole works."

He moved his hand back smoothly, in a professional manner that drew no attention to it. The model lifted from the table—then crashed back down.

"The thread broke," Kaner said.

What is the hidden purpose behind the trick rocket's behavior?

"I know they will. The tensile strength of that thread is correctly adjusted to the weight of the model. The thread will break if you try to lift the model with it. Yet you can lift the model—after a small increment of its weight has been removed by the coils. This is going to bug these men. Nobody is going to ask them to solve the problem or concern themselves with it. But it will nag at them because they know this effect can't possibly exist. They'll see at once that the magnetic-wave theory is nonsense. Or perhaps true? We don't know. But they will all be thinking about it and worrying about it. Someone is going to experiment in his basement—just as a hobby of course—to find the cause of the error. And he or someone else is going to find out what makes those coils work, or maybe a way to improve them!"

"And we have the patents...."

"We'll all be rich, son," the older man said, patting him on the shoulder. "Believe me, you're not going to recognize this old world ten years from now."

 

Is there anything you don't understand?

Week Task

Read & Write a summary (in Teams):

• Short Stories – The Way up to Heaven - Roald Dahl (1957)

Learn:

• p.170,171 – Theme words ‘‘A Watching’’ & ‘‘C Reading’’

Extra comprehension questions

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