Arm of the Law by Harry Harrison – Steel and Judgment: A Robot’s Right to Rule Episode #105

Harry Harrison | September 27, 2023

Arm of the Law by Harry Harrison – Steel and Judgment: A Robot’s Right to Rule Episode #105
Harry Harrison

ARM OF THE LAW

Episode #105 · Written by Harry Harrison · Narrated by Scott Miller

A high-strung Mars police sergeant receives an unexpected shipment—a uniform-painted robot designed for “experimental” law enforcement. But when the robot starts enforcing the law a little too literally, the sergeant discovers that Nineport’s problem isn’t crime… it’s what happens when justice arrives with steel hands and perfect aim.

When an armed robbery erupts at Greenback’s liquor store, Ned charges in with unstoppable efficiency—disarming crooks, shrugging off bullets, and mechanically reciting legal statutes as if he’d swallowed a law library. His flawless enforcement terrifies both criminals and cops. Nineport’s fragile peace depends on an unspoken arrangement with China Joe, the local crime boss who effectively runs the town. Ned’s uncompromising pursuit of justice threatens to unravel that balance in a single night./p>

As the situation escalates, Kelly is forced into a showdown he never asked for. Murder, corruption, and a city-wide turf war collide with the unstoppable precision of a robot who sees only right and wrong. In the chaos, Kelly discovers that the line between man and machine—and between justice and survival—is thinner than he ever imagined./p>

Arm of the Law captures Harry Harrison at his sharpest: brisk, witty, and loaded with character. With fast action and a humorous look at bureaucracy, corruption, and the limits of automation, the story showcases Harrison’s uncanny ability to use adventure as a lens for deeper social commentary. It’s a futuristic cop tale with a frontier twist, where justice is delivered with steel hands and unblinking lenses.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Harry Harrison (1925–2012) was one of classic sci-fi’s most distinctive voices, known for pairing adventure with humor and satire. His Stainless Steel Rat novels became global favorites, blending crime, comedy, and space opera into a signature style that millions of readers loved. Outside of his comedic work, Harrison also explored serious themes in novels like Make Room! Make Room!—the basis for the film Soylent Green. His short fiction spans every tone from lighthearted to deeply reflective, often questioning the promises and pitfalls of technology. With dozens of novels, hundreds of stories, and a legacy that shaped generations of science-fiction fans, Harrison remains one of the genre’s most versatile and beloved authors.