Arm of the Law by Harry Harrison – Episode #105
Harry Harrison | September 27, 2023-
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Arm of the Law by Harry Harrison – 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.
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./p>
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.
LISTEN TO THE STORY
Listen to Arm of the Law by Harry Harrison — a classic science fiction tale of a Mars cop and an experimental robot disrupting a corrupt outpost.
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HARRY HARRISON SHORT STORIES
Harry Harrison never approached science fiction quietly. He brought velocity, mischief, and a sharp-edged sense of irony to every page he wrote.
Harrison understood that the future could be thrilling, absurd, dangerous, and darkly funny all at once. He loved competent rogues, stubborn survivors, ambitious cadets, and machines that behaved just a little too independently. Whether he was writing about interstellar con artists, military mishaps, planetary politics, or robots questioning their assigned roles, there is always movement in his stories. Ships launch. Plans unravel. Authority is tested. Someone usually thinks they’re in control — and usually isn’t.
At the same time, Harrison never loses sight of character. His heroes are rarely polished icons. They improvise. They bluff. They adapt under pressure. Even his mechanical creations carry attitude, curiosity, or quiet defiance. The tension often comes not from overwhelming cosmic forces, but from clever minds colliding — criminals versus lawmen, humans versus their own inventions, cadets versus impossible expectations.
Harrison’s range stretches from biting satire to straight-faced adventure. One story may lean into sly humor while another builds pressure through tactical maneuvering or moral standoff. Yet the voice is unmistakable. Clean prose. Forward momentum. A sense that something is always about to go wrong — and someone quick-thinking might just turn it around.
The stories below highlight that range — rebellious antiheroes, restless robots, uneasy first contact, military surprises, and futures that never behave the way officials expect. If you enjoy intelligence mixed with action and a streak of irreverence running through the stars, Harry Harrison delivers every time.
- The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison
- The Misplaced Battleship by Harry Harrison
- The Robot Who Wanted To Know by Harry Harrison
- Arm of the Law by Harry Harrison
- The Robots Strike by Harry Harrison
- Welcoming Committee by Harry Harrison
- Trainee for Mars by Harry Harrison
- The Repairman by Harry Harrison
- The Velvet Glove by Harry Harrison
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