The Repairman by Harry Harrison Episode #118

Harry Harrison | October 11, 2023

The Repairman by Harry Harrison Episode #118
Harry Harrison

THE REPAIRMAN

Episode #118 · Written by Harry Harrison · Narrated by Scott Miller

A stubborn repairman is forced to tackle a hyperspace beacon so ancient and absurd that even its blueprints seem like a cosmic joke. But when he discovers a whole civilization worshipping the malfunctioning machine, his job becomes far more complicated—and far more dangerous—than swapping out parts.

The Repairman by Harry Harrison is a lively, inventive tale about a hyperspace beacon so ancient and ridiculous that no sane technician would want to touch it. Unfortunately for our sarcastic, corner-cutting repairman, he doesn’t get a choice. His boss hands him a contract so iron-clad it might as well be forged from neutronium—and a job that sounds more like an initiation into madness. When he reaches the remote world of Proxima Centauri, he discovers that the beacon isn’t simply broken…it has been completely entombed inside a massive stone pyramid built by the native lizard-folk. Even worse, it’s now the center of a religious power struggle, complete with priesthoods, taboos, blind guardians, and sacred “waters” that used to be radioactive coolant.

To fix the beacon without violating interstellar rules forbidding harm to indigenous species, he must disguise himself, manipulate a local herdsman, bluff his way past suspicious priests, and perform the most theatrical repair job in the history of engineering. Harrison turns what could have been a dry maintenance mission into a comedic and chaotic adventure involving flying mechanical lizards, forced holiness, treacherous rituals, and some of the strangest workplace hazards in sci-fi.

What makes the story memorable is the blend of humor and problem-solving. Harrison takes the everyday logic of repair work—diagnosis, improvisation, crawling through machinery—and throws it into a world of alien superstition, accidental miracles, and cosmic bureaucracy. The result is a story that feels both technically grounded and wildly imaginative, echoing his talent for mixing satire with sincere adventure.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Harry Harrison (1925–2012) was one of science fiction’s great stylists—sharp-witted, fiercely creative, and unafraid to poke fun at the genre he loved. Best known for Make Room! Make Room! and the iconic Stainless Steel Rat series, his work spans space opera, satire, alternate history, and character-driven adventure. He spent years in illustration and comics before fully committing to prose, bringing a visual clarity and energetic pacing to his fiction.

Harrison was also a world traveler and polyglot who lived in Mexico, Italy, Denmark, and Ireland. His writing often reflects this global perspective: cultures in conflict, institutions misunderstood, and people navigating systems bigger—and stranger—than themselves. The Repairman showcases Harrison’s signature strengths: humor, ingenuity, and a deep affection for the gloriously chaotic possibilities of science fiction.

LISTEN TO THE STORY

Listen to The Repairman by Harry Harrison — a witty vintage science fiction tale where a repairman faces an ancient beacon, strange rituals, and unexpected dangers.