The King’s Wishes

by Robert Sheckley

Release: July 1953
Format: Short Story
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adults
Content: Definite Time Travel
Original Language: English

Bob and Janice, co-owners of the Country Department Store, are determined to catch the thief who’s sneaking in to steal appliances every night. Yes, they do capture him. Y he’s from the past, in fact he’s a ferra (cousins of the jinni). No, I’m not going to tell you why he’s after all those generators, refrigerators, and air conditioners.

By the way, I’d love to know more about the story behind the two different versions of the Emsh cover. One has the old F&SF logo, last used on the Sep 1952 issue; the other has the new logo from Oct 1952 forward. Does anyone know the story behind this?

The ferra of the cup has to be skilled in all branches of demonology. I had just graduated from college—with only passing grades. But of course, I thought I could handle anything.

DEBUT

“The King’s Wishes,” Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, July 1953.

VARIANTS

1 English variant

TAGS(SPOILERS!)

Groupings

Cited in Time Machines by Paul J. Nahin ()

TIME TRAVEL ITINERARY: We haven’t yet mapped out the time travel itinerary.