The Dueling Machine

Ben Bova

Read by Gregg Margarite (1957-2012)

(4.5 stars; 117 reviews)

The Dueling Machine is the solution to settling disputes without injury. After you and your opponent select weapons and environments you are injected into an artificial reality where you fight to the virtual death… but no one actually gets hurt. That is, until a warrior from the Kerak Empire figures a way to execute real-world killings from within the machine. Now its inventor Dr. Leoh has to prevent his machine from becoming a tool of conquest. – The Dueling Machine, written with Myron R. Lewis, first appeared in the May, 1963 issue of Analog Science Fact & Fiction. (Summary by Gregg Margarite) (2 hr 24 min)

Chapters

The Dueling Machine – Part 1	50:13	Read by Gregg Margarite (1957-2012)
The Dueling Machine – Part 2	42:31	Read by Gregg Margarite (1957-2012)
The Dueling Machine – Part 3	51:26	Read by Gregg Margarite (1957-2012)

Reviews

I really like this story

(5 stars)

mikezane

Imagine if someone (like your boss!) got on your nerves, you could challenge that person to a duel to the death in a machine. No one died, and wins were legally binding. Sign me up! :-) Unfortunately, the bad guys figure out a way to actually kill from within the machine. Can the inventor figure out how before someone else is killed? Good story, thanks Gregg!

An exciting tale

(5 stars)

Akku

I really enjoyed this one, a good tale with an interesting premise (I wonder if this one inspired a certain episode of Blake’s 7) - it’s well paced and quite exciting and the readers style suits it well

Pretty Good.

(4 stars)

Pyrodin123321

THis story was just a little too short, and could have been developed a bit more but it was still pretty good. Gregg Margarite ALWAYS does a good job reading, and this story is no exception!

enjoyable

(4.5 stars)

Douglas Smith

reminds me of Isaac Asimov - where the creator of the technology must get personally involved to solve the dilemma that comes up. and well read.

A gripping story

(5 stars)

Glenster

Very well read and captivating science fiction that had me hooked from start to end

Excellent sci-fi short

(5 stars)

Seven Archers

A great little classic sci-fi short, read by the excellent late Greg Margarite, RIP.