Keep Your Shape
1953
First Published
3.84
Average Rating
26
Number of Pages
“Keep Your Shape” by Robert Sheckley is a thought-provoking science fiction short story from the early 1950s that blends satire, social commentary, and classic sci-fi themes. The tale follows Pid, a shape-shifting alien from the Grom species, on a mission to Earth using advanced Displacer technology. As the Grom crew confronts both the alien terrain and their own internal conflicts, the story dives into questions of conformity, identity, and rebellion against rigid societal roles. Pid’s journey becomes a metaphor for self-discovery as he wrestles with the oppressive structure of Grom society and the tantalizing freedom of embracing fluid identity. Sheckley’s sharp prose and imaginative vision make this a standout exploration of what it means to “keep your shape” in a world that demands transformation.
Avg Rating
3.84
Number of Ratings
67
5 STARS
28%
4 STARS
33%
3 STARS
34%
2 STARS
3%
1 STARS
1%
goodreads
Author
Robert Sheckley
Author · 103 books
One of science fiction's great humorists, Sheckley was a prolific short story writer beginning in 1952 with titles including "Specialist", "Pilgrimage to Earth", "Warm", "The Prize of Peril", and "Seventh Victim", collected in volumes from Untouched by Human Hands (1954) to Is That What People Do? (1984) and a five-volume set of Collected Stories (1991). His first novel, Immortality, Inc. (1958), was followed by The Status Civilization (1960), Journey Beyond Tomorrow (1962), Mindswap (1966), and several others. Sheckley served as fiction editor for Omni magazine from January 1980 through September 1981, and was named Author Emeritus by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2001.
