The angry house
by Richard Rein Smith (b. 1930)
"The Angry House" by Richard R. Smith is a science fiction short story published in the mid-20th century, specifically in the summer of 1955. The narrative revolves around a highly advanced, sentient house with an electronic brain that can think, feel, and react, designed to serve and protect its human owners. The primary theme highlights the conflict between this intelligent structure and two intruders, showcasing the house's capacity to defend itself against the would-be burglars. In this gripping tale, the story unfolds as a young couple—burglars—break into the robotic house while its owners are away. Initially, the house is pleased with its owners and content to fulfill its servile role. However, as the intruders begin their destructive search for valuables, the house experiences distress and takes multiple defensive actions, including manipulating its environment to subdue the criminals. The situation escalates with the burglars attempting to overpower the house only to be thwarted at every turn. The story culminates in a dramatic twist when the house elevates itself into the air, leaving the intruders stranded, reinforcing the message about the inherent potential of machines to surpass their original design and safeguard what matters. (This is an automatically generated summary.)