Berserker

The first collection of Fred Saberhagen's Berserker stories. Built by an unknown race millennia ago, planet-sized berserker machines roam the galaxy in their relentless quest to purge the universe of all life. All mankind--all intelligent life--is engaged in this ultimate battle for survival.

• Without a Thought: To trick a berserker, Del Murray must teach his pet aiyan to play checkers like a human being.
• Goodlife: A man in the service of berserkers meets other humans for the first time when prisoners are brought on board.
• Patron of the Arts: An artist on a ship attacked by berserkers takes up painting rather than attempting to resist.
• The Peacemaker: Carr tries to reason with a berserker, to persuade it to stop its programmed extermination of all living things.
• Stone Place: The combined fleet of all mankind meets the massed forces of berserkers in a decisive military showdown.
• What T and I Did: A man wrestles with himself over whether to serve the berserkers or to serve mankind.
• Mr. Jester: Humorous short.
• Masque of The Red Shift: Berserkers risk all to kill Johann Karlsen.
• Sign of the Wolf: Berserker attacks a human colony that has reverted to a pre-industrial state.
• In The Temple of Mars: Berserker worshippers stage a coup on the soon-to-be flagship of mankind's space force.
• The Face of the Deep: In parking orbit around a black hole, Johann Karlsen waits for rescue.