WalterNebicheristhepolicedepartment'sresidentcomputerexpert,althoughhisimmediatesuperiorgivesnorespectastohiscontributiontotheforceTofixthat,hecreatesaspecialprogramthatcreatesAutoman,anartificiallyintelligentcomputerconstructthatlooksreal,soundsrealsand,givenenoughpower,canhaveanactualphysicalpresenceoutsidethecomputerthatfeelsrealTogether,WalterandAutomanalongwithCursor,asmallfloatingdroidthatcancreateanyobjectAutomanneeds,battlethecriminalelementsofthecityWrittenbyKennethChisholm{kchishol@execulinkcom}