The Fastest Draw

The Fastest Draw, published in 1964 by Larry Eisenberg, is a science fiction short story that merges Western themes with futuristic technology. The narrative follows Amos Handworthy, an inventor who seeks to experience a real shootout by enhancing a mechanical marshal to engage in a duel against him. As the story unfolds, it explores the psychological implications of competition and fear, culminating in a dramatic confrontation that questions the nature of bravery and mortality in a world where the Old West has been reimagined.