'Ego Machine' Summary

Nicholas Martin, a playwright, faces five years of servitude to Raoul St. Cyr, a director who has taken a creative liberty with Martin's play about Portuguese fishermen, adding dancing mermaids. The situation worsens when a robot from the future becomes part of the plot, shattering Martin's hope of preserving his artistic integrity. However, the robot's arrival might prove to be a turning point, offering a potential path to freedom from St. Cyr's control. As Martin navigates the complexities of this unusual scenario, he confronts the challenges of maintaining his artistic vision and finding the strength to reclaim his creative freedom. The story explores themes of artistic control, the allure and dangers of Hollywood, and the unexpected possibilities that arise when the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur.