The Life and Times of Multivac

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"The Life and Times of Multivac" is a science fiction short story by Isaac Asimov. The story first appeared in a science-fiction magazine in 1975, and was reprinted in the collection The Bicentennial Man and Other Stories in 1976. It is one of a loosely connected series of such stories concerning a fictional computer called Multivac. In terms of tone it bears more resemblence perhaps to The Dead Past than any of the other Multivac stories.

When humanity begins to chafe under Multivac’s benevolent tyranny, one man takes matters into his own hands to destroy the great computer. By appearing to betray his fellow humans, he positions himself in such a way as to permanently destroy Multivac. It is implied that it is not until completion of the act that he and his peers suddenly realize the enormity of their actions and the consequences it will have on humanity.