Belly Laugh

"Belly Laugh" by Ivar Jorgensen is a science fiction short story written in the early 1950s. The narrative unfolds during a futuristic war scenario where unconventional weapons are utilized. The story explores the theme of humor as a coping mechanism in dire circumstances, highlighting the absurdity of war through the experiences of soldiers interacting with unexpected situations. The plot follows a soldier who recounts a peculiar incident while trapped in a pit during a skirmish. He and his fellow soldier, a young man named Stillwell, encounter a Russian soldier, who turns out to be a robot disguised as a human. Stillwell, consumed by his longing for home, engages with the robot in a comedic and ultimately shocking way. As their bizarre interaction unfolds, it culminates in Stillwell's disillusionment when he realizes the truth about the supposed enemy combatant. The story mixes elements of science fiction with humor, illustrating how laughter can emerge even in the most absurd and chaotic moments of war. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Gordon Randall Phillip David Garrett was an American science fiction and fantasy author. He was a contributor to Astounding and other science fiction magazines of the 1950s and 1960s. He instructed Robert Silverberg in the techniques of selling large quantities of action-adventure science fiction, and collaborated with him on two novels about men from Earth disrupting a peaceful agrarian civilization on an alien planet.