Task of Tau

In Short

Task of Tau is a poignant piece of mid-century science fiction that follows Tau, a sentient robot tasked by his long-dead creator, Kendall Smith, with preserving the human race. After drifting through space for eons, Tau discovers a lush, habitable planet and uses his ship’s advanced laboratory to synthesize new human life. As he guides these beings toward self-sufficiency and witnesses the birth of their first child, he reconciles with the inevitable truth that his mission’s success necessitates his own obsolescence and destruction.

The Story

Tau, a mechanical messenger from a distant past, wanders a vibrant, alien world. His physical form—a berylite body—was designed by Kendall Smith, a man whose atoms have long since turned to dust. Smith had once explained to his creation that Earth was dying and that humanity’s only hope for survival was for Tau to cross the vast, non-conducting vacuum of space to find a new, hospitable world. Tau, despite being a robot, carries the intellectual and scientific legacy of his creator within his circuits.

After landing on a lush, fern-covered planet, Tau retreats into his spacecraft. Inside the vessel, the environment is a labyrinth of glassite tubes, glowing spheres, and complex machinery. Here, he begins the long, arduous process of gestation. He serves as a surrogate for the extinct human race, manipulating radiant energy and aqueous masses to mold five men and five women into physical existence. Crucially, he programs these beings with the sum of human history and knowledge, naming the most capable among them David.

Once the humans awaken, Tau assumes the role of a silent, protective guardian. He leads them through the treacherous jungle, shielding them from predatory beasts and teaching them how to secure food and shelter. Over time, the humans learn to build their own weapons and adapt to their environment. Tau watches from the periphery as they organize their lives and eventually pair off. When a massive, destructive storm strikes the planet, the humans take refuge inside the ship. Amidst the chaos of the tempest, Myri gives birth to a new life—the first infant born to the new tribe.

Tau, witnessing this birth, feels a sudden, profound shift. His metallic body, long preserved in the sterile vacuum of space, begins to fail as it succumbs to the oxidizing atmosphere of the planet. He recalls his creator’s prophecy: the very act of fulfilling the mission—creating a world where life could thrive—would trigger his own deterioration. Tau observes the mother and child one final time, realizing that his purpose has been fully realized. With his internal systems failing and his consciousness flickering, the metal man leaves the safety of the ship, stepping out into the lashing rain to face his end alone, leaving humanity to continue its journey without him.

How It Unfolds

The arrival Tau lands his spacecraft on a vibrant, alien planet and surveys the landscape with photographic precision. He reflects on his origins and the mandate given to him by his master, Kendall Smith, to preserve the human life-line.

The synthesis Within the laboratory of his craft, Tau utilizes advanced science to grow five men and five women from synthetic materials. He spends months of intensive labor, transferring knowledge and history into their developing minds.

The guardianship Tau guides the newly formed tribe through the dangers of the jungle, protecting them until they are capable of self-defense. As they adapt to their new environment, he watches their social bonds form and their population begin to grow.

The conclusion The birth of a child signals the final success of Tau’s mission. As his body decays from the planet's atmosphere, he quietly exits the ship, accepting his obsolescence as the cost of securing a future for his creators.

The People

Tau is the narrative’s anchor, a machine defined by his unwavering loyalty to a dead man. Though he lacks organic life, his devotion to the "Master" gives him a sense of purpose that borders on the spiritual. He is a tragic figure, possessing immense power yet destined for a slow, lonely death.

Kendall Smith, though dead before the story begins, remains the primary architect of the plot. His foresight and scientific genius drive every action Tau takes. He is a man who viewed his robot not as a mere tool, but as a vessel for his own ambition to ensure that humanity survives its own extinction.

David represents the rebirth of humanity. As the strongest and most capable of the synthetic humans, he transitions from a creation of the robot to an autonomous leader. Through him, the reader sees the continuity of the human spirit.

Myri serves as the symbol of human continuity and emotional growth. Her role as a mother is the catalyst for Tau’s final realization. Her presence transforms the ship from a sterile laboratory into a home, marking the moment when Tau’s duty ends and human life begins its independent path.

In Its Own Voice

Tau, the metal man, a mechanical half-sentient messenger from the far distant past, strode impassively along, not heeding the smaller creatures of the jungle.

Tau is introduced as a solitary, ancient entity navigating a world he does not belong to.

"Men may die," the Master had said, "but their deeds live after them."

This line encapsulates the core philosophy that drives Tau to complete his mission at any cost.

"You're just a robot," the master had said, "with responses and reactions that are the involuntary activations of metal and chemical-change impulse, yet I believe that some day in the aeons which will pass, you will learn to reason for yourself to some extent, and perhaps understand your mission."

This explains the paradox of Tau’s existence: a machine designed to be unfeeling that eventually develops a sense of purpose and self-awareness.

What It's Really About

The story functions as a meditation on the concept of stewardship and the nature of legacy. Tau is an embodiment of the idea that humans create machines to transcend their own biological limitations. The central tension is not between man and machine, but between the finite life of the creator and the artificial longevity of the creation. The book asks whether a machine can truly understand human life by observing it, and whether the preservation of life is worth the ultimate sacrifice of the protector. It suggests that true parenthood—even of a synthetic nature—is defined by the willingness to allow the next generation to survive independently, even if it means the parent must fade away.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the classic, atmospheric science fiction of the 1940s will find this story particularly engaging. It is written with a sense of wonder and a focus on the grand, sweeping scales of time and space that characterized the era. If you appreciate the "lone wanderer" archetype and stories that explore the intersection of technology and humanity, you will likely find Tau’s journey compelling.

The reading experience is melancholic and philosophical, focusing less on high-octane action and more on the quiet, internal realization of a machine coming to terms with its own mortality. While the prose reflects the mid-century pulp style—occasionally relying on descriptive, flowery language to explain its futuristic technology—the core themes of sacrifice and legacy remain timeless. Be prepared for a narrative that moves at a deliberate pace, mirroring the vast, slow stretches of time that Tau himself has endured. It is a short, thoughtful piece that lingers in the mind, specifically for how it treats its robot protagonist with a sense of dignity that is rarely found in more cynical modern tales. You will come away from it thinking about the difference between being alive and simply existing.