Sci-Fi Short Story, looking for book it was compiled in

[Link2Hyrule]

I read a Science Fiction short story some years ago, thought it was part of a series of short stories in a book I already had, but I cannot seem to find it.  I remember the basic plot, but none of the character names, so I will just number them as they appear.

*SPOILER ALERT*

The story starts off with Man 1 sitting in his home typing up a paper, when Man 2 appears behind him and reveals himself by stating that the subject of Man 1's paper is essentially Hogwash.  Man 1 and Man 2 chat for a while, when Man 3 appears, upseting Man 2, whereby 2 and 3 start arguing, ending with Man 3 tossing Man 1 through the time portal that 2 and 3 had come through.  Man 1 finds himself in a strange place with an elderly Man 4.  They chat for a while, then Man 4 sends Man 1 back through the portal, whereby Man 1 finds himself in Man 2's shoes, enacting everything Man 2 did up to and including the argument with Man 3.  Man 1 gets tossed through the portal again, then Man 3 and the new Man 2 argue further, Man 3 telling new Man 2 that Man 4 is not who he says he is, so new Man 2 goes back through the portal to confront Man 4.  After the confrontation new Man 2 goes back through the portal and finds himself in Man 3's shoes.  You can probably guess where this is going.  If anyone remembers the name of this story, and/or the book it wa contained within that would be great.

[Sun_Cat · Accepted solution]

Your description reminded me of Robert Heinlein's story "All You Zombies" (which is not the one you're looking for). And that led me to another Heinlein story, which is the one you're looking for: "By His Bootstraps." (That links to a short review on the Heinlein Society website.)

It was anthologized in The Menace from Earth (and very probably in other anthologies as well).

The Green Hills of Earth / The Menace from Earth  

[Yatta99]

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Sun_Cat wrote:

Your description reminded me of Robert Heinlein's story "All You Zombies" (which is not the one you're looking for). And that led me to another Heinlein story, which is the one you're looking for: "By His Bootstraps." (That links to a short review on the Heinlein Society website.)

It was anthologized in The Menace from Earth (and very probably in other anthologies as well).

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Thanks Sun_Cat, that was on my 'to find' list as well

[Sun_Cat]

Glad to help. If you're not familiar with both the stories I mentioned, in "All You Zombies" Heinlein returns to the theme of a paradoxical time-travel loop almost 20 years after writing "By His Bootstraps." "All You Zombies" is a much more polished and mind-blowing story, funny and poignant. You can find its publication history here. And the publication history for "By His Bootstraps" is here.