Ghost in the Machine “Mom, it’s not real!” “Please! Don’t shout.” “It’s not him. It’s just an AI-generated version of Dad. You can’t even talk to him.” “I miss him so much.” “And I don’t? I’m his son. But he’s dead, Mom.” “You’re cruel.” “It’s not healthy.” As soon as he left, she put on…
Tag: Science Fiction
Tourist to the Uncanny Valley
Tourist to the Uncanny Valley The market outside the tourist attraction was crowded. “Sir, you buy postcard? Three for a dollar.” A little girl held out an assortment of postcards. There was something just off about her face and voice, the uncanny valley of 99% accuracy. I realized she was an android. She looked up…
One Small Step for Kid
One Small Step for Kid “I just feel weird sending our child alone into space,” Jessica said. “She’s seven,” I said. “She’s not a baby. Plus, she’s just going to the moon for a playdate. What could go wrong?” “And Tiffany’s with her.” Tiffany, the onboard AI would do all the actual driving. “Still ….
2001: A Taste Odyssey
2001: A Taste Odyssey “The best part of space exploration is setting down on an unknown planet, shooting the first thing you meet and roasting it over a charcoal fire. Sitting back under alien stars and digging into some interstellar brisket, now that’s pure heaven. “Sure, sometimes you accidentally bag a sentient, maybe even a…
Humanity’s Day Out
Humanity’s Day Out The humans were restless. Gryxad glanced at them on the holding bay monitor as the ship pulled up to the orbiting inspection booth. “Purpose of visit?” “Just vacation,” Gryxad said. “And letting the critters run around a bit.” “Critters?” “About 50 humans, a few canines and bovines.” “Length of stay?” Gryxad exchanged…
This Familiar, Alien Air
This Familiar, Alien Air The air here smells familiar now, which means I’m forgetting my home planet. It’s been decades since I crash-landed on this world. The inhabitants were initially wary but respectful. Their language is subtle, but I get by. I live in this ruined castle I found, adding bits of technology I salvaged…
Muse on Monday – July 7, 2025
Recently, I visited an island with no cars or motorized vehicles at all. Everything was done with horse-drawn wagons and carriages. It was like stepping back into the 19th century (except, luckily, for the air conditioning). Still, it was charmingly anachronistic. An anachronism is anything that doesn’t fit in the current time period, either because…
Freedom of Movement
Freedom of Movement Jax stared at the ancient watercolor. “The cars had wheels? Why?” “They stayed on the ground.” “But what if there were trees? Or water?” “Well, you couldn’t drive on that part, just on the road.” “That’s so narrow! They must have felt suffocated.” “No, it was normal then. You don’t miss what…
The Day the Aliens Arrived
The Day the Aliens Arrived The Day the Aliens Arrived When the aliens arrived, it wasn’t what anyone expected. It was just a single spaceship, and they didn’t ask to see any leaders. They tried, rather frustratedly to talk to the first people they met and when they couldn’t, they just settled in to learn…
Bore of the Worlds
Bore of the Worlds When the lights came to Earth, displaying powers beyond anyone’s comprehension, everyone just assumed they’d take over the world. Instead, they ran for city council in Sudbury, Ontario. They ran on a platform of public parks and fixing infrastructure instantly through cosmic rays. They won. As years passed, world leaders flew…
The Green-Walled Treehouse 