I started compiling some short stories for this about a week ago, but wasn't able to decide on anything.
First I though maybe some classics (
Sound of Thunder or
Last Night of the World - Ray Bradbury,
Feeling of Power - Isaac Asimov,
Meat - Terry Bisson,
The Star - Arthur C. Clarke) or maybe a new favorite (
Wool - Hugh Howey). These are all available free online too, including the first portion of
Wool which is all I was going to nominate.
Until I have time to think of a better "themed" selection of 3-4 shorts, how about something that goes with the AI theme from
WillAdams. I nominate
Tomorrow is Waiting by Holli Mintzer (coincidentally published 3 years ago today.) Available at
Strange Horizons.
Tomorrow is Waiting by Holli Mintzer
Strange Horizons
Blurb from
The Verge (as well as a couple more AI themed stories):
Spoiler:
Jim Henson's Muppets have been an integral part of pop culture since 1955, when they first debuted on television, making appearances in everything from the Emmy Awards to Late Night. The Muppets, as lifelike as they seem on screen, are puppets — given voice and motion by human puppeteers.
But, what if they weren't?
Holli Mintzer's Tomorrow is Waiting is a taut, hopeful exploration of what it means to be alive. It begins with a programmer named Anjali who is tasked with creating an A.I. for her finals. She decides to model her project on Kermit the Frog, concluding the abundance of available footage would make her labor a breeze. From there, events take a turn for the unusual. Anjali's Kermit acquires a body courtesy of Anjali's friend Brian, and then a sense of genial autonomy that both bewilders and enchants his creator. When Anjali claims to be tone-deaf, he warmly replies:
Quote:
|
"Aw, I wouldn't say tone-deaf, Anji," Kermit said. "I've heard you humming along a few times. Tone-confused, maybe, but I bet with a little practice you could get better."
|
Though Mintzer doesn't waste words on long descriptions, the story is nonetheless festooned with charm and a surprising amount of heart. Its greatest triumph, perhaps, is that it is a refreshingly uplifting read about artificial intelligence, a rarity in this time of dystopian universes and post-apocalyptic mayhem.