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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#82: How App-ropriate

Love it or loathe it, there’s no denying that modern technology has reshaped literally every aspect of our daily lives. From the way we stay in touch with family and friends, to the ready access of information (or misinformation), to how we work and then spend our hard-earned cash, there’s no part of modern life that isn’t impacted by technology.

And it’s safe to say the advancement of tech is only accelerating. But while some characters welcome — or even help usher in — this changing world, others won’t be so accepting. This week, let’s take a look at some of the highs and lows of a world run by algorithms.

This week's prompts

Write about a technophobe who’s been given a device to solve a problem they’ve struggled with for years, but isn't sure how they feel about it.

Character – 95 stories

Your character has just realized the app they’ve been developing has become self-aware. How do they react?

Science Fiction – 74 stories

Write a historical fiction story about someone working at a company that helped revolutionize early computers.

Historical Fiction – 17 stories

Write a near-future thriller where a piece of everyday technology has turned against your character — and only your character.

Thriller and Suspense – 130 stories

Write about an android just trying to blend in with their human companions.

Science Fiction – 221 stories

Stories

“I am, I do.” by CM Lucas

Submitted to Contest #82

The buzzing of neon lights echoes off the rusted steel walls of a cramped corridor. In the center of the hallway, a slender silhouette shadow boxes as a ruckus crowd cheers from beyond the rattling doors at the end of the corridor. The doors spark with electricity as they eventually open. A man squeezes through the widening gap. His wide shoulders emerging first as his bulbous stomach struggles to follow.“For fuck’s sake, Jack. I hate it when you do that shit. You synths-” the figure halts his shadowboxing as a piercing, lightning-blue glare...

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“The Homesteader’s Pet” by Isla Wren

Submitted to Contest #82

I hesitate, dangling the robotic vacuum over the gaping mouth of my thirteen gallon garbage bin. As a homesteader and self professed crunchy mom, I detest the wastefulness of discarding an entire small appliance, yet that’s not it. I’ve already removed the lithium battery for recycling. The motor, which smells faintly of burnt hair, is beyond repair. Bits of gummy raisins have fossilized in the treads. It’s so old the company stopped manufacturing replacement parts ages ago; I checked. So why ...

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“She” by Tanyut Sharma

Submitted to Contest #82

The first fly of summer buzzed around his head as he leaned back in his chair, brows drawn. A depressing white box occupied most of his screen. Merely three sleepless nights earlier, it had been working fine. He dejectedly got up and went about for a glass of water.Pan Thye had chosen computer science as his passion in his Bachelor’s, but in college his interests had multiplied, and now he didn’t know whether to focus on his literature classes, get a job, or simply go off snowboarding. So far, he was stretched between the three, waiting for ...

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“Neglected” by Sierra Tapscott

Submitted to Contest #82

I was made when she was only 5, but by then she could have gone to college. She was smarter than me, smarter than I could have ever been, by far. She only wished for one thing on her fifth birthday, and that thing was me. She built me from 158 parts. Must have been complicated. But the only thing I wished for was a best friend just like her, until I found out that best friends don’t always last forever. My friendship with her lasted a few years, but then she got older, and threw me away. I guess that’s just how my life works. Great until bro...

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“To Save the Princess” by April Rawlins

Submitted to Contest #82

I have been waiting all year for this moment. We launch Save the Princess in one week. Our staff has been working diligently around the clock and around the world to make this happen. I have people from Tokyo to Berlin, working in home offices, and at corporate, working in code, PR, HR, art, and advertising to bring this all together. It is going to be the biggest app since Princess Maker came out on the PC, and raising sim, gamers are going to unite with a passion. I will make millions. There have been no others like it. I want Lani and to ...

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“The Android Dilemma” by Angela Van De Pol

Submitted to Contest #82

Humans have returned to the earth. The battle is over, and humans can now live in peace on earth again. Battle commander Rina Silver is the one to decide what to do with the old battle equipment, pods, resources, androids, and other battle resources. Rina looked through all the battle reinforcements that had been used throughout the years of war. The last ten years the humans were at war with aliens or robots, until the year of 13.014. It was the fourth world war with alien life forms, so Rina was not going to throw all battle equipment away...

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“The Monster and His Creation” by Isabelle Saadatmand

Submitted to Contest #82

When I first agreed to build the world’s first sentient robot, I had just finished reading Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein. That was my first mistake. The university agreed to pay me a great sum of money if I could pull it off, and I said I’d try. So now, here I am, hiding from my monster much like Victor hid from his. I finished it’s creation only two months ago. It sat up in the bed, turning to me with it’s empty eyes made of metal and wires and glass. “Where am I?” It asked, so politely...

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“Automation” by Elizabeth Fringle

Submitted to Contest #82

Pop! Today was a Friday at the Fitzgerlad's house. Movie night. Every Friday we would take turns choosing a movie, and this Friday it was Jenna's turn. Jenna, my little sister, is a 7-year-old girl and is obsessed with shows such as "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic", and "Dora". Everytime her turn comes, she insists on watching the same exact show. Lucky me. We were getting ready to start the movie. Ma was popping popcorn in the microwave cubical device while Pa was setting up the intergalactic disk on the screen. We all huddled to...

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“Something Else” by Haven W

Submitted to Contest #82

With each passing person, their information blinks in the left corner of my vision. Their names, occupations, home addresses, height, weight, hair and eye color and other things deemed “useful” by Tyrex Industries. I am the last of the Vega-12 experimental program. I am the last Replica. I am an android living in a human's world. Replicas have been declared illegal on Earth. Well they’re illegal outside of Tyrex Industries at least. I escaped weeks ago, I wanted more out of my life. I wasn’t about to be someone’s pleasure model. Instead...

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“Unraveled” by L. McRoy

Submitted to Contest #82

I didn’t mean to destroy the piano. I blamed most of it on the weather. It was a hot summer for New York. Heat made people angry. Of course, celebrations still raged. The war had just ended. Deaf in one ear from a riding accident, I had avoided the draft. But I wasn’t celebrating. I had one more exam before I graduated from Juilliard. One last exam. Not written. Not oral. Audible. The piece was Ravel. My last act, and for good reason. Ravel was hard. Hardest piece on earth. And though I did not lack talent,...

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“Running Totals” by Tanja Cilia

Submitted to Contest #82

“I want you to have this!” she said. I undid the bow and opened the shoebox. I eased out the gift inside. It was something full of bells and whistles; a thingamabob between a Fidget Box that is given to those inclined to stim, and Ziggy, the Supercomputer of Quantum Leap. “Will it bite?” She laughed. “What does this do? And this? And this?” “That is for you to find out…” She smiled, and took her leave, not even staying for coffee or ice-cream. I was one big mess. I had a list of ailments and conditions as lo...

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“Toast” by Ruth Smith

Submitted to Contest #82

Toast She was so excited when she brought it home, Reba, the Smart Toaster. The appliance can be programmed to start toasting at any time you wanted and have the toast done by whatever time you needed. It also can be programmed with a smartphone. All that is needed is to load a loaf of bread into the compartment, record what time the toast should be done, and the machine does all the rest. It's perfect for helping make breakfast for the family in the morning. Marsha opened the box and looked at her new purchase. Reba was her favorite col...

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“The Brightest Light” by Mike Garrigan

Submitted to Contest #82

Last Monday morning, I installed a new lamp in my office, right above my four-tier filing cabinet. When I turned the lamp on, it burst light throughout the room, bouncing off metal, refracting through glass, and revealing dust I didn’t anticipate ever seeing with such clarity. I shielded my eyes. The lamp was too bright. Mr. Inglethorpe knocked lightly on my open office door. “Malcolm, this is Alex. She will be filling in for Natasha this week. I’m afraid Natasha has fallen ill,” he said. “I’m sorry to hear that,” I said. “Ale...

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“What’s on your mind, Sakti?” by Sakti Bagchi

Submitted to Contest #82

The notification alert sound kept playing even before my alarm. I woke up to see my phone is flooded with Facebook alerts. Several thousand likes and comments from known and unknown. I was wondering what did I do to get such a response as I had not posted any for the past several days. Social media has been a menace nowadays. Not being there feels you are not social and being there makes you a zombie. So after a deep thought decided to remain unsocial than being a zombie. So was about to delete my accounts but then thought let me bring some ...

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“2070” by Colombe Nguatta

Submitted to Contest #82

Every morning, I do the same routine. I unplug the power cord from my artificial artelux and go to open the blinds. The sun is good for my body's sheath. After bathing in the sunlight for several minutes, I go to the bathroom. I can’t shower like an ordinary human, the water would mess up my skin like sheath. Instead, I use a 70% alcohol solution to rub down my entire body. And Voila! That pretty much wraps up my daily routine.But today was not any day.Today was my first-day attending high school. Not just any high school, a human high schoo...

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$50

Prize money

537

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 26, 2021 EST

Won by Cyndy Reads 🏆

Title: ALN23061912RK

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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