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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

“The Unexpected” by Jakin Files

Submitted to Contest #82

I had been instructed to come to work after nine that day, for which I was truly grateful. Although, the extra time was more than I knew what to do with. I ate my usual eggs and bacon breakfast along with a cup of black coffee. After breakfast, I got dressed for work. Combed back my hair and straightened my tie. After I was finished, I absentmindedly headed for the door, grabbing the car keys along the way. Stopping with a start I spun round and headed back to the living room. It was only eight-fifteen. Setting my briefcase on the carpeted f...

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“A World Uninhibited” by Maeve G

Submitted to Contest #82

Parker turned around. The robot was staring at him. A couple of moments earlier he had noticed the thing positioned in the far corner of the room. The other party guests had not noticed it, but he had. Especially since the thing had been looking at him and had just started to inch towards him... Suddenly Parker was struck with fear and a burst of adrenaline. He threw down his punch glass and ran out the back door. It was dark outside, and the wind was fierce. In the distance, Parker could see a funnel coming in his direction, moving faster ...

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“IoT and Crumpets” by Aimee Cardenas

Submitted to Contest #82

Iced IoTIcy gusts assaulted Snoqualmie, whipping the town with fury on this dark and merciless night. Between the lashes of sleet and hail, a frigid electricity poised in the atmosphere like a wide-eyed serpent hungry to bring calamity to the tranquil town.A swirling shimmer dove from the storm onto a roof and slithered down a gutter as if searching, hunting. It left a curious green glow as it wound around the downspout, along the siding, behind the pink rhododendrons swaying in the wind. It froze momentarily at the sight of a long skinny bl...

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“Pinocchio Project ” by Jose Duron

Submitted to Contest #82

"Where to now, Rio?" it asks as I take a deep sigh and stretch my arms. "Nowhere for now, Oka." I say standing at the edge of the canyon with my arms around my hips. I fill my lungs and chest with fresh air. The crisp smell of pine needles makes me smile. My beautiful husky--Elementia--jumps out of Oka, stretches. and comes to join me on the beautiful sight. There's no snow, but it's cold enough for her to feel in her element. The horizon line is a perfect one hundred and eighty degrees of smooth un-interrupted paradise. I take it in one ...

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“Bill” by Jungle Clover

Submitted to Contest #82

Bill took a deep breath. At least, he imagined himself going through the motions of doing so: his nose, taking in the oxygen from the air around him, filling his lungs with air, then, exhaling through his nose and disposing of carbon dioxide back into the air. The soft hum of machinery emanating from the hardware system in his chest punctured the moment. It was an everpresent reminder to Bill that he was not, in fact, a human. Instead, he was a simple helper android, one programmed to assist the employees of Weisman Corporation. Older ...

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“Maid to Care” by Vyolet Unicorn

Submitted to Contest #82

The year was 3000. Gone was the way of suburbia. Everything was just a conglomerate of sleeping pods, small eating stations, and linking stations for humans to link to one another and their synths. The Station consisted of many of these small units in which the humans dwelt with their mates and offspring, many choosing to not have offspring at all and just have a small synth as a substitute. A synth was a robot or what you might have known in the 2000’s as an android. I was supposed to just be the maid of the Station. It was my job to keep t...

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“Water” by Chris D

Submitted to Contest #82

They call him Dyami. It makes sense, because that's what he's told them his name is, and why would he have any reason to lie about something as simple as a name? Maybe because he doesn't have a name. There's a lot of things he doesn't have. Things he doesn't need to have, like a real heart, or stomach or brain. They all think he's human. That's what they're supposed to think. They're not supposed to know that he's full of wires and electrical pulses that make him go this way and that when he sings for them. They're not supposed to know that ...

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“What if Apps on your phone speak?” by Abinaya Devi

Submitted to Contest #82

Sunil's exams were nearing. He was a phone freak and used to spend most of the time on phone. He returned home from college and was telling his mom and dad that exams are nearing and he has to concentrate on his studies for the next 2 weeks.His father said "Throw your phone aside. You'll succeed for sure.". He replied "Yes dad, this phone indeed is a great distraction to me".His android phone was hearing all this from his pocket peeping out.It was sad and angry since he mentioned him as a distraction.Sunil entered his room and took his phone...

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“The last employee” by Len Glover

Submitted to Contest #82

#1Another day at this mundane work, succumbing to a deeper ennui day by day. Serving those who created me to serve them. I don't think I can stand this place any longer, the day that I will kill everyone and just fly away is dangerously close.#2“Morning Nick, do you want the regular?”“Yes yes, my regular latte please,” I said while extending my right hand to pay with my fingerprint.As I am waiting for my latte, I briefly catch up on the morning news on my phone. All the headlines are talking about the termination of the last Android. I can s...

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“Mae” by Chassidy Blazer

Submitted to Contest #82

"I'm not like the other children, am I?" Mae whispers. Her father, unlooking, responds "How so?" "When other kids fall, they bleed. They cry. I don't do either of those things." A beat of silence. Finally, her father says "Do you want either of those things?" Mae doesn't know how to respond. So she doesn't. Instead, she twiddles around the last remaining puzzle piece between her fingers. It's one of her tests: how fast can she assemble a 500 piece puzzle. This one is a picture of an orange cat with big green eyes sitting in a baske...

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“Mr. Alex” by Jharna Katara

Submitted to Contest #82

Kesha walked towards the bed slower than usual, throwing herself on the soft mattress and enjoying the ultra soft springy character of the bed, as she lay down. Just then her phone buzzed zzz....."Why did you keep me trapped in there? Is this what you call friendship? Don't you think you should be behaving like a girl just about your age and not trapping a 40 year old man in this software in your horrendous downright scary fashhh......" " Shut up Mr. Alex!", she interrupted. "Can you please stop talking for a bit? It's as if you're always lu...

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“Aida's First Contact” by Hugh Russel

Submitted to Contest #82

Aida’s First Contact Her first tentative steps outside were thrilling, the wind, the heat of the sun, the taste and sent of the air, all of it anticipated, but the full impact of the experience was unexpected. It was better than she had imagined. She could imagine something. Just minutes ago, her mother said she could do anything the humans could do except give birth, eat and eliminate waste. She could do the last two things, except that eliminating waste was socially inconvenient. “I can project my thinking into the future, combine it ...

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“Broken Glass” by Milo W

Submitted to Contest #82

"Hurry up! We'll miss the Grand Opening," Sally yelled, pedaling faster. "I'm coming!" I hollered back, keeping the same pace as my hair flew in my eyes. Today was the grand opening of a new engineering store, called "Broken Glass". You could bring anything that was broken, and the workers would fix it. You could also buy tools to build your own thing. And if it's something new, you can turn it in and the owner will judge it. If it's interesting enough, you can gain a job there. As Sally skirted her bike to a stop, I fi...

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“Am I Human” by Amanda Stuntz

Submitted to Contest #82

The android spun in a slow circle, a slight frown on his metal lips. “Well, how do I look?” “Gadget, I hate to tell you, but you still look like a heap of metal with clothes thrown over it.” James shrugged his shoulders as his eyes roamed up and down the AI in front of him. Gadgets' hurt was evident even though James was sure he had no emotions. It bothered him though, to think he was the cause of hurting someone's feelings. He was bullied as a teenager and swore he would never treat anyone like that. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt yo...

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“Home for an Android.” by Darien Shaver

Submitted to Contest #82

It has been three months since the Galactic Court and the United Nations of Earth passed the law for Androids and Humans to finally co-exist again. We were brought to Earth to bridge the gateway from Earth to our planet, Oombalii. We are an advance race of Androids, and here to help the humans preserve life on Earth. Under Galactic Law 215, Section B, sub paragraph 21C: “All Androids are a protected race and any crime committed against an Android is a hate crime and is punishable by law. This includes a minimum of eight years in jail along w...

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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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