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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

“Observational Report or Situation: "Squirrel!"” by Matt Keating

Submitted to Contest #82

Serialized Identification Numerals: 00881 Observational Report—Earth—Lunar Rotation 3: I am now able to successfully imitate one of the human species’ most common behaviors, they call it sitting down. Observing the human species of earth is my primary protocol. Secondary and tertiary protocols are experimental behavioral imitation and cultural assimilation, respectively. (Mission note to the Designer regarding all future protocol upgrades: Imitation of behavior, without successful assimilation of local culture, has resul...

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“ The Circus” by Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #82

“Do you remember what we talked about?” “I am what I am. I do not have to remember because, I am what I am.” “If you say so. I would like your advice on something I’ve been thinking of developing to stop all this nonsense about lies and truth. Is it in your opinion, or factual recognition, possible to devise a device that could tell if a phrase, sentence or word, was the truth?” “It is possible but would be limited to individual interpretation of what the truth or a lie consists of. There are many variations on a theme.&n...

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“Penny's Cosplay” by N. Frances Moritz

Submitted to Contest #82

The mismatched pair emerged from the passenger side of the taxi simultaneously, with Penny in a flowing pink dress emerging from the back seat to stand next to Adelai’s silver plating, partially obscured in a minimalist maid’s outfit. Adelai bent down so Penny, a full two feet shorter, could attach the maid’s headwear to her shiny head, then placed a sparkling tiara on Penny’s head, securing it in the blue wig. They both already wore their convention badges on lanyards dangling from their necks, ready to attend the country’s largest anime co...

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“Only Living Things Breathe” by Rhiannon Bird

Submitted to Contest #82

Eve took a few moments before she entered the bar. She would have taken some deep breaths if she had lungs. The door swung open easily.Inside the dimly lit space there were only four humans, not counting the two scientists huddled in the corner. Aaron and Liam. She couldn’t see their notebooks, but they were bound to be somewhere. Eve stepped lightly over to the opposite end of the bar. It was strange walking this was, they had been trying to smooth out her movements for months now, and had only just got the programming right this morni...

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“Michael” by Taeanna Langely

Submitted to Contest #82

Michale I’m not a human, but I feel like I am. I’m not a human, at least that’s what I’ve been told, but every part of me feels like one. If you touch me, or I you, you would feel the softness of my skin; or maybe not. Maybe, if I touch you, you’d feel the coarse textures of my fingerprints, the jagged edges of my nails or the rough cuticles. I have feeling too. When I’m touched I can feel the warmth that comes from your hand, or the chill that chases your fingertips when you learn what I am - if you’re vigilant enough to see it....

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“To be human” by Nyah Jurican

Submitted to Contest #82

My fingers twitch at the sudden new feeling of being alive. A blinding light shines above me and I try to adjust to the white I see. It's hard to function and move yourself, when all you remember is waking up in a cold room surrounded by metal tables and blinding lights. I turn my head to the side to see that the rest of the metal tables are empty. I scan the area, looking over the empty space before I decide to look down on myself. My fingers twitch again and I lift my hand up, turning it over in the blinding lights. My finger curl up i...

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“One Day They Turned ” by Emilee Swanson

Submitted to Contest #82

So Grandpa 'what was that story that you were talking about at diner." said Lilly his grand daughter . well sweetie lets say back then in 2098 that an android took every thing we had ." Ok then what happened" said Lilly. Then me and your grandma had your dad. Then my most favorite and most trusting robot and then....... "Then what "said Lilly ? Well then he took him and raised him for many years . Why did they kidnap daddy said Lilly sadly. Well we do not know for sure but that robot told us that sense he and his girlfriend had split up that...

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“A13-X” by Kelly Stenning

Submitted to Contest #82

The year is 2130 and space travel had become very common place. People used it for work; for holidays and to travel to their new home. The latter was true for the Nevan’s: Nadé, Jon and their two children Rena and Danil. The four of them travelled through the stars in their ship, the Andromeda along with their cat, Misha. Unbeknownst to any of them, there was a 6th presence onboard. Hidden away in one of the storage compartments was the android, A13-X. The frightened synthetic human had stowed away to avoid being decommissioned. His last ...

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“I'm human...” by Annabelle Al-sabeh

Submitted to Contest #82

I'm beautiful. I am elegant. From head to toe, I'm perfect. My friends would agree with me. They keep explaining to me how I'm flawless. People try and become me, but they can't. I've become their mission, their goal. Those foolish humans torture themselves trying the impossible. People think I'm an android because I can do the unimaginable. I can lift a weight heavier than concrete. I can break metal with my bare hands. People don't understand me when I tell them, but when I show them, they are in awe. I like to toy with them sometimes. I...

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“Patricia and The Zygorg” by Xavier Clayton

Submitted to Contest #82

Patricia and The ZygorgWritten by Xavier Clayton Twenty years ago, my planet was destroyed. I was the only survivor out of 14 billion 348 million inhabitants. I luckily escaped on our last spaceship. I saw it sitting on the edge of the western landing field and ran to it as the red domes were being attacked all around me. When The Shagards started bombing our Icicle Towers, I knew. I had to get out immediately. Now all of our supplies were gone. There was no time to look for my wife, my family, or my friends. We were being massacred and I ...

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“day by year” by Jazmin Elvira

Submitted to Contest #82

They call themselves intelligent. I do not believe this lie. This lie makes me want to laugh. I do not like to laugh. Human nature is a curious thing. I think that people try too hard. I do not think that I should try to fit in. Benny walks to the elevator and presses the green arrow. He wants to go down. Benny always goes down. Benny has a system. He never misses a step in the system. Benny is the ideal co-worker to have around. Isabel goes to the restroom. Isabel takes too long there. Isabel wears her...

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“An Algorithm for Tears” by T.H. Sherlock

Submitted to Contest #82

Author note: This story does make some references to child cruelty.I think, that I think.But actually what I ‘think’ constitutes as thinking is simply automated electric responses processed by my CPU (Central Processing Unit). It’s a very high-tech piece of software, and I’m proud to say that I am programmed with all the latest data and multi-core processors for optimum performance levels.I say ‘proud.’ But obviously I don’t mean that.Androids can’t be proud.But I understand the definition of ‘proud’ because I am equipped with the most up-to...

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“Rescue” by Ken Coomes

Submitted to Contest #82

“That’s so lame.” “What do you mean? I double-checked the math, the science, and I’ve tested it twice.” “The math is fine, Woody. And double testing isn’t the problem.” “The science? Are you telling me there’s something wrong with the science, Andy?” “Not wrong, exactly. Just lame.” “Oh, really? Without this kind of robotic arm, you wouldn’t be able to pick things up, or hand them to me, or do many of the things you can do. All because of your articulated arm.” “Of course I can, Woody. So can you.” “But my arm isn’t mechanical.” “Tec...

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“My Day Out” by Adrian Tan

Submitted to Contest #82

I am very confused. Sounds echo from all directions into my transducers. I sense humans talking, objects scraping each other, something falls onto the ground and still more humans talking. From the voices I hear, five different humans are surrounding me - three females and two males - discussing about me. Hang on, I hear footsteps approaching. A heavyset human, a male. Make that six humans. “It can hear us, you know,” a female to my left informs the others, “And I expect it can understand us, too?” another female. “Yes, I can hear and ...

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“Going home to Mama” by C-y Bueze

Submitted to Contest #82

TW: murder I stepped on the gas as the car zoomed through the dusty Balogun Street. I had left as soon as I saw the news. I was sure I wasn’t going to lose my job as a good number of my colleagues left work immediately too – including my boss. PenSal, the writing firm I work for was about a 20-minutes drive from my place but I intended getting home in less time. I scanned through the radio channels with one hand, the other clutching the steering wheel like a bad name held on to a criminal. Every station was talking about it; ‘The sudden andr...

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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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