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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

“TARA” by Kay Anne

Submitted to Contest #82

(A quick message before the writing) Hello to my three fans! I am so so sorry I haven't posted in a month. I've been really busy with school and all. This story was hastily written, but I hope to be making more work soon! Love you all ----------------------------------------------------------- Coffee. Coffeecoffeecoffeecoffee. Coffee. I had downed the coffee with a piece of bread. It was not even toasted. There was no time. There’s never enough time. Not even for bread. I had bushed through my hair approximately four times, but I eventuall...

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“Blue eyes” by Todd Кelly

Submitted to Contest #82

"How is the app? I mean that you were developing?" "That's not just the app. That's dating future. It will meet all of your requirements, character features, even the person's color of the eyes. Are you mad about blue eyes? Do you know how huge difference exists between the violet - blue, grey- blue and sea-blue? There are also eyes like the sky in spring, or stormy dark- blue, and light-blue, such clear, that could be compared only to water or the ice. Thanks to our app it around the corner." “That’s awful!” “Why? An online-companion, as a ...

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“Ask Dewey” by John Rockk

Submitted to Contest #82

Ask Dewey Ask Dewey was the latest brain child of Eve Works, the wunderkind of Silicon valley. When she was 22 years old, she earned her doctorate in Modern Law Logistics, or what had been nicknamed, Virtual Trials. Essentially anyone arrested for a crime, was stamped with a small chip that had all the pertinent information of that person, i.e. fingerprints, DNA, and perpetual tendencies. You could scan the chip, essentially an internal barcode, and access a record of any deed, 'outside the norm’ of the populati...

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“L.I.F.E.: A Raspberry Family Story” by Lyn Carstone

Submitted to Contest #82

Maurice was used to strange things happening. For one thing- he lived in Boysenberry Falls; a place that had their own supervillain and hero for pity’s sake. And reason two; four of his best friends were Raspberries. And everyone in town knew that to be friends with Raspberries meant being on a first-name base with the weird and impossible. So he wasn’t exactly surprised when the app he was designing went from saying its first word: “Hello” and followed it with its first sentence, curiosity filling its slightly metallic voice- “What are you ...

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“App-solutely Not” by K.M. Hotzel

Submitted to Contest #82

Talking to yourself is perfectly normal. Right? They have done studies on that. I’m certain of it. It’s perfectly normal. I’m normal. This is normal. Either way, it doesn’t matter at this point. I just need to think this through - start at the beginning and go from there. I was eight when it happened - when my grandmother died and mother left. That was eight years ago. I haven’t seen her since, not even found flowers on grandma’s grave. I still miss her. I think. Either way, the reason I’m sharing this with you is not to appeal to your emoti...

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“I Built My Soul Mate, and his name is Hunt” by Brooke Shetler

Submitted to Contest #82

He was the last guy I'd ever go on a date with again. Ever. The only reason I had even agreed to put on a tight red dress with heels and go out for dinner with a complete stranger was because Partnerhunter, or just Hunt for short, had recommended I give him a shot. My dating app, Partnerhunter, which was still in development that had become my only source of entertainment for the past few years. It had a male British accent that I chose myself and a personality based off of my likes and dislikes which I embedded into the progr...

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“Singularity” by Joshua Buege

Submitted to Contest #82

The figure trudged on. Draped in a thick woolen cloak, his hunched form carefully traced a trail of footsteps back through the knee-deep snow, pausing occasionally to adjust its load. The lone hiker trundled up the porch of a worn but well-kept arctic warming cabin, emitting a muffled sigh of relief as he placing the burdensome stack of papers and correspondence on a small pile of shipping pallets resting adjacent to his front door. This freed both heavily gloved hands to release the troublesome front entryway that he had never bothered t...

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“The Decision Is Yours” by Sylvia Lucas

Submitted to Contest #82

How does one befriend a Receptionoid ? Or more to the point, how does one make conciliatory gestures to the confounded thing ? I am employed at the law firm of Gambol , Gambit and Gore, one of their thirty six lawyers who slave away for seventy hours a week to make...an admittedly good...salary and try to impress Gambit and Gore, Gambol having departed this earth five years ago. Earlier this year, those of us working on the lower three floors were issued with the latest model receptionist in the form of an android. We were told that our secr...

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“Mary Ellen” by Nakul Smaran Ranjith

Submitted to Contest #82

I slightly tugged at my sheets, bringing the far 2 corners in line with the bed. I set my hands firmly down on the bed, and ran it all through the sheets, smoothing out any creases. I stepped back, admiring my work. As perfect as I could make it. My eyes drifted through the rest of the room. The binders containing the rules and regulations of the Galactus were dusted, color-coded, and tucked safely away. I looked at my table and found my computer all folded up and plugged into the charging port. My lamp was turned on and was illuminati...

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“Such a Fool” by Mary Burns

Submitted to Contest #82

She stood in the shed still holding the shovel, sweating, trembling and out of breath, looking at the pile of rubble that now littered the floor. She tried to calm herself but couldn’t. Although she had planned this moment and knew it had to happen, her mind still raced. Quickly, she put down the shovel, pivoted around exiting the shed. She locked it and ran into the house. She ran upstairs and grabbed the suitcase that was in her closet. As she packed, she thought of all that had happened over the past seven months and berated hers...

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“Catastrophic Loss” by Ryan Bush

Submitted to Contest #82

I stomped snow off my boots as I stepped inside the opulent mansion. The blast of heat instantly fogged my glasses in contrast with the raging blizzard outside. Officer Dale Benson waved me over from the living room. “Detective Tanner, glad you could get here so fast,” he said. “How’s the weather out there?” “Terrible. But my blubber keeps me warm.” I patted my thick middle and ...

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“One of the Family” by Paula Dennison

Submitted to Contest #82

Sally-123 sat at the breakfast table across from one of her controllers, Myrna, the mother of the Samuels family. Myrna had been keyed or programmed into Sally’s data matrix to have complete control of Sally’s numerous and optimal operational systems as Sally-123 was the Platinum android model for homes of the Samuels’ status. She had the most human-like emotional core as well as most highly functional technological features in which she was able to discuss anything from ancient literature to Quantum Physics. These days she acted as tutor fo...

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“Twix Marshall Has A Hard Time” by Eesha T

Submitted to Contest #82

Inside an almost empty semi-detached home lived a vivacious young boy with his father. He wasn't much like other kids his age, in fact he wasn't like the other kids at all. You see his was a case different than the rest for he was not a human but an Android. As for his name, it was more peculiar than he. Twix Marshall was the first of his kind, created by the very man who fathered him. He was created a teenager, hence he never really had a childhood. He was never born like the other kids. He didn't live in a womb and he certainly ...

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“Transition Metals ” by Jakob Schreiber

Submitted to Contest #82

As I swing my eyes towards the clear blue skies, I realise that the Moon is waning fast. By the time the Sun sets, the tides will push hard towards the island. I shudder with fear. “Damn it, Vingt-Deux, do we have to buy you another set of replacement gears?” The sarcasm in Mars’ voice echoes across the metal-concrete of the island. I turn to address her. “Save it. We’ve got a new moon coming. Prepare for real tides.” “Wasn’t that supposed to be tomorrow?” she asks. Narrowing in on her eyes, I see the fear in them. What hasn’...

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“The Doctor's Last Order” by Marvin McMurray

Submitted to Contest #82

Blink, blink-blink, blink. The darkness flickered on the edge of the dim light over head; the body of a man sprawled head long on the floor, breathing: no, conscious: no, Death Confirmed. The Doctor. An image of the doctor's face and his profiled details appeared on a wall secluded from the light opposite of the humanoid form strapped in the chair. Eyes twitching, scanning the data, then still; assimilate humanity. The mechanical wonder that sat hooked up to monitors looked down and began to consider it's form. It's frame was a met...

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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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