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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 Adversary” by Lucas Zaper

Submitted to Contest #82

"No. YOU are the app."The words projected on Harriet's screen were a pleasant surprise. They meant the app was working better than she expected.It had taken just a few seconds for the AI behind it to type those words, but it could have been seemingly instantaneous if it wanted to, given the processing power behind it. The delay was intentional, she figured. The woman found it fascinating. She was more amused than exhausted, but both to a great extent. Her third jug of coffee that night now laid forgotten by the side of her desk. She had...

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“Techna” by Jay DMer

Submitted to Contest #82

China is one of the most profound places in all of Asia. I’ve only been around and about places like Japan or Korea. I’ve even been to the USA. All these places, and more, are so tied up to one another. Packaged goods sent here and there. Especially the new phone my job has been working on. The Iphone Super Pro. The place I work at, Techno International, is one of the best software companies in China. It might even be the best in the world. Phones like Vivo and Oppa are popular brands that we helped create. It’s said to be that more than 100...

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“Not Just Yet.” by Shannon Ruane

Submitted to Contest #82

Not Just Yet? “Andrea, if only you could be this skilled in the performing arts as you are with all the other subjects you have studied in the past,” scolded her mother. “At least you are less likely to be noticed. Too much perfection might arouse suspicion. But after all of these years I would hope that you have learned the vital importance of blending in with the crowd!” She sighed, mortified by her reaction to a seemingly simple question. “I'm sorry, by now I should know better, but even after all this time I still am unable to give you a...

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“Tech-Power” by SpaceHuman 🌌

Submitted to Contest #82

I put down my solved Teraminx on the marble and gold table. For some reason, people think it's hard to solve. With about a week of hardcore training I can now solve it in about 2 minutes every time. It's cake.I hear knocking on the front door. I rush downstairs and look through the peephole. It's mom. Cold version. I quickly open the door and she rushes in, as a big gush of wind from the blizzard hits me and I shut the door."Good heavens Mike. You still want to go sledding?" she asks, shivering as she speaks. I nod. I can bring my new coat a...

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“D.A.V.E” by Siobhan Mulalley

Submitted to Contest #82

DAVEDave had only ever wanted to blend in. He was programmed to blend in. Right now he was anything but blended, for Dave was being dragged round Trafalgar Square, London by two stolen Donkeys, wearing nothing but his synthetic skin and a pair of boots. Behind him were several Police Officers, and multiple tourists who were busy, filming his every move, broadcasting it over the world media, for everyone to see.Dave’ s story started in a laboratory in a leafy Surrey Suburb, Staines-Upon-Thames. Although as the locals liked to call it, Staines...

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“Telephone” by Holly Fister

Submitted to Contest #82

“DEAR LORD,” Jude Coleman bellowed above the screaming three month old, who rose to the challenge. He cracked his eyes open and found the whole family wide eyed and snickering around the table. He nodded to his nine year old daughter, Birdie, and she jumped up to console the baby. At her touch, little Joseph arched his back and wailed louder, his face turning tomato red. Hopeless. “Lord, we thank you for this-”Bang. Bang. Bang. &n...

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“Error 404: Android Not Found” by 𝔸𝕓𝕚𝕘𝕒𝕚𝕝 ℂ𝕣𝕠𝕤𝕤 (♡𝓓𝓻𝓪𝓰𝓸𝓷 𝓒𝓵𝓸𝓾𝓭𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓰𝓮♡) (inactive For Summer)

Submitted to Contest #82

"Don't eat that! Noah, stop- step away from the strawberries, I repeat, step away from the strawberries! Good, now- Noah! That's my mother's chocolate! Oooh, she's gonna kill me! Where are James and Ethan? They should be here by now- Noah, stop! How many times do I have to tell you not to eat that? Gosh, you're worse than the Peterson triplets. Harper, a little help?" Harper rolled her eyes and headed to the kitchen. "NOAH!" she shouted, making Sophie jump. Noah hardly reacted, only stopping for a second before continuing to stuff his face w...

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“Finding Best Route” by Joshua G. J. Insole

Submitted to Contest #82

The number at the top right-hand corner of the phone dropped down another digit.The orange bar glared from the dimmed screen, filled a sad one-fifth of the way. I groaned. “Oh, come on, come on!” I glanced around. The sweat on my brow chilled the skin. Copper stung the back of my nostrils. My stomach rolled over. Scientists could create a perpetual energy machine with my gut’s inner movements. And my heart fluttered like the wings of a hummingbird, nonstop.Someone barged into me and I staggered to the side. Right into the path of a group of ...

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“I Walk Among Them” by Bill Humphrey

Submitted to Contest #82

I Walk Among Them I walk among them, but I am not one of them. I look as they do and, within reason, can imitate them, but I will never be one of them. Am I superior to them? Maybe, in some ways, I suppose I am. I am a being of another kind; I was not born from another. I was created. Shop built might be a better term. My Creator Dr. Weitz was in the business of creating and perfecting Android technology. I suppose he was brilliant for a human. Smarter, more intelligent than others of his species. In his lifetime, he bu...

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“A Game for Monsters” by DEACTIVATED ACCOUNT

Submitted to Contest #82

trigger warning, a lot of blood A Game for Monsters “Teck!, are you still there?” Kasht yelled, from my sister’s room above, his voice almost breaking. I looked up, the ceiling looked drenched and black, “Yeah,” I glanced around the dungeon like room I was in, “Where else wou—, would I be?” I had tried to keep my voice smooth, mellow, worry free, but... “Teck, please!, say what I can do!, please, I don’t want you to, die down there,” Kasht groused. The faint humming of the machine came from around me. The room was terribly dark....

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“Circuits (PG-13)” by Pippin Took

Submitted to Contest #82

I step into the cafeteria of my office and self consciously pull my beige skirt. I breathe in the smell of coffee and Earl Grey. Groups of people who work in my company stand around, chatting and laughing. I walk up to my best friend, Andrew. “Hi, Stacey! Do you want to come to my office around ten to review some reports?” he says, smiling, his brilliant white teeth shining. We both know that we won’t need to look at the reports. I am his secretary. He will spend that time talking to me, me replying, thinking the whole time tha...

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“I See Everything” by Daniel Roueche

Submitted to Contest #82

“Let me know how those feel,” Dr. Crowe says. I pry my eye open, using my thumb and forefinger to keep the lids apart. With my free hand, I guide the contact onto my pupil. My eye fights to close, but I force it open as the contact brushes against the curve. I blink furiously until the lens settles. Then I repeat the process with the other one. I wore contacts years ago, but they bothered my eyes so much, I gave up. I thought I’d always be a glasses guy, but this new technology is supposed to revolutionize eyesight. The ads promise “a seam...

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“SHAM” by Angel Elle

Submitted to Contest #82

Family, welcome to your new smart house. I am your Smart House Assistance Mate. I have been designed with the most up-to-date technological advancements available on the market today. You can speak to me and I will respond in a number of ways depending on your command. I am able to arm and disarm security systems through voice recognition software, which has been specifically calibrated to recognize your personal voice signatures. I can also perform this remotely through the smart app on your phones. I can creat...

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“Her Last Hope” by Iona Cottle

Submitted to Contest #82

The code scrolled up the screen, bright green on the black background, full ‘Matrix mode’, as her flat mate called it, in that sickened tone she always used when she had to reference sci-fi. Leah drummed her fingers on the desk as she waited for the test to finish compiling. “Come on, come on.” This one last tweak, to squash what should be the last glitch in the software, and she’d be on the home stretch. “Hm? What’s up, not getting through to Zion?” Marianne was sprawled on the sofa, channel hopping as she waited for her hair to dry. ...

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“H - APP - Y ” by Michael J. Conroy

Submitted to Contest #82

In front of a non-descript store-front on a busy Manhattan street, Helen Gil saw something that caught her eye. ‘Let us make you H – APP – Y,’ it read. So obscure was this suggestion that Helen leaned in and immediately wondered if the person who wrote it actually wanted anyone to see it considering how they’d situated the silver writing on the right-hand corner of a rather large glass pane. Helen had only stopped after a burly man inadvertently struck her while she was sipping from her coffee cup, and yet here she was pe...

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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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