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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 World of Future ” by Angelina Jeong

Submitted to Contest #82

Tessa cried in happiness as she launched her app to the 10,000 people to test it out first. It was finally working. She had been working on it for the past 10 months. She got up and went to get a cup of coffee. The espresso tasted so sweet for the first time in 10 months. She sat on her chair, enjoying some time for herself. After 30 minutes, she went back into her office to check on how things were going. Ding! *new mail from Heather Bishol* Tessa opened the email faster than ever. It was a feedback from one of her testers. Dear Ms. Harpe...

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“Kidnapped...in my own head” by Domi Jonek

Submitted to Contest #82

I felt my muscles slowly spilling and I was gradually becaming aware of the dull pain in my fingers and toes. My body began to weaken and I knew it would only be a moment and I would pass out. I tried my best to fight. My only desire was to stay alive. I woke with a sharp breath. What was that supposed to mean ?! I put my face in my hands. Should it stop working? No, that couldn't happen! After a while, I decided to turn on the communication mode by tapping the device in my ear. But all I heard was silence. "Deleo!" I shouted. I thought the ...

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“Technology Sucks” by Oscar Bates

Submitted to Contest #82

It started a few weeks ago, and honestly, I thought I was going crazy. Maybe I am, this whole thing is just so twisted and insane, and there It is just staring at me. I hear It at night, moving around in the dark corners of my house, I’m just glad It hasn’t figured out how to get up the stairs yet or things could be a lot worse. The paint is starting to peel and blister off Its surface, and I’m scared to look away in case It moves, or turns on, or if It just disappears entirely. My Henry Hoover is trying to kill me. Look, I know it sounds st...

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“Maladroit” by Anne McSommers

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #82

Elanor paused before she spoke. Was it time for her to speak? Was that gap for dramatic effect, or was Thomas really done speaking? She ran through 47,329 scenarios in the 20 second silence and before she could insert her reply, she was beat to it by another. She didn’t understand how they knew it was their turn. They had such a limited processing capacity, and yet with certainty they knew when it was their turn to speak. They did not appear to use the majority of their processing units or as they called them mor...

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“The Ones Who Really Care” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #82

“Some of them think she’s real, bless them,” said Adrienne, drinking deep of her mug of tea. There was a saying about tea so strong you could stand a spoon up in it. Well, that didn’t really exist, of course, but Adrienne, the “head of the care team” as she called herself, at the Tall Pines Care Home (which had a few stunted conifers bought when they were on offer at the local garden centre dotted at irregular intervals around the grounds) seemed determined to prove that it was not just a figure of speech. “And am I much be...

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“Rosalía Was an Android” by Kathleen March

Submitted to Contest #82

Part I Rosalía asks: Why am I here?My name is Rosalía. Well, actually it’s María Rita Rosalía de Castro, but around here they often just call me by my first name, Rosalía. I was born on February 24, 1837. I don’t know when I died, so maybe I haven’t, at least not yet. For all I know, I could be immortal. Or I could be the first Bionic Woman. That's just an excuse for feeling like I do.At the risk of sounding arrogant, I have to confess that I have my own secret belief in my own abilities. By that I mean that I hope I am intelligent...

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“Hello...I'm Breck” by Julie Ward

Submitted to Contest #82

The day everything changed for Alex Maxwell-Smith was just like any other. The sun rose, just the same as always. The birds sang from the treetops and the sky was painted in the soft greys, golds and pinks of dawn. Alex was up early to capture it, as she often did, for her followers. She squeaked open the front door and noticed a slim white box with forest green lettering sitting on her doormat. “Hmm,” she said out loud, nudging the box with her toe.The roses in the courtyard were blooming in a riot of color and Alex stretched...

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“The Adventuring Android Boy” by Brandon Johnson

Submitted to Contest #82

For the longest time my mind felt trapped in the spiderweb called wind. I was all alone in the middle of a dry empty plain where the sun shined high in the sky and the wind blew all the time. I felt compelled to collect the sand, but all of my attempts always ended once it sifted through my fingers and rode the air to places I’d never reach. I started to hate that place and decided the only other thing I could do was nothing at all. And so, I sat down on the ground and crossed my arms. The wind immediately vanished and I suddenly beca...

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“LDNOOBW” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #82

Chad said, “Noob, think of emotions as salad dressing. Some favor one or another, or each depending on their mood. But they’re all kind of cheesy. The salad itself doesn’t change much.” “Which dressing do you use?” “I don’t use dressing. I like my salads dry.” “I struggle with analogies to things about which I have no reference. Since I’ll never have a salad, this is not helpful. My world is already abstract.” “All language is metaphorical, Noob. Analogue vs. digital. Consider how about some algorithms are more elegant than others. One works...

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“Bot” by Cassia Savage

Submitted to Contest #82

“What’s her name, Jenny?” That’s the first thing I hear when I get out of the box. I open my eyes. Blink. I’m lying on a wooden floor. There’s a box to the right of me and in front of me, blocking all vision of the room, is a woman and a child. The woman has dark brown hair that’s braided down her back. The tips are dyed purple, the same color as her eyes. The child looks about four, with the same dark hair but hers is wavy. Of course, I wouldn’t know if the woman’s was wavy too unless she undid her braid. “Not she,” says t...

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“Microvophobia” by D. Owen

Submitted to Contest #82

Bryan was as excited as a small child on Christmas morning. Although the gift he was so excited about wasn’t even for him. It was for me.“Honey, come and look." He says lifting a shiny black rectangular object from a cardboard box. This is going to make your life so much easier. It’s the new Kenmore microwave. It can roast, defrost, simmer, sauté and reheat.”“And blow up.” I say under my breath. “Oh, Bryan you shouldn’t have. Thank you. Wasn’t it expensive? Can we afford it? The stove and oven work perfectly fine.” I say ...

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“The Brave Little Toaster” by Inkstained Introvert

Submitted to Contest #82

Cairo and I were making breakfast one morning, when my toast burnt. I turned up my lip and dropped it on the floor for our dog Dapper. She began cronching it with the kind of vigor only a corgi can have--if you own one, you’ll know. I sighed and pulled another slice of bread out from the humid plastic bag, lowering the toaster's temperature a bit before popping it in. While I waited for the bread to toast, Cairo and I sipped his monstrosity of a mug of coffee (half of it was hazelnut creamer, and the other half was honey), passing ...

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“Devices of Destiny” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #82

The year is 2035, and technology has revolutionized the way that we do things. Many jobs which once put the lives of humans at risk, are now being replaced by Artificially Intelligent robots. Firefighters no longer need to enter burning buildings in search of victims. Androids can scan a structure for signs of life and retrieve those who are trapped without the use of breathing apparatuses or hoses. &nbsp...

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“That Golden Moment” by Debra Sue Brice

Submitted to Contest #82

"Why is the battery dead already? This is ridiculous. I had it plugged in all night and I'm already down to 65%." The struggle was real for 70 year old Grammy B. Technology and her did not get along very well. Every night she would plug in her phone to charge while she slept, and every day without fail it would come up short. “Um, Mom,” Diedra said patiently, “it would help if you would actually turn your phone off when you were done using it.” “I hang up when I’m done,” Grammy B huffed. At least she knew how to do that correctly. ...

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“Nothing to Worry About” by Natalie Dafoe

Submitted to Contest #82

She laid on the couch, half-asleep, the television's constant sputtering of noise drifting in and out of her consciousness. Staying up much too late poring over her notes the night before, her mind felt devoid of critical thought and her body sagged into the couch. When she finally pushed herself awake, her binders fell off her lap and onto the carpeted floor. In the moment of her body and mind slowly starting to awaken, a pang in her gut told her something was wrong. She could not yet place what it was or where it came from, but som...

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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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