Man Vs Machine
John Helfers
Language: English
Pages: 320
ISBN: 0756404363
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
As our world and daily lives become more and more involved with and dependent on complex technology, concern over what the future holds increases. If computers develop genuine Artificial Intelligence will they still willingly serve humankind? If the machines rebel, can we shut them down? And what kind of world would we be left with if we did?
These are just a few of the questions explored in fifteen brand-new stories by some of science fiction's most visionary minds-inventive and cautionary tales about some of the futures we may be building for ourselves right now.
so, her mind beyond the limits a human could survive. Already she could feel her attention fragmenting, unable to cope with the countless impulses flowing into it. While she could still focus, she reached out and touched a command circuit. “General Gosnick, this is . . .” She had to pause to remember her name. She was aware of so many things now, and none of them seemed to have priority. “Vivian Travers. The berserkers have been defeated. This base is, for now, secure. However, it is likely that
came over her private channel. “Vivian, do you concur with my analysis of the situation?” “I do.” With a thought, she zoomed in for a tighter inspection of the hull of the marginally closer of the two approaching behemoths. “Definitely old damage. Judging from the angle of the scatter pattern, I’m wondering if it may possibly be even older than berserker contact with Earth-descended humans.” It was an eerie thought, that these two hulks, survivors of some ancient battle, might have been
midafternoon nap, his physical resources starting to wane, he sat up and found himself in the midst of a vision, a shard of dreams that still lingered. Alison bent down to come into the narrow but deep cave and said, “Oh, Daddy, I’m so glad I found you.” Her footsteps scuffing over the rocky floor told him she was real. And when she knelt next to him and put his arms around him, he couldn’t help himself. He began crying, letting out in convulsions all the fear, confusion and despair he’d felt
pass something on before you go?” “A legacy? And who would I be passing that on to?” “To us. To humanity.” “Because I should be so grateful for the life I’ve been given . . .” Navinder stared at her with the first expression akin to anger she’d ever seen on him. It was disconcerting. “No, because you should share what you’ve learned with the rest of the world. Because it would benefit us to know more about you.” “You’ve taken enough of my life already. The world knows more about me than it
progress, but they do nothing to help his mental outlook. Please,” he said, motioning to the edge of the deck. “Watch, but say nothing.” Åkerlund had stopped writing, though he still held the marker above the next blank piece, shivering. He looked as though he wanted to write more but was utterly unable to do so. “It’s all right, Dag,” Navinder said as he stepped behind Åkerlund’s wheelchair and caressed his shoulder, “that’s plenty. Go ahead, pick them up.” Åkerlund complied, and Navinder