h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

One of those stories which hung around in my head for years before I got around to setting it loose. I'm not entirely sure the structure does the idea justice, or indeed if the idea itself isn't a little trite and obvious.

A87717838

Trite? No. Obvious? Well, I sussed where it was going early on, but I'm bad for doing that...no, not obvious.

I liked this story so much, I hate to criticise it at all.

First of all, I like this story because it is the kind of science fiction I try to write, too - the kind that keeps it simple and gives you something to think about.

Second, I like this story because it combines reason, ethics, and proper emotion. The AIs move you - you get mad that they're being lied to.

My only critique: I think you've oversold the premise. I think you need to tighten the story and remove any unnecessary discussion. Try to get the reader there with less dialogue.

I'm not saying 'chainsaw'. More 'paring knife'. Does that make sense?

Anyhow, thanks for starting us off with such an awesome story.

This was truly a remarkable story, Awix. Did you ever submit it to a SciFi magazine? It rocks. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Great story. A punch of an ending.
Felt a little like the DarkStar rationalising with the bomb - but not made poorer for it.
I was just wondering what AI missiles get as their reward in the afterlife? What would you tell them?

Tim.

Thank you all! The back-story to this one, in case anyone's interested, is that a little over a year ago I had a serious career wobble and (severely stressed out) parted company with reality for a bit, i.e. entertained thoughts of writing for a living.

I seriously thought about self-publishing a book of short stories, decided I would need about a dozen, and to make up the numbers wrote about five in the space of a week using ideas from the recesses of my head (I wanted to keep November free for NaNo).

This was one of them (originally conceived during my Italian Period of great creativity); Upstairs was another. The collection never materialised and I am back in my former career to the relief of all who know me...

The only story I've ever seriously contemplated trying to sell is Rabbits (which I think, word-for-word, is probably the best piece of fiction I've ever written). At the time, though, I was on the verge of moving to Sri Lanka and the prospect of trying to manage a serious submissions regime from south-east Asia just felt ridiculous.

I thought of Silent Running at first. However, it would probably have reminded me of 2001, too, had I remembered. And it has Borg elements. Great combination, and I love the ending. Brilliant idea (and my son would now say: see, nothing good ever comes from religion).

I wouldn't necessarily agree with your son... and one of the reasons I sat on the idea for ages was that I don't particularly like faith-bashing stories. Most of them are cheap shots at a target which is variously easy and undeserving of such rancour.