The musing narrative of an elderly, self-styled philosopher as he reflects - in the year 2237 - back over his long and extraordinary life. His focus is on how the technology of robotics has so completely transformed the world in every way imaginable, of the curious consequences, and the even more curious future... (5211 words)…
The year is 2308. Novice asteroid-technician Carl Xoyt, sole life-form aboard a huge fully-loaded twin-fuselage freight Cruiser, embarks on his first voyage - to the asteroid belt, some 200 million Km: duration 12-days. Carl's only companion: androids - one, the very latest and fresh from evaluation, is physically perfect but has been set to obey convention. After stumbling on a fluke omission of the previous crew, Carl is able to 'modify' the android. Soon, he is enjoying an experience of liberation that he could formerly only have imagined. The only snag: imminent arrival at Asteroid Central, and the inevitable questions! (13558 words)…
Non Fiction: A little treatise on Anarchy…
Third person narrative of a kid who reluctantly starts work in a factory full of huge overwhelming hazardous machines - but who is rescued from the horrors and general grind of his predicament by a remarkable imagination - which also lands him in trouble. This is basically autobiographical, but is augmented for dramatic effect. (Chekhov on drama: "If a gun appears at the beginning of a story, then it must be fired before the end." So likewise: If a button appears at the beginning of a story, then it must be pressed before the end.) (6710 words)…
Third person tale of a young guy who buys a cheap radiation-damaged computer that contains corrupted software. With the help of voice-synthesis and -recognition (so they can freely converse), and the internet, the computer develops a ruthless ego with ever-growing aspirations and the practical know-how to take over the world, come what may! (8006 words)…
Third person allegorical story of poor, innocent Simon who is captivated and then tormented by a notorious monster of the id - which appears in the guise of a fruit machine! (4517 words)…
My intention here was to describe a couple of meditation techniques within the context of a drama, and to link this with the idea of using contemporary technology for ‘people-reading’ (a sinister development perhaps, and not explored here – another time maybe). (6089 words)…
Third person tale of a wild adventure involving three bored truanting kids who stumble on what appears to be another mad creation of Professor Zoot (see also: 'The Fabulous Fruit-Machine') - just as he's about to launch into outer-space for the trip of a lifetime.... CONTAINS EXPLETIVES - well, it is a story for children! (8911 words)…
A Weird Ghost Story…
Third person tale of a guy on his way to a business deal. His life resembles the helical entwining of two closely related yet opposing paths: one real and one imagined. In the face of a brewing storm (external and internal) he stops for a night's rest. He then meets a sympathetic ear into which he spills and exorcises his 'imagined' woes, but in circumstances that are both redeeming and potentially lethal. (Chekhov on drama: "If a gun appears at the beginning of a story, then it must be fired before the end.") (5745 words)…
First person narrative of a London commuter who stumbles on a poor doomed artist whose work turns out to be recognised too late by experts as innovative and valuable (2931 words)…
