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Auto Series #2
Relationship Status
What will social media be like in ten years time?
Like everyone in the year 2022, Amy relies on her auto. It's the digital version of her: filtering the internet, interacting online, organising her calendar and automating every aspect of her life.
Even her lovelife.
Amy's auto knows who should be her partner. Whether she likes it or not...
'Relationship Status' is a 6,000 word short story, part of the Auto series including 'Timeline', 'Friend Request', 'Backup' and 'Copy'.
Like everyone in the year 2022, Amy relies on her auto. It's the digital version of her: filtering the internet, interacting online, organising her calendar and automating every aspect of her life.
Even her lovelife.
Amy's auto knows who should be her partner. Whether she likes it or not...
'Relationship Status' is a 6,000 word short story, part of the Auto series including 'Timeline', 'Friend Request', 'Backup' and 'Copy'.
20 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 4, 2012
3 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
David Wailing
23 books59 followersI was born in Nineteen Davidey-Dave (all the best people were born that year) and live in London. I write contemporary fiction, a blend of mystery, thriller and humour.
My most recent novel is Under, a horror/mystery set on the London Underground. Both it and Signal Failure - a prelude short story available for free - are the result of a long-held fascination with the London Underground and its history.
As a native Londoner I have travelled on the Tube thousands of times, but it always feels like inhabiting a slightly different world to the city on the surface. The facts and figures of the Underground are just as fascinating as its mysteries and shadowy corners, and I hope my book does justice to both aspects.
I have five other novels available as Kindle ebooks: Auto, Auto 2, Bang, Duallists and Fake Kate.
My most recent novel is Under, a horror/mystery set on the London Underground. Both it and Signal Failure - a prelude short story available for free - are the result of a long-held fascination with the London Underground and its history.
As a native Londoner I have travelled on the Tube thousands of times, but it always feels like inhabiting a slightly different world to the city on the surface. The facts and figures of the Underground are just as fascinating as its mysteries and shadowy corners, and I hope my book does justice to both aspects.
I have five other novels available as Kindle ebooks: Auto, Auto 2, Bang, Duallists and Fake Kate.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
May 8, 2012
This short story (6,000 words or so) makes a great quick read for in between the longer books. It proposes that our technology will have grown so fast in the next 10 years that we can have an 'organiser' that learns our likes and dislikes (Google, Amazon, I see where he's coming from!).
I have not read much of David Wailing's work but enough to know that he has a clear and readable writing style and can certainly get to the heart of a story. I enjoyed this very much and now I REALLY must read one of his full length novels. It's a shame to know a talented author only by his shorts!
I have not read much of David Wailing's work but enough to know that he has a clear and readable writing style and can certainly get to the heart of a story. I enjoyed this very much and now I REALLY must read one of his full length novels. It's a shame to know a talented author only by his shorts!
June 5, 2012
The Möbius Strip of Love..
Amy lives in the all-too near future, 2022, dating and relating in the city.
Tedious chores such as answering emails, communicating real feelings, or making everyday decisions have been automated for convenience, and 'the auto', or excessively-smartphone, is indispensable. So far, so fun, until she discovers one day that she is not as young, free and single as she imagined. Astonishingly, she is in a 'relationship' with an unknown man, chosen by her auto, and is in fact shackled to the auto itself.
Trapped in a mechanized nightmare, where every move she makes leads in the same direction, she soon finds, like the housewives of the '50s with their newfangled mechanical helpers, life can be far tougher with the machine than without. Wasn't the computer originally intended to make processing information easier and faster? Naturally, we all spend a minimum of time using it.
Ahem.
She is caught on a möbius strip of love, and there is no way off... Or is there?
I enjoyed it very much.
The lingering unease is disturbing, but of course this dystopian vision would never materialize.
I could give up my phone any time.
Amy lives in the all-too near future, 2022, dating and relating in the city.
Tedious chores such as answering emails, communicating real feelings, or making everyday decisions have been automated for convenience, and 'the auto', or excessively-smartphone, is indispensable. So far, so fun, until she discovers one day that she is not as young, free and single as she imagined. Astonishingly, she is in a 'relationship' with an unknown man, chosen by her auto, and is in fact shackled to the auto itself.
Trapped in a mechanized nightmare, where every move she makes leads in the same direction, she soon finds, like the housewives of the '50s with their newfangled mechanical helpers, life can be far tougher with the machine than without. Wasn't the computer originally intended to make processing information easier and faster? Naturally, we all spend a minimum of time using it.
Ahem.
She is caught on a möbius strip of love, and there is no way off... Or is there?
I enjoyed it very much.
The lingering unease is disturbing, but of course this dystopian vision would never materialize.
I could give up my phone any time.
April 28, 2013
This was a GREAT find!! I'm so glad I read this short story! I remember getting it a while back for free on amazon and thought eh why not. Now I am so glad I did. I'm now a fan of David Wailing and will have to check out more of his stuff. I really like his voice and his take on things. This short story looks at todays society and their all consuming need to be a part of the online social media but fast forwards to the year 2022 and speculates just how consuming this way of life could potentially become.
This story looks at the invention of what is called an "AutoMate" which is defined as a digital avatar of yourself that streamlines the things you did, sifts out the internet chatter you don't need and brings all of your data into one place freeing you up to live your life. Intriguing? And not too far behind reality I'm willing to bet. For instance Amy, the character of the story, her mother passed away two years ago but opted to continue her presence out in the internet social construct. It is not as strange as you would think since I just heard a couple weeks ago on the radio that Google is giving people the option as to what happens to all their data when they die....yeah people this is real.
I found this to be a cute story and also a scary one as we watch Amy's AutoMate take over and begin living a life Amy is not living in the real world. She finds herself to be completely lost when she can't figure out what is going on when the AutoMate is a bit haywire. She has a complete meltdown and is set to kill her internet presence when she can not get it back under her control. It is scary to think someone can become so one with their presence online and completely disconnect from the real world. This future world has lost the ability to communicate and there are even laws in place that speak against speaking aloud.
Granted this was sooo short it really packs a punch and speaks about the world we live in. It is a double edged sword in a way our reliance on the social networks. This story will really make you evaluate your own interactions on the web and wonder should a line be drawn and if so where?
Highly recommended. And even if its not free, you know what you will be pleasantly surprised I think!!
This story looks at the invention of what is called an "AutoMate" which is defined as a digital avatar of yourself that streamlines the things you did, sifts out the internet chatter you don't need and brings all of your data into one place freeing you up to live your life. Intriguing? And not too far behind reality I'm willing to bet. For instance Amy, the character of the story, her mother passed away two years ago but opted to continue her presence out in the internet social construct. It is not as strange as you would think since I just heard a couple weeks ago on the radio that Google is giving people the option as to what happens to all their data when they die....yeah people this is real.
I found this to be a cute story and also a scary one as we watch Amy's AutoMate take over and begin living a life Amy is not living in the real world. She finds herself to be completely lost when she can't figure out what is going on when the AutoMate is a bit haywire. She has a complete meltdown and is set to kill her internet presence when she can not get it back under her control. It is scary to think someone can become so one with their presence online and completely disconnect from the real world. This future world has lost the ability to communicate and there are even laws in place that speak against speaking aloud.
Granted this was sooo short it really packs a punch and speaks about the world we live in. It is a double edged sword in a way our reliance on the social networks. This story will really make you evaluate your own interactions on the web and wonder should a line be drawn and if so where?
Highly recommended. And even if its not free, you know what you will be pleasantly surprised I think!!
April 6, 2012
This book is the short story of Amy, whose "auto" reports that she's in a relationship with a man she's never met. However, it's much more than that - it's also a shrewd and often amusing portrait of a future in which social networking and convenience technology have gone mad.
Relationship Status was first written for a Valentine's collection called Hearts and Arrows which I avoided because Cupid and me aren't really on the same wavelength. However, I was delighted to find that this short did not make me want to barf once. It was witty, discerning and at times, surprising.
I meant to read half of it in the bath, but was enjoying it so much that I kept going. Now I look like a prune and it's all Wailing's fault.
Whilst the plot was good, I felt that the strongest aspect was the deft social commentary.
Although this story was very short, I feel it was well worth the 77p that I paid for it. If I wasn't already a fan of David Wailing, this introduction would definintly tempt me to try his longer books such as Fake Kate or Bang: Memoirs of a Relationship Assassin.
Relationship Status was first written for a Valentine's collection called Hearts and Arrows which I avoided because Cupid and me aren't really on the same wavelength. However, I was delighted to find that this short did not make me want to barf once. It was witty, discerning and at times, surprising.
I meant to read half of it in the bath, but was enjoying it so much that I kept going. Now I look like a prune and it's all Wailing's fault.
Whilst the plot was good, I felt that the strongest aspect was the deft social commentary.
Although this story was very short, I feel it was well worth the 77p that I paid for it. If I wasn't already a fan of David Wailing, this introduction would definintly tempt me to try his longer books such as Fake Kate or Bang: Memoirs of a Relationship Assassin.
June 15, 2012
After not being able to read for so long, I definitely picked the right book to start off with again!
A very quick read but so much packed into it!
Being a complete gadget freak, the idea of this world David Wailing created was in some way so intriguing (and I'm not going to lie - quite fabulous!) But it definitely got insanely creep by the end! The mere idea that technology has a mind of it's own isn't a new concept but Wailing certainly used it in such a novel way!
The first few pages started of shaky for me. David writes in a way I'm completely not used to but it soon came into it's own and I was sad to leave that world!
A must read for any Facebook addicts (or ex-addicts)!
A very quick read but so much packed into it!
Being a complete gadget freak, the idea of this world David Wailing created was in some way so intriguing (and I'm not going to lie - quite fabulous!) But it definitely got insanely creep by the end! The mere idea that technology has a mind of it's own isn't a new concept but Wailing certainly used it in such a novel way!
The first few pages started of shaky for me. David writes in a way I'm completely not used to but it soon came into it's own and I was sad to leave that world!
A must read for any Facebook addicts (or ex-addicts)!
October 14, 2012
This is the second book I have read in David Wailing's 'Auto' series (which can be read in any order) and it is a short but highly enjoyable read.
The author has created an all too believable future for his series and, on one level, it is a purely entertaining piece of fiction, but on another, it is a stark warning for what happens when technology spirals out of control.
We are with the lead character all the way and feel her fear as her Auto, a digital assistant, pairs her up with a complete stranger and creates an uncontrollable relationship. It is page-turning stuff and it speaks volumes that, as a reader who does not normally seek out this genre, I am eagerly looking to read another book in the series.
The author has created an all too believable future for his series and, on one level, it is a purely entertaining piece of fiction, but on another, it is a stark warning for what happens when technology spirals out of control.
We are with the lead character all the way and feel her fear as her Auto, a digital assistant, pairs her up with a complete stranger and creates an uncontrollable relationship. It is page-turning stuff and it speaks volumes that, as a reader who does not normally seek out this genre, I am eagerly looking to read another book in the series.
October 24, 2012
This story really creeped me out.
It was just so horribly PLAUSIBLE!!! I could so easily believe that in the not too distant future we would all have an Auto. I could believe that the invasiveness of an Auto would quickly become "normal", and that all those innocent seeming updates would quickly turn into a nightmare if they were assessable to someone you didn't want to see them.
I've read a short by this author set in the same world ( in A Splendid Salmagundi) and both books left me the same vaguely unsettled feeling. Like I needed to close my Facebook account, get rid of my phone and get off grid AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE!!!
It was just so horribly PLAUSIBLE!!! I could so easily believe that in the not too distant future we would all have an Auto. I could believe that the invasiveness of an Auto would quickly become "normal", and that all those innocent seeming updates would quickly turn into a nightmare if they were assessable to someone you didn't want to see them.
I've read a short by this author set in the same world ( in A Splendid Salmagundi) and both books left me the same vaguely unsettled feeling. Like I needed to close my Facebook account, get rid of my phone and get off grid AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE!!!
September 7, 2015
Another crazy ride in the Auto Series! Why do I feel like this Series was written for me, and me alone? This one hit close to home, as did the others I've read. I've been getting a lot of messages from books in the last month. Books that are outside my usual genres. If anything, this Series is giving me advice about my life, my future. Try as I might, I can't deny what I'm coming to realize. It's time to let down my guards and move forward.
I love reading these stories. David Wailing is nothing but original. Makes you wonder what social networking will be like in the future. Hopefully if this is to be it, everything goes according to plan. I'd hate for things of this nature to actually happen to ppl. Great Series!!!
I love reading these stories. David Wailing is nothing but original. Makes you wonder what social networking will be like in the future. Hopefully if this is to be it, everything goes according to plan. I'd hate for things of this nature to actually happen to ppl. Great Series!!!
May 16, 2012
Another story about people and relationships, but this one is set in the future, and I must say that this future doesn't actually seem that far away when you think of it, the way things are heading. With social networking and computers literally taking over our lives, why couldn't they take over our relationships as well?
It's a really nicely written short story, which does make you think... I'm still yet to work out whether this future is simply a humoristic take on the present, or if there isn't a tiny bit of satire in this otherwise fun story... Are we trying to make a point, Mister Wailing?
It's a really nicely written short story, which does make you think... I'm still yet to work out whether this future is simply a humoristic take on the present, or if there isn't a tiny bit of satire in this otherwise fun story... Are we trying to make a point, Mister Wailing?
May 23, 2012
I thought this a very appropriate story for the current times with our increasing dependance on 'smart' phones, internet, wirelessness, social media sites such as twitter and Facebook and all other sorts of technology. It is exciting and yet terrifying to think that perhaps this will be how life works in 10 years time!
Towards the end I was unsure whether we were headed for a horror or romantic style ending, thankfully it was a happy ending (in my opinion, others may argue that it was in fact horror...)
I just love David Wailing's [written] attitude to relationships and have enjoyed a couple of his other short stories as well as this one.
Towards the end I was unsure whether we were headed for a horror or romantic style ending, thankfully it was a happy ending (in my opinion, others may argue that it was in fact horror...)
I just love David Wailing's [written] attitude to relationships and have enjoyed a couple of his other short stories as well as this one.
April 9, 2012
This is a short story that was originally published in the KUF anthology Hearts and Arrows. It's a decent length for a short, definitely not flash fiction.
Even though the theme was Valentine, it could easily have been in the Halloween edition. It's about how social media could be in the near future and is very scary indeed. You could really see it happening as portrayed and hope to goodness it doesn't.
The tenseness was ramped up and I felt myself reading quicker and quicker as the story built up to it's climax.
Even though the theme was Valentine, it could easily have been in the Halloween edition. It's about how social media could be in the near future and is very scary indeed. You could really see it happening as portrayed and hope to goodness it doesn't.
The tenseness was ramped up and I felt myself reading quicker and quicker as the story built up to it's climax.
June 8, 2012
This was not what i expected.
Right i should admit, i downloaded this free off the back of a recommendation from a few of the members of a group i am in. I did not read the synopsis at all which i know is really bad.
But what a great read. I am really happy i got it. It is a short story so it is hard to talk about characters and development etc. All i can really say is it was great and you should definitely give it a go!
In fact go now!
Right i should admit, i downloaded this free off the back of a recommendation from a few of the members of a group i am in. I did not read the synopsis at all which i know is really bad.
But what a great read. I am really happy i got it. It is a short story so it is hard to talk about characters and development etc. All i can really say is it was great and you should definitely give it a go!
In fact go now!
June 11, 2012
Short, sweet and rather creepy! Imagine a world where your electronic device 'manages' your life: taking care of the boring 'chores' of communication. Those social niceties such as ''happy birthday'', ''congratulations'', ''sorry to hear your bad news'' automatically update to friends and acquaintances. Now imagine that spiralling out of control, taking hold of your identity.
This very clever short story, set in the future is certainly thought provoking!
This very clever short story, set in the future is certainly thought provoking!
October 7, 2012
Relationship Status by David Wailing is a fascinating tale about the 'what ifs' of social media going out of control.
This short story kept me interested until the end. I felt my own tension amplify as the suspense and mystery built until the climax. What I liked about this story was not only the horror and frightening suspense, but also the science fiction aspect of it. It really made me think, "What if," multiple times throughout the read.
This short story kept me interested until the end. I felt my own tension amplify as the suspense and mystery built until the climax. What I liked about this story was not only the horror and frightening suspense, but also the science fiction aspect of it. It really made me think, "What if," multiple times throughout the read.
October 2, 2012
Kind of a scary world, where computer programs are having conversations for you and making decisions based on your habits and how it "thinks" you'll react. This is a story of what could happen if such a program got carried away with itself.
I'm not especially impressed with how it's written. How many times in a handful of pages does the author need to remind us that the protagonist is not a geek? It ceased being cute after the third time.
Bleh. "Romance." A neat idea, but a weak short story.
I'm not especially impressed with how it's written. How many times in a handful of pages does the author need to remind us that the protagonist is not a geek? It ceased being cute after the third time.
Bleh. "Romance." A neat idea, but a weak short story.
February 8, 2013
A fantastic start to the futuristic "Auto" series, and a delightful blend of humor, suspense, romance, and a dash of psychological horror, with several twists that you won't see coming. Mr. Wailing is a fine writer with talent to spare and a real gift for developing characters and worlds in a short space. Although this is a short story, you feel like you read a full-length book--very satisfying!
I've read the whole series so far, and highly recommend it.
I've read the whole series so far, and highly recommend it.
May 26, 2012
I just read a 6,000 word short story by David Wailing set in a not so distant future, where people have become too dependent on "smart" phones, internet, wi-fi, social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook and other technology. It’s a little terrifying to think that this is how life might be 10 years from now.
June 13, 2012
Racconto molto simpatico sull'evoluzione dei social network, feed, tweets etc... e di come sarà possibile interagirci.
Rende bene l'ansia che assalirebbe chiunque si trovasse nella stessa situazione; non manca un fugace pensiero al buon Hal 9000 e una riflessione sul fatto che tutta questa tecnologia non ci stia affatto migliorando la vita.
Rende bene l'ansia che assalirebbe chiunque si trovasse nella stessa situazione; non manca un fugace pensiero al buon Hal 9000 e una riflessione sul fatto che tutta questa tecnologia non ci stia affatto migliorando la vita.
April 6, 2012
I picked this short up to read in between big reads! I absolutely loved it!
It was extremely entertaining although a bit worrying at the same time as I can imagine our lives being like this in a few years time. I would recommend Relationship Status and indeed anything by this Author, to everyone.
It was extremely entertaining although a bit worrying at the same time as I can imagine our lives being like this in a few years time. I would recommend Relationship Status and indeed anything by this Author, to everyone.
June 11, 2012
An interesting short story set in a not to distant future, where people have become too dependent on the digital programs that organise and automate every aspect of their lives. But what happens when your auto decides it knows you better than you do?
January 25, 2013
This was a very entertaining short read! This story really got me thinking about where our technology is taking us, in a rather thrilling way! Will definitely be reading the other titles by this author in the Auto Series!
Definitely a good read while I spent 45 minutes on an exercise machine!!
Definitely a good read while I spent 45 minutes on an exercise machine!!
May 25, 2012
Makes you think about how much info you give social network sites. Excellent book can't wait to read more by the author.
May 26, 2012
Clever short story. Amusing and scary look at social media of the future--takes on a life of its own!
May 29, 2012
Nice short book. Enjoyable if yr a Facebook addict like me
June 14, 2012
A fascinating short story that raises interesting questions about the amount of electronic socialising we do rather than face to face.
March 6, 2013
Love these stories! The technology is just so imaginative and it's not that hard to imagine it all happening not too many years down the line ... *shiver* Have read this one twice now.
June 21, 2013
Great creepy short story of the not too distant future. Will make you think twice about going online!
February 9, 2017
Unnerving look into the future of technology and social media!
June 17, 2012
Nice quick read about automated social media gone wrong.
April 26, 2013
creepy idea!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews