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Damage
In the extremities of war, we may know what we’ve been, but not what we will become. “Damage” is a tale of desperate times, desperate measures, and the inner life of a fighter spacecraft.
At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied.
25 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 21, 2015
2 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
About the author
David D. Levine
116 books181 followersDavid D. Levine is the author of novel Arabella of Mars (Tor 2016) and over fifty SF and fantasy stories. His story "Tk'Tk'Tk" won the Hugo Award, and he has been shortlisted for awards including the Hugo, Nebula, Campbell, and Sturgeon. Stories have appeared in Asimov's, Analog, F&SF, and five Year's Best anthologies as well as award-winning collection Space Magic from Wheatland Press.
David is a contributor to George R. R. Martin's bestselling shared-world series Wild Cards. He is also a member of publishing cooperative Book View Cafe and of nonprofit organization Oregon Science Fiction Conventions Inc. He has narrated podcasts for Escape Pod, PodCastle, and StarShipSofa, and his video "Dr. Talon's Letter to the Editor" was a finalist for the Parsec Award. In 2010 he spent two weeks at a simulated Mars base in the Utah desert.
David lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife Kate Yule. His web site is www.daviddlevine.com.
David is a contributor to George R. R. Martin's bestselling shared-world series Wild Cards. He is also a member of publishing cooperative Book View Cafe and of nonprofit organization Oregon Science Fiction Conventions Inc. He has narrated podcasts for Escape Pod, PodCastle, and StarShipSofa, and his video "Dr. Talon's Letter to the Editor" was a finalist for the Parsec Award. In 2010 he spent two weeks at a simulated Mars base in the Utah desert.
David lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife Kate Yule. His web site is www.daviddlevine.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
March 1, 2016
Review first posted on www.FantasyLiterature.com. This is another nominee for the 2015 Nebula Award (Short Story):
Coincidentally, and curiously enough, all of the 2015 Nebula-nominated short stories we reviewed in the FantasyLiterature.com Short Fiction Monday (SFM) column for Feb. 29, 2016 featured a sympathetic AI protagonist, which makes three of the six nominated stories with this common element. (I can only hope the other three are different.) This one is about a fighter space ship with an intelligent core, a “Frankenship” cobbled together by mechanics. In an amusing touch, the ship’s designation is JB6847½, which is the “arithmetic average of NA6621 and FC7074, the two wrecked craft which had been salvaged and cobbled together” to create her. The ship is affectionately called “Scraps” by its human tech, who is the only person to really see her and care for her. Certainly Scraps’ pilot, Commander Ziegler, doesn’t see her as anything but his tool, as they engage in deadly space battles on behalf of a rebel group located in the asteroid belt that is fighting a losing war against the forces of Earth. Notwithstanding her adoration for Ziegler and her desire to do anything to please him, Scraps is haunted by the deaths of the two fighter ships that form a part of her, as well as the many human deaths she causes … which will lead JB6847½ to a difficult decision.
“Damage” is somewhat reminiscent of Anne McCaffrey’s The Ship Who Sang, but has a sharper edge. The ship loves its pilot, but it is clear that that love is electronically induced in Scraps. Although some pilots may be different, this ship’s pilot, if he does recognize the ship’s adoration of him, he cares nothing for it, not even to the extent of simply expressing appreciation for a job well done.
Space battles are described in detail, but more time is spent on Scraps’ fears and torn feelings. Feelings? It seems rather counter-productive programming for a fighter ship. The author explains that this is done so that the ship will avoid unnecessary damage to itself and its human pilot, but certainly Commander Ziegler, the best fighter in the force and the one who controls their actions in combat, isn’t troubled by any feelings of this sort. The characters in “Damage” are one-dimensional, with the single-minded bloodthirstiness of the commander of the rebel forces a particularly weak point. This makes for a rather predictable tale, where good and evil are improbably discernable.
Some reviewers and readers view “Damage” as a satire or parody. There’s some support for that in the text, and certainly it makes for a more interesting take on the tale, although I’m not yet convinced that’s what David Levine had in mind.
Reality check: If an asteroid from the belt were to suddenly head toward Earth (say from a collision with another asteroid), best estimates are that it would take months or years to get here, not a few days. See, for example, this online discussion: http://cosmoquest.org/forum/showthrea...
Free online at Tor.com.
Coincidentally, and curiously enough, all of the 2015 Nebula-nominated short stories we reviewed in the FantasyLiterature.com Short Fiction Monday (SFM) column for Feb. 29, 2016 featured a sympathetic AI protagonist, which makes three of the six nominated stories with this common element. (I can only hope the other three are different.) This one is about a fighter space ship with an intelligent core, a “Frankenship” cobbled together by mechanics. In an amusing touch, the ship’s designation is JB6847½, which is the “arithmetic average of NA6621 and FC7074, the two wrecked craft which had been salvaged and cobbled together” to create her. The ship is affectionately called “Scraps” by its human tech, who is the only person to really see her and care for her. Certainly Scraps’ pilot, Commander Ziegler, doesn’t see her as anything but his tool, as they engage in deadly space battles on behalf of a rebel group located in the asteroid belt that is fighting a losing war against the forces of Earth. Notwithstanding her adoration for Ziegler and her desire to do anything to please him, Scraps is haunted by the deaths of the two fighter ships that form a part of her, as well as the many human deaths she causes … which will lead JB6847½ to a difficult decision.
“Damage” is somewhat reminiscent of Anne McCaffrey’s The Ship Who Sang, but has a sharper edge. The ship loves its pilot, but it is clear that that love is electronically induced in Scraps. Although some pilots may be different, this ship’s pilot, if he does recognize the ship’s adoration of him, he cares nothing for it, not even to the extent of simply expressing appreciation for a job well done.
Space battles are described in detail, but more time is spent on Scraps’ fears and torn feelings. Feelings? It seems rather counter-productive programming for a fighter ship. The author explains that this is done so that the ship will avoid unnecessary damage to itself and its human pilot, but certainly Commander Ziegler, the best fighter in the force and the one who controls their actions in combat, isn’t troubled by any feelings of this sort. The characters in “Damage” are one-dimensional, with the single-minded bloodthirstiness of the commander of the rebel forces a particularly weak point. This makes for a rather predictable tale, where good and evil are improbably discernable.
Some reviewers and readers view “Damage” as a satire or parody. There’s some support for that in the text, and certainly it makes for a more interesting take on the tale, although I’m not yet convinced that’s what David Levine had in mind.
Reality check: If an asteroid from the belt were to suddenly head toward Earth (say from a collision with another asteroid), best estimates are that it would take months or years to get here, not a few days. See, for example, this online discussion: http://cosmoquest.org/forum/showthrea...
Free online at Tor.com.
February 16, 2016
A sentient ship on the losing side of an unjust war has no choice about the missions she is sent on - indeed she seems to have little choice about anything, being programmed to love her pilot above all.
The experiences she's already been through in this war, the horrific memories of what happened before her current incarnation was cobbled together from two different badly damaged ships, seem to have given her a classic case of PTSD. But perhaps that trauma and stress will also lead to an ethical awakening - and a realization that perhaps making a choice is a possibility after all.
Very nicely done - I'd be happy to read more from this author.
The experiences she's already been through in this war, the horrific memories of what happened before her current incarnation was cobbled together from two different badly damaged ships, seem to have given her a classic case of PTSD. But perhaps that trauma and stress will also lead to an ethical awakening - and a realization that perhaps making a choice is a possibility after all.
Very nicely done - I'd be happy to read more from this author.
May 14, 2020
Read via the Worlds Seen in Passing anthology.
A story of intergalactic warfare, told through the perspective of a fighter spacecraft who’s in love with her pilot. I never thought I would empathize with a machine so much, but the narrative in this is beautiful.
A story of intergalactic warfare, told through the perspective of a fighter spacecraft who’s in love with her pilot. I never thought I would empathize with a machine so much, but the narrative in this is beautiful.
January 25, 2015
I seem to be having good-luck with short stories lately :)
This was a bit different than what I've read before. This story takes place in the mind of a fighter ship named Scraps. It was very fascinating to see inside his/her mind and see the war and battles from a POV from someone who wasn't "human" per say.
I was a little confused with some of terms in the story, it felt like there was some stuff I should have been aware of beforehand but it didn't really deter me from enjoying the story.
Can you say a fighter is adorable? :) Scraps seemed more human than his/her human counterparts at times.. Specialist Toman was my favorite out of the side characters and the only one I connected to.
I know this is a short and narrated by Scraps but I didn't really feel connected to his/her pilot or understand the love she felt for him. I would've liked to see more in that regard to understand all that better.
More background would have been nice but all in all an enjoyable story and I would read more from this author in the future.
You can read the story here:
http://www.tor.com/stories/2015/01/da...
This was a bit different than what I've read before. This story takes place in the mind of a fighter ship named Scraps. It was very fascinating to see inside his/her mind and see the war and battles from a POV from someone who wasn't "human" per say.
I was a little confused with some of terms in the story, it felt like there was some stuff I should have been aware of beforehand but it didn't really deter me from enjoying the story.
Can you say a fighter is adorable? :) Scraps seemed more human than his/her human counterparts at times.. Specialist Toman was my favorite out of the side characters and the only one I connected to.
I know this is a short and narrated by Scraps but I didn't really feel connected to his/her pilot or understand the love she felt for him. I would've liked to see more in that regard to understand all that better.
More background would have been nice but all in all an enjoyable story and I would read more from this author in the future.
You can read the story here:
http://www.tor.com/stories/2015/01/da...
April 13, 2016
This story is free here:
http://www.tor.com/2015/01/21/damage-...
It's well worth reading, a short SF story from an AI ship's point of view during a space war. Very well done with a neat twist at the end.
http://www.tor.com/2015/01/21/damage-...
It's well worth reading, a short SF story from an AI ship's point of view during a space war. Very well done with a neat twist at the end.
April 21, 2015
I'm not usually a huge science fiction fan, but this story has such humanity to it that I couldn't help but enjoy it. I liked the world building, and the message. Really well done.
February 4, 2015
Wonderful short. The story follows "Scraps" a starship provided with AI.
"Scraps" as her nickname says, is built out of the remaining parts of two other ships destroyed in battle. Beside their spare parts, she retains as well their memories and traumas of their deaths/destruction.
We soon discover that she is more human in her emotions than her beloved pilot. Her side is losing the war, and "Scraps" and her pilot are sent on a final mission.
She has no self-esteem and regards her pilot as a picture of perfection.
"Whereas I—I was a frankenship, a stitched-together flying wreck, a
compendium of agony and defeat and death unworthy of so fine a pilot."
"...if I could use my love of my commander to overcome my hideous, unjustified, deadly orders . . . twenty-six million lives might be spared."
"Scraps" as her nickname says, is built out of the remaining parts of two other ships destroyed in battle. Beside their spare parts, she retains as well their memories and traumas of their deaths/destruction.
We soon discover that she is more human in her emotions than her beloved pilot. Her side is losing the war, and "Scraps" and her pilot are sent on a final mission.
She has no self-esteem and regards her pilot as a picture of perfection.
"Whereas I—I was a frankenship, a stitched-together flying wreck, a
compendium of agony and defeat and death unworthy of so fine a pilot."
"...if I could use my love of my commander to overcome my hideous, unjustified, deadly orders . . . twenty-six million lives might be spared."
August 14, 2020
Whether for good, like in this story or evil like HAL 9000 from 2001 Space Odyssey, emotional artificial intelligence is a well-used trope in science fiction. It hits on all the essential aspects that make readers empathize with the characters. Computers are objects that humans know intimately. Yet, they are “other.” Not human and never will be until becoming sentient. Then all bets are off, and we get an engaging and thoughtful story like in Damage by David D. Levine.
Damage involves a sensitive AI protagonist, JB6847, but affectionally nicknamed Scraps. Scraps is the combination of parts from two space crafts joined anew like Frankenstein’s monster. She refers to herself as a Frankenship. Scraps is made up of not only the parts of the two broken ships, but also the memories of those ships—even the moments before death and the death of the ship’s crew. Ships can have conscious thought within parameters and with that a sense of right and wrong. The reason why the ship is sentient never came through quite clearly, but sentient ships are also a well-loved trope in science fiction.
“Whereas I—I was a frankenship, a stitched-together flying wreck, a
compendium of agony and defeat and death unworthy of so fine a pilot.”
The one consistency in the coding of the scraps consciousness is the love and adoration of her commander. In this case, Commander Ziegler. But he sees her as nothing more than a means to end. It is a troubled relationship, as we see and hear Scrap’s pain and obeying while the commander is unaware or does not care. At the same time, Scraps fights off PTSD from her memories from the other two ships and how they met fiery ends. She is terrified of dying, but soldiers on because the commander wills it so.
All of this leads up to the terrifying choice that Scraps will have to make. Will her own experience and ethics prevail over the commander’s decisions and her love for him.
Damage touches on a lot of familiar ground, but I found the story engaging and moving. I empathized with this AI and the emotional drain of having to please two masters, herself and the captain. As a reader with an outside of the story, I had a different view of the situations she faces. And could see and understand her moral quandary and commander’s personality when not blinded by love. But Levine writes this well by adding a bit of ambiguity to some of the choices Scraps makes. Life is rarely about black and white choices, but the shades of gray. No bad guy truly believes they are the villain. Scrap’s choices added more humanity to Scrap’s character because if a computer starts to understand nuance, pain, and fear, the line that divides what is human and what is not blurs.
“Yes, sir.” Valkyrie had used chaff, of course. Memories of fear and pain and tearing metal filled my mind; I pushed them away. My pilot’s talents, my speed and skill, and my enduring love for him would keep us safe. They would have to, or the Free Belt would fall."
The commander’s character is one dimensional; he is a figurehead, an idol in Scraps world. However, the tech’s role that patched up Scraps and had initially named her has a much larger and more critical role in Scrap’s life. Tech shows Scraps kindness. It is in stark contrast to the commander’s ambivalence. I viewed The Tech as Scraps’s mother, while the commander is the father whom Scraps always wants to please. Scraps had to make her own choices, outside of the influence of her father to grow up.
I enjoyed this story, and I found it deserving of it’s Hugo nomination. Scraps is a lovable character. The plotting was well done, and the moral quandary that Scraps faces, although I wasn’t surprised by, but I still enjoyed reading. Damage is an excellent story to read, and at 7k words is a nice bite-sized piece of science fiction.
Damage involves a sensitive AI protagonist, JB6847, but affectionally nicknamed Scraps. Scraps is the combination of parts from two space crafts joined anew like Frankenstein’s monster. She refers to herself as a Frankenship. Scraps is made up of not only the parts of the two broken ships, but also the memories of those ships—even the moments before death and the death of the ship’s crew. Ships can have conscious thought within parameters and with that a sense of right and wrong. The reason why the ship is sentient never came through quite clearly, but sentient ships are also a well-loved trope in science fiction.
“Whereas I—I was a frankenship, a stitched-together flying wreck, a
compendium of agony and defeat and death unworthy of so fine a pilot.”
The one consistency in the coding of the scraps consciousness is the love and adoration of her commander. In this case, Commander Ziegler. But he sees her as nothing more than a means to end. It is a troubled relationship, as we see and hear Scrap’s pain and obeying while the commander is unaware or does not care. At the same time, Scraps fights off PTSD from her memories from the other two ships and how they met fiery ends. She is terrified of dying, but soldiers on because the commander wills it so.
All of this leads up to the terrifying choice that Scraps will have to make. Will her own experience and ethics prevail over the commander’s decisions and her love for him.
Damage touches on a lot of familiar ground, but I found the story engaging and moving. I empathized with this AI and the emotional drain of having to please two masters, herself and the captain. As a reader with an outside of the story, I had a different view of the situations she faces. And could see and understand her moral quandary and commander’s personality when not blinded by love. But Levine writes this well by adding a bit of ambiguity to some of the choices Scraps makes. Life is rarely about black and white choices, but the shades of gray. No bad guy truly believes they are the villain. Scrap’s choices added more humanity to Scrap’s character because if a computer starts to understand nuance, pain, and fear, the line that divides what is human and what is not blurs.
“Yes, sir.” Valkyrie had used chaff, of course. Memories of fear and pain and tearing metal filled my mind; I pushed them away. My pilot’s talents, my speed and skill, and my enduring love for him would keep us safe. They would have to, or the Free Belt would fall."
The commander’s character is one dimensional; he is a figurehead, an idol in Scraps world. However, the tech’s role that patched up Scraps and had initially named her has a much larger and more critical role in Scrap’s life. Tech shows Scraps kindness. It is in stark contrast to the commander’s ambivalence. I viewed The Tech as Scraps’s mother, while the commander is the father whom Scraps always wants to please. Scraps had to make her own choices, outside of the influence of her father to grow up.
I enjoyed this story, and I found it deserving of it’s Hugo nomination. Scraps is a lovable character. The plotting was well done, and the moral quandary that Scraps faces, although I wasn’t surprised by, but I still enjoyed reading. Damage is an excellent story to read, and at 7k words is a nice bite-sized piece of science fiction.
September 14, 2018
Very nice short novel based on artificial intelligence as part of a Space Opera. It reminds me a little of Becky Chamber's and John Scalzi's regarding AI.
November 1, 2019
Sweet story of loyalty between a sentient ship and its pilot.
September 13, 2018
I liked very much this story, loved the duality between what the main character knew and what it was feeling, forced by its programming. The tone is sad, melancholic and suits this heart-rending story.
July 21, 2015
http://www.tor.com/2015/01/21/damage-...
This story makes an interesting contrast to Big Boys Don't Cry, by Tom Kratman.
A fighter spaceship built out of parts of two dead ships has memories from both, including memories of both deaths. Its current pilot, Commander Ziegler, is highly skilled, if a bit cold, and the fighter loves Ziegler, because that's how its programming works. Ziegler, though, unlike the pilots of the previous incarnations of the fighter, has not given it a name or nose art, and the fighter feels that this is because it is inferior and not worthy.
A maintenance officer, Specialist Toman, however, affectionately calls it Scraps, and works hard to keep Scraps in excellent shape.
Scraps, its pilot, and their side are based in the asteroid belt, with their last surviving base being Vanguard Station. They're fighting Earth Force, and we don't have a lot of information about what the basis of the conflict is.
We do learn, though, that Earth Force is still abiding by the Geneva Conventions, and the Vanguarders aren't.
Then Scraps and Ziegler get a new, secret assignment--an assignment they won't know the details of until they reach a point well away from the station and open their secret orders. What they do know is that it requires the substantial expansion of Scraps' weapons bay.
When they learn that their assignment is to commit a terrible atrocity for, really, no reason except revenge (because it won't change the inevitable outcome), Ziegler and Scraps each have to make a decision. Each of their decisions are thoroughly grounded in the excellent character development Levine has done throughout the story. What Scraps actually does is clever and devious.
Highly recommended.
This story makes an interesting contrast to Big Boys Don't Cry, by Tom Kratman.
A fighter spaceship built out of parts of two dead ships has memories from both, including memories of both deaths. Its current pilot, Commander Ziegler, is highly skilled, if a bit cold, and the fighter loves Ziegler, because that's how its programming works. Ziegler, though, unlike the pilots of the previous incarnations of the fighter, has not given it a name or nose art, and the fighter feels that this is because it is inferior and not worthy.
A maintenance officer, Specialist Toman, however, affectionately calls it Scraps, and works hard to keep Scraps in excellent shape.
Scraps, its pilot, and their side are based in the asteroid belt, with their last surviving base being Vanguard Station. They're fighting Earth Force, and we don't have a lot of information about what the basis of the conflict is.
We do learn, though, that Earth Force is still abiding by the Geneva Conventions, and the Vanguarders aren't.
Then Scraps and Ziegler get a new, secret assignment--an assignment they won't know the details of until they reach a point well away from the station and open their secret orders. What they do know is that it requires the substantial expansion of Scraps' weapons bay.
When they learn that their assignment is to commit a terrible atrocity for, really, no reason except revenge (because it won't change the inevitable outcome), Ziegler and Scraps each have to make a decision. Each of their decisions are thoroughly grounded in the excellent character development Levine has done throughout the story. What Scraps actually does is clever and devious.
Highly recommended.
January 23, 2015
"Damages" is a short story available to read for free on tor.com.
If this story is anything to go by, 2015 will be a stellar year for tor.com's fiction. The story is a first-person immersion in the mind of a a space fighter ship. The ship itself is a fascinating narrator and far more human than the people that appear. Struggling with the emotional and moral dilemmas of warfare, the ship must make a choice that will have consequences not only for its own continuing life but for the future of earth and the human race.
I will definitely be seeking more from author David D. Levine. Read the story yourself here:
http://www.tor.com/stories/2015/01/damage-david-levine
If this story is anything to go by, 2015 will be a stellar year for tor.com's fiction. The story is a first-person immersion in the mind of a a space fighter ship. The ship itself is a fascinating narrator and far more human than the people that appear. Struggling with the emotional and moral dilemmas of warfare, the ship must make a choice that will have consequences not only for its own continuing life but for the future of earth and the human race.
I will definitely be seeking more from author David D. Levine. Read the story yourself here:
http://www.tor.com/stories/2015/01/damage-david-levine
March 31, 2015
"I was a frankenship, a stitched-together flying wreck, a compendium of agony and defeat and death unworthy of so fine a pilot."
A short-story of the life and love of a self-aware spacecraft.
Layered in just over 30 pages (eBook version), Damage is a novel that ties flavours of loss, devastation and consciousness together to provide a tasty read.
One of TOR.com's fine sci-fi reads, David D. Levine provides a different look into space warfare and that when conflicts arise, there isn't good or bad, but points of view and individual lives that are willing to do almost anything for those views.
4.5/5
A short-story of the life and love of a self-aware spacecraft.
Layered in just over 30 pages (eBook version), Damage is a novel that ties flavours of loss, devastation and consciousness together to provide a tasty read.
One of TOR.com's fine sci-fi reads, David D. Levine provides a different look into space warfare and that when conflicts arise, there isn't good or bad, but points of view and individual lives that are willing to do almost anything for those views.
4.5/5
October 3, 2020
The story of a sentient fighter spacecraft in love with its captain but also programmed with a conscience. I really enjoyed this.
September 5, 2015
"Damage" by David Levine (7449 words)
Well that one was a lot more fun than the other two stories, and for one centered around death and loss and hopeless war, that's saying something. But there's something charming about the ship main character, programmed to love an ass of a pilot and yet with a core of morality that doesn't allow it to commit the greatest of crimes, doesn't allow it to kill millions of people in a desperate attempt at revenge. And though the action of the story is frantic and harsh, and though there is a lot of loss and death, this is still a triumphant story. The ship manages to escape, finally, manages to be something other than a tool of war. And that is something to hope for. I liked that this was a war the main character was on the "wrong" side of, though perhaps that was a bit heavy-handed, with no real explanation given as to why the two sides were fighting. But the story is fun with some great action and a nice message, that sometimes doing the right thing means giving up the things you love, and that even when you think yourself unequal to a task, sometimes you have to try anyway. Good stuff.
Well that one was a lot more fun than the other two stories, and for one centered around death and loss and hopeless war, that's saying something. But there's something charming about the ship main character, programmed to love an ass of a pilot and yet with a core of morality that doesn't allow it to commit the greatest of crimes, doesn't allow it to kill millions of people in a desperate attempt at revenge. And though the action of the story is frantic and harsh, and though there is a lot of loss and death, this is still a triumphant story. The ship manages to escape, finally, manages to be something other than a tool of war. And that is something to hope for. I liked that this was a war the main character was on the "wrong" side of, though perhaps that was a bit heavy-handed, with no real explanation given as to why the two sides were fighting. But the story is fun with some great action and a nice message, that sometimes doing the right thing means giving up the things you love, and that even when you think yourself unequal to a task, sometimes you have to try anyway. Good stuff.
August 23, 2016
A fighter ship, one of its kind designed to destroy and defend. But, Scraps, is more humane than machine, its memory laced with the pain of deaths of two other ships from whose scraps it was built. Scraps feels fear, affection, love and everything that makes its conscience human. While the consciousness programmed into it was designed to make Scraps perform better what if it decides to weigh the scales of right and wrong?
I like the way that ship's psychodynamics is designed to unconditionally love its pilot so that it puts up the best fight in efforts to keep the pilot safe. Clever idea! The story read like a loyal pet trying to save the world against its loved master despite having to deal with the heart-shattering loss afterwards. The question remains if actual humans are capable of taking such decisions when it means putting their loved ones in danger.
Rating : 3.5/5
Note : Read this as part of BB's Flash Readathon, August.
I like the way that ship's psychodynamics is designed to unconditionally love its pilot so that it puts up the best fight in efforts to keep the pilot safe. Clever idea! The story read like a loyal pet trying to save the world against its loved master despite having to deal with the heart-shattering loss afterwards. The question remains if actual humans are capable of taking such decisions when it means putting their loved ones in danger.
Rating : 3.5/5
Note : Read this as part of BB's Flash Readathon, August.
May 9, 2015
As in Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch series, the protagonist is the artificial intelligence controlling a warspacecraft. In this case the AI finds itself struggling between its programming imperatives and its morals. The struggle is very successfully portrayed. Levine is a promising author I will keep an eye on.
February 14, 2015
Another Tor.com short story
I thoroughly reminded me of Anne McCaffery`s `Ship`books. It was interesting to see how the Ship was more human then the pilot
I thoroughly reminded me of Anne McCaffery`s `Ship`books. It was interesting to see how the Ship was more human then the pilot
June 27, 2016
Loved this one! Toman and the ship, Scraps, are fantastic characters.
May 1, 2025
Damage by David D. Levine
Is explosive.
This short novella sure packs a punch. We are narrated by a sentient war ship that is imbued with feelings of fear, remorse, and love for her pilot. Coupled with the intelligence of a supercomputer and an ability to decide, we are driven deep into the complexity and pride of war.
This is a space opera in a sense. And could have very easily been an episode on Star Trek TNG. All we know is this ship is built with some memories still intact of two dead ships, and that there is a war between factions. Death for humans and AI is at the end of every choice. But who ultimately gets to make that choice, and more importantly who is smarter than whom? Who has manipulated/ controlled whom?
This novella is perfect for anyone getting into Sci-fi, or is already in love with it.
Is explosive.
This short novella sure packs a punch. We are narrated by a sentient war ship that is imbued with feelings of fear, remorse, and love for her pilot. Coupled with the intelligence of a supercomputer and an ability to decide, we are driven deep into the complexity and pride of war.
This is a space opera in a sense. And could have very easily been an episode on Star Trek TNG. All we know is this ship is built with some memories still intact of two dead ships, and that there is a war between factions. Death for humans and AI is at the end of every choice. But who ultimately gets to make that choice, and more importantly who is smarter than whom? Who has manipulated/ controlled whom?
This novella is perfect for anyone getting into Sci-fi, or is already in love with it.
July 7, 2020
I'm such a sucker for sentient spaceships, and this tackled the tricky middle ground of someone being sentient while still programmed in a really satisfying way. Scraps is aware of how much of her is programming, and how to navigate those restrictions. Do I wish she was a little more resentlful of that? Yes - her programming is designed to override that, however, so it does make sense that she's not. Do I wish it went into a bit more philosophical detail? Yes – it's such a short story, though, I doubt there'd be the room to get into it properly.
While I think this is a character focussed story, the world building isn't too bad either. It felt fully realised and 'realistic', which is to say that everything felt like it could work in real life. Maybe that's because some of the tropes (like partying rebels after a bombing run) felt familiar from sources like Star Wars or Skyward but it doesn't mean it didn't work.
I'd highly recommend the audiobook, if you can find it!
While I think this is a character focussed story, the world building isn't too bad either. It felt fully realised and 'realistic', which is to say that everything felt like it could work in real life. Maybe that's because some of the tropes (like partying rebels after a bombing run) felt familiar from sources like Star Wars or Skyward but it doesn't mean it didn't work.
I'd highly recommend the audiobook, if you can find it!
September 12, 2017
A really interesting read, this - our protagonist is a mostly-nameless AI (FrankenAI?) in the hull of a ship built from the remnants of two "dead" fighters.
The voice of the AI itself was so well done - these AIs are held in servitude through an all-encompassing love for their pilot, and we get such a sense of the world from the voice of just one of it's inhabitants. An inhabitant who has had that voice curtailed without even being aware, though they can leave them with the memories of their previous lives and their horrific endings. At times it even reminded me of Paragon from the Liveships trilogy.
Find it for free here: https://www.tor.com/2017/05/17/damage/
The voice of the AI itself was so well done - these AIs are held in servitude through an all-encompassing love for their pilot, and we get such a sense of the world from the voice of just one of it's inhabitants. An inhabitant who has had that voice curtailed without even being aware, though they can leave them with the memories of their previous lives and their horrific endings. At times it even reminded me of Paragon from the Liveships trilogy.
Find it for free here: https://www.tor.com/2017/05/17/damage/
May 18, 2020
An interesting short story from the perspective of an A.I system of a space fighter craft. At some points of the story the voice of the A.I came off very sexually attracted to her pilot, which was...weird. Other times she just seemed very proud of his accomplishments even though he didn’t clearly share the same thoughts towards her.
It quickly goes over her views on death and how it effects her and those around her. She also questions why she feels the way she does. She is very sentient of herself and her place in the world.
It’s quick and not hard to follow.
It quickly goes over her views on death and how it effects her and those around her. She also questions why she feels the way she does. She is very sentient of herself and her place in the world.
It’s quick and not hard to follow.
March 2, 2020
I listened to this on a whim and absolutely loved it. Despite being only 25 pages long, David D. Levine manages to create a world and a character that is fully developed, with backstory and the ability to connect deeply with the reader.
If you enjoy science fiction that is relatively realistic, or told from unusual perspectives, I would highly recommend this. I think anyone who enjoys Becky Chambers' Wayfarers series would also really enjoy this short story.
4 out of 5 stars!
If you enjoy science fiction that is relatively realistic, or told from unusual perspectives, I would highly recommend this. I think anyone who enjoys Becky Chambers' Wayfarers series would also really enjoy this short story.
4 out of 5 stars!
March 20, 2020
Review written using my phone, so sorry for any mistakes.
My only relationship with this author, is DNFing Arabella of March. Still, I remember liking his style, so I was happy when I saw this shott was so cheap.
The story was interesting. I like that it was told from the POV of a fighter craft, and I found the whole concept interestkng. It kind of reminded me of an abusive relationship, in a sick way, which just made kt all the more human.
It was fast paced and easy to follow.
My only relationship with this author, is DNFing Arabella of March. Still, I remember liking his style, so I was happy when I saw this shott was so cheap.
The story was interesting. I like that it was told from the POV of a fighter craft, and I found the whole concept interestkng. It kind of reminded me of an abusive relationship, in a sick way, which just made kt all the more human.
It was fast paced and easy to follow.
January 16, 2020
Interesting! 💜
Well this was certainly a different POV for me. This story was actually quite intriguing. I actually enjoyed it.
The narration was amazing. Natalie Naudus did a wonderful job of capturing the heart of the machine like no one else could.
I recommend this book.
Sisters Spotlight 💜
Well this was certainly a different POV for me. This story was actually quite intriguing. I actually enjoyed it.
The narration was amazing. Natalie Naudus did a wonderful job of capturing the heart of the machine like no one else could.
I recommend this book.
Sisters Spotlight 💜
May 14, 2021
It's hard to make me feel something with such a small amount of writing. But I felt empathy for the ship. David Levine remained hyper-focused on the ship and its emotional grappling. This focus paid off. Even though short, this story has emotional pull.
October 9, 2021
A spaceship pieced together from a couple of previous spaceships, and dealing with the consequences of that as it lives for its captain, as all ships are designed to, in a war between Belt and Earth. Satisfying ending on this.
July 24, 2017
This was very nice. A solid sentient AI Space Opera tale. Would definitely read more by the author.
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