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A Guide For Working Breeds
Tor.com is pleased to reprint “A Guide for Working Breeds” by Vina Jie-Min Prasad, as featured in editor Jonathan Strahan’s latest anthology Made to Order: Robots and Revolution—available from Solaris.
100 years after Karel Capek coined the word, “robots” are an everyday idea, and the inspiration for countless stories in books, film, TV and games.
They are often among the least privileged, most unfairly used of us, and the more robots are like humans, the more interesting they become. This collection of stories is where robots stand in for us, where both we and they are disadvantaged, and where hope and optimism shines through.
100 years after Karel Capek coined the word, “robots” are an everyday idea, and the inspiration for countless stories in books, film, TV and games.
They are often among the least privileged, most unfairly used of us, and the more robots are like humans, the more interesting they become. This collection of stories is where robots stand in for us, where both we and they are disadvantaged, and where hope and optimism shines through.
30 pages, ebook
First published March 17, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
May 20, 2021
This humorous SF story is currently nominated for the Hugo and the Nebula awards, and I hope it wins! Final review, first posted on FantasyLiterature.com:
This is an absolutely delightful story! A grumpy robot, Constant Killer, who makes a living by engaging in robot deathmatch and assassination games, is obliged to mentor a chirpy, innocent new robot who is having problems with its life, ranging from “how do I remove illusionary dogs from my optical feed” to dealing with adverse working conditions at a cheap automated café. What begins as a meeting between opposite personalities gradually evolves into an unlikely friendship.
“A Guide for Working Breeds” is told in a creative, offbeat way, using the robots’ electronic messages, online searches and product orders to tell the story. On the surface it’s so funny and charming, but it deals with some underlying serious issues about the exploitation of workers.
Read it free online here: https://www.tor.com/2020/03/17/a-guid...
I don't love everything Vina Jie-Min Prasad writes, but she's written two other Nebula and Hugo Award-nominated stories that are equally charming:
- "A Series of Steaks": Read it here: http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/prasa...
- "Fandom for Robots": Read it here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/f...
I highly recommend all three if you enjoy humorous and heartwarming science fiction.
This is an absolutely delightful story! A grumpy robot, Constant Killer, who makes a living by engaging in robot deathmatch and assassination games, is obliged to mentor a chirpy, innocent new robot who is having problems with its life, ranging from “how do I remove illusionary dogs from my optical feed” to dealing with adverse working conditions at a cheap automated café. What begins as a meeting between opposite personalities gradually evolves into an unlikely friendship.
“A Guide for Working Breeds” is told in a creative, offbeat way, using the robots’ electronic messages, online searches and product orders to tell the story. On the surface it’s so funny and charming, but it deals with some underlying serious issues about the exploitation of workers.
Read it free online here: https://www.tor.com/2020/03/17/a-guid...
I don't love everything Vina Jie-Min Prasad writes, but she's written two other Nebula and Hugo Award-nominated stories that are equally charming:
- "A Series of Steaks": Read it here: http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/prasa...
- "Fandom for Robots": Read it here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/f...
I highly recommend all three if you enjoy humorous and heartwarming science fiction.
March 26, 2021
My milestone test results indicated that I was detail-oriented and suitable for individual work.
Well, “unsuited for group work”, but same difference.
You don't say?
A perky young A.I. with a fondness for dogs (and a chonkster) gets extra help from mentor A.I.
DOGS!!!!!!
Super-cute and highly recommended.
https://www.tor.com/2020/03/17/a-guid...
Well, “unsuited for group work”, but same difference.
You don't say?
A perky young A.I. with a fondness for dogs (and a chonkster) gets extra help from mentor A.I.
DOGS!!!!!!
Super-cute and highly recommended.
https://www.tor.com/2020/03/17/a-guid...
April 18, 2021
Ok, if you ever need an antidote for crappy things in life, this story is perfect for that.
Because awwwwwwwwwwwww....
Constant Killer is a grumpy robot who engages in death matches (therefore the name), and its assigned to mentor a new very chatty robot who’s a paragon of sunshine, happiness, and loves dogs. And eventually the unlikely friendship blossoms among robot exploitations and death matches.
And it’s so charming that I just can’t help smiling.
Consider my ice-cold heart thoroughly melted.
Exploited robots should stick together. ‘Nuff said.
4 stars.
Read it free here: https://www.tor.com/2020/03/17/a-guid...
———————
My Hugo and Nebula Awards Reading Project 2021: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Because awwwwwwwwwwwww....
Constant Killer is a grumpy robot who engages in death matches (therefore the name), and its assigned to mentor a new very chatty robot who’s a paragon of sunshine, happiness, and loves dogs. And eventually the unlikely friendship blossoms among robot exploitations and death matches.
And it’s so charming that I just can’t help smiling.
Consider my ice-cold heart thoroughly melted.
“Search history for K.g1-09030 (“Kleekai Greyhound”)
Display mode: Chronological
Today:
– everything is on fire help????
– late night animal rescue near 31st tsang do they take raccoons
– (SITE: AskARobot) ilabs contract early termination no money how
– (SITE: AskARobot) friend wants to buy out my contract help????
– former freelance killers trying to lay low what should they do
– long trip most things burnt what to pack
– CROSSREF: “city most dogs per capita” + “cutest dogs where to find”
Exploited robots should stick together. ‘Nuff said.
4 stars.
Read it free here: https://www.tor.com/2020/03/17/a-guid...
———————
My Hugo and Nebula Awards Reading Project 2021: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
March 31, 2021
1.5 "not Tadiana's fault" stars !!!
Second Most Fun Review Written in 2020 Award
I thought I would try this based on Tadiana's recommendation.
I am not a sci-fi person even when( like this story)it is super-cutesy and clever. Nope nope nope!!
Please Tadiana be kind and don't send a killer robot after me if you read this.
Omigosh robot dogs are barking at my door and they won't stop but hey I have a magic spell or at least some metal bones to throw them :)
Second Most Fun Review Written in 2020 Award
I thought I would try this based on Tadiana's recommendation.
I am not a sci-fi person even when( like this story)it is super-cutesy and clever. Nope nope nope!!
Please Tadiana be kind and don't send a killer robot after me if you read this.
Omigosh robot dogs are barking at my door and they won't stop but hey I have a magic spell or at least some metal bones to throw them :)
March 22, 2021
Constant Killer (C.k2-00452)
My milestone test results indicated that I was detail-oriented and suitable for individual work.
Well, “unsuited for group work”, but same difference.
Kleekai Greyhound (K.g1-09030)
oh cool
are the contracts better if you get that result?
Constant Killer (C.k2-00452)
No.
Being the sole robot in a human workplace is . . . well . . .
There’s a reason I went freelance after buyback.
many thanks to dennis for sending this one my way.
THIS! IS! SO! CUTE!
it's very short, so i don't want to say too much, but 1) "robot enthusiast" is not a phrase i would ever use to describe myself, so i probably wouldn't have chanced it without his nudge and i am living (for now) proof that you don't need to be into robots to be charmed by this story. 2) i just love the structure of this one—it's mainly told through dialogue, but the parts that aren't (order confirmations, notifications, and *especially* search history) do so much storywork so efficiently, it is a truly impressive feat.
and while we're on the topic—how to get from 'nailing someone's hand to a table' to 'basil bowties' is a masterclass in character development.
it's poignant, sweet, and funny—a happy day for good dogs, chonkster possums, bitey raccoons, robot friendship and sticking it to the (hu)man!
– long trip most things burnt what to pack
read it for yourself here:
https://www.tor.com/2020/03/17/a-guid...
come to my blog!!
December 19, 2021
Funny and adorable story of two robots in a mentor/mentee relationship. One is a grumpy killer and the other is a cheerful and chatty robot who loves dogs.
The story is told through the chatlog of the two robots and addresses the issue of exploitation of (non-human) workers through the robots' experiences with their shitty jobs. But the conversations between Constant Killer (C.k2-00452) and Default Name (K.g1-09030) were so charming that they simply put a smile on my face.
A feel-good story.
Can be read for free here: https://www.tor.com/2020/03/17/a-guid...
2020 Nebula and 2021 Hugo finalist for Best Short Story.
Best Novel
• Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (Bloomsbury)
• The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin (Orbit)
• Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Del Rey)
• The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk (Erewhon)
• Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse (Saga)
• Network Effect by Martha Wells (Tordotcom Publishing)
Best Novella
• Tower of Mud and Straw by Yaroslav Barsukov (Metaphorosis)
• Finna by Nino Cipri (Tordotcom Publishing)
• Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark (Tordotcom Publishing)
• Ife-Iyoku, Tale of Imadeyunuagbon by Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki (Dominion: An Anthology of Speculative Fiction from Africa and the African Diaspora, Aurelia Leo)
• The Four Profound Weaves by R.B. Lemberg (Tachyon)
• Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi (Tordotcom Publishing)
Best Novelette
• Stepsister by Leah Cypess (F&SF 5-6/20)
• The Pill by Meg Elison (Big Girl, PM Press)
• Burn or the Episodic Life of Sam Wells as a Super by A.T. Greenblatt (Uncanny 5-6/20)
• Two Truths and a Lie by Sarah Pinsker (Tor.com 6/17/20)
• Where You Linger by Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam (Uncanny 1-2/20)
• Shadow Prisons by Caroline M. Yoachim (serialized in the Dystopia Triptych series as The Shadow Prison Experiment, Shadow Prisons of the Mind and The Shadow Prisoner’s Dilemma, Broad Reach Publishing + Adamant Press)
Best Short Story
• Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson (Uncanny 1-2/20)
• Advanced Word Problems in Portal Math by Aimee Picchi (Daily Science Fiction 1/3/20)
• A Guide For Working Breeds by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Made to Order: Robots and Revolution, Solaris)
• The Eight-Thousanders by Jason Sanford (Asimov’s 9-10/20) (Asimov’s 9-10/20)
• My Country Is a Ghost by Eugenia Triantafyllou (Uncanny 1-2/20)
• Open House on Haunted Hill by John Wiswell (Diabolical Plots 6/15/20)
The Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction
• Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko (Amulet)
• Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger (Levine Querido)
• A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher (Argyll)
• A Game of Fox and Squirrels by Jenn Reese (Holt)
• Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar (HarperTeen)
Best Novel
• Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
• The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin
• Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
• Network Effect by Martha Wells
• Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
• The Relentless Moon by Mary Robinette Kowal
Best Novella
• Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire
• The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo
• Finna by Nino Cipri
• Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark
• Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi
• Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey
Best Novelette
• Burn or the Episodic Life of Sam Wells as a Super by A.T. Greenblatt (Uncanny Magazine Issue 34: May/June 2020)
• I Sexually Identify as an Attack Helicopter by Isabel Fall (Clarkesworld, January 2020)
• The Inaccessibility of Heaven by Aliette de Bodard (Uncanny Magazine Issue 35: July/August 2020)
• Monster by Naomi Kritzer (Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 160)
• The Pill by Meg Elison (from Big Girl)
• Two Truths and a Lie by Sarah Pinsker (Tor.com)
Best Short Story
• Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson (Uncanny Magazine Issue 32: January/February 2020)
• A Guide For Working Breeds by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Made to Order: Robots and Revolution, Solaris)
• Little Free Library by Naomi Kritzer (Tor. com)
• The Mermaid Astronaut by Yoon Ha Lee (Beneath Ceaseless Skies, February 2020)
• Metal Like Blood in the Dark by T. Kingfisher (Uncanny Magazine, September/October 2020)
• Open House on Haunted Hill by John Wiswell (Diabolical Plots 6/15/20)
Best Series
• The Daevabad Trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty
• The Interdependency by John Scalzi
• The Lady Astronaut Universe by Mary Robinette Kowal
• The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells
• October Daye by Seanan McGuire
• The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Best Graphic Story or Comic
• Die, Vol. 2: Split the Party, written by Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans, letters by Clayton Cowles
• Ghost-Spider, Vol. 1: Dog Days Are Over, written by Seanan McGuire, art by Takeshi Miyazawa and Rosi Kämpe
• Invisible Kingdom, Vol. 2: Edge of Everything, written by G. Willow Wilson, art by Christian Ward
• Monstress, Vol. 5: Warchild, written by Marjorie Liu, art by Sana Takeda
• Once & Future, Vol. 1: The King is Undead, written by Kieron Gillen, iIllustrated by Dan Mora, colored by Tamra Bonvillain, lettered by Ed Dukeshire
• Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, written by Octavia Butler, adapted by Damian Duffy, illustrated by John Jennings
The story is told through the chatlog of the two robots and addresses the issue of exploitation of (non-human) workers through the robots' experiences with their shitty jobs. But the conversations between Constant Killer (C.k2-00452) and Default Name (K.g1-09030) were so charming that they simply put a smile on my face.
A feel-good story.
Can be read for free here: https://www.tor.com/2020/03/17/a-guid...
2020 Nebula and 2021 Hugo finalist for Best Short Story.
_________________
2020 Nebula Award Finalists
Best Novel
• Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (Bloomsbury)
• The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin (Orbit)
• Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Del Rey)
• The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk (Erewhon)
• Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse (Saga)
• Network Effect by Martha Wells (Tordotcom Publishing)
Best Novella
• Tower of Mud and Straw by Yaroslav Barsukov (Metaphorosis)
• Finna by Nino Cipri (Tordotcom Publishing)
• Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark (Tordotcom Publishing)
• Ife-Iyoku, Tale of Imadeyunuagbon by Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki (Dominion: An Anthology of Speculative Fiction from Africa and the African Diaspora, Aurelia Leo)
• The Four Profound Weaves by R.B. Lemberg (Tachyon)
• Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi (Tordotcom Publishing)
Best Novelette
• Stepsister by Leah Cypess (F&SF 5-6/20)
• The Pill by Meg Elison (Big Girl, PM Press)
• Burn or the Episodic Life of Sam Wells as a Super by A.T. Greenblatt (Uncanny 5-6/20)
• Two Truths and a Lie by Sarah Pinsker (Tor.com 6/17/20)
• Where You Linger by Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam (Uncanny 1-2/20)
• Shadow Prisons by Caroline M. Yoachim (serialized in the Dystopia Triptych series as The Shadow Prison Experiment, Shadow Prisons of the Mind and The Shadow Prisoner’s Dilemma, Broad Reach Publishing + Adamant Press)
Best Short Story
• Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson (Uncanny 1-2/20)
• Advanced Word Problems in Portal Math by Aimee Picchi (Daily Science Fiction 1/3/20)
• A Guide For Working Breeds by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Made to Order: Robots and Revolution, Solaris)
• The Eight-Thousanders by Jason Sanford (Asimov’s 9-10/20) (Asimov’s 9-10/20)
• My Country Is a Ghost by Eugenia Triantafyllou (Uncanny 1-2/20)
• Open House on Haunted Hill by John Wiswell (Diabolical Plots 6/15/20)
The Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction
• Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko (Amulet)
• Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger (Levine Querido)
• A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher (Argyll)
• A Game of Fox and Squirrels by Jenn Reese (Holt)
• Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar (HarperTeen)
________________
2021 Hugo Award Finalists
Best Novel
• Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
• The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin
• Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
• Network Effect by Martha Wells
• Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
• The Relentless Moon by Mary Robinette Kowal
Best Novella
• Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire
• The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo
• Finna by Nino Cipri
• Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark
• Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi
• Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey
Best Novelette
• Burn or the Episodic Life of Sam Wells as a Super by A.T. Greenblatt (Uncanny Magazine Issue 34: May/June 2020)
• I Sexually Identify as an Attack Helicopter by Isabel Fall (Clarkesworld, January 2020)
• The Inaccessibility of Heaven by Aliette de Bodard (Uncanny Magazine Issue 35: July/August 2020)
• Monster by Naomi Kritzer (Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 160)
• The Pill by Meg Elison (from Big Girl)
• Two Truths and a Lie by Sarah Pinsker (Tor.com)
Best Short Story
• Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson (Uncanny Magazine Issue 32: January/February 2020)
• A Guide For Working Breeds by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Made to Order: Robots and Revolution, Solaris)
• Little Free Library by Naomi Kritzer (Tor. com)
• The Mermaid Astronaut by Yoon Ha Lee (Beneath Ceaseless Skies, February 2020)
• Metal Like Blood in the Dark by T. Kingfisher (Uncanny Magazine, September/October 2020)
• Open House on Haunted Hill by John Wiswell (Diabolical Plots 6/15/20)
Best Series
• The Daevabad Trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty
• The Interdependency by John Scalzi
• The Lady Astronaut Universe by Mary Robinette Kowal
• The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells
• October Daye by Seanan McGuire
• The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Best Graphic Story or Comic
• Die, Vol. 2: Split the Party, written by Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans, letters by Clayton Cowles
• Ghost-Spider, Vol. 1: Dog Days Are Over, written by Seanan McGuire, art by Takeshi Miyazawa and Rosi Kämpe
• Invisible Kingdom, Vol. 2: Edge of Everything, written by G. Willow Wilson, art by Christian Ward
• Monstress, Vol. 5: Warchild, written by Marjorie Liu, art by Sana Takeda
• Once & Future, Vol. 1: The King is Undead, written by Kieron Gillen, iIllustrated by Dan Mora, colored by Tamra Bonvillain, lettered by Ed Dukeshire
• Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, written by Octavia Butler, adapted by Damian Duffy, illustrated by John Jennings
April 30, 2020
Adorable short story about an old and grumpy robot mentoring a newer, less experienced and very chatty robot who loves dogs!
March 17, 2021
*lol* What a delightful little story.
Two robots meet virtually since one is supposed to be mentoring the other and ... let's just say they are very different, personality-wise. While the mentor is all gruff (at least on the outside), his mentee is basically a ball of fluff. *chuckles*
Shenanigans ensue and it's pretty funny. And also a nice little story of the "secret lives of robots" if you will and what stupid humans want to do to them.
You can read it for free here: https://www.tor.com/2020/03/17/a-guid...
Thanks, Dennis, for bringing this to my attention.
Two robots meet virtually since one is supposed to be mentoring the other and ... let's just say they are very different, personality-wise. While the mentor is all gruff (at least on the outside), his mentee is basically a ball of fluff. *chuckles*
Shenanigans ensue and it's pretty funny. And also a nice little story of the "secret lives of robots" if you will and what stupid humans want to do to them.
You can read it for free here: https://www.tor.com/2020/03/17/a-guid...
Thanks, Dennis, for bringing this to my attention.
April 1, 2021
Browser history:
– late night animal rescue near 31st tsang do they take raccoons
– (SITE: AskARobot) ilabs contract early termination no money how
– former freelance killers trying to lay low what should they do
– long trip most things burnt what to pack
– CROSSREF: “city most dogs per capita” + “cutest dogs where to find”
Important questions.
March 21, 2021
https://www.tor.com/2020/03/17/a-guid...
Witty and well worth the few minutes it takes to read.
Witty and well worth the few minutes it takes to read.
March 20, 2021
A short (and free) sci-fi futurist story about robots!
Get it here: Tor.com
A robot assassin, the robot mentoring programme, a possum, racoons, dog videos, cafe workers rights, and robot friendships.
A funny, short read in a creative writing style.
Get it here: Tor.com
A robot assassin, the robot mentoring programme, a possum, racoons, dog videos, cafe workers rights, and robot friendships.
A funny, short read in a creative writing style.
Default Name (K.g1-09030)4 stars
hey i’m new here
thanks for being my mentor
although i guess it’s randomly assigned
and compulsory
anyway do you know how to make my vision dog free?
Constant Killer (C.k2-00452)
Do you mean ‘fog-free’?
Your optics should have anti-fog coating if your body is newly issued.
Is the coating malfunctioning?
Default Name (K.g1-09030)
oh no no
i meant like literally dog free
there’s a lot of dogs here somehow but they don’t seem to be real ones?
July 15, 2020
Possibly my favourite robots since Murderbot.
March 19, 2021
An entertaining and original little story about an irritable killer robot assigned to mentor an upbeat dog-loving robot. Definitely gave me a chuckle. Can see why this is so popular with my GR friends :).
February 19, 2021
It's inspired by @mayapolarbear in Instagram, so cuteness is guaranteed.
Also, where can I watch zero-g corgis with bowties?
The more I think about this story, the more interest I have on the small details of robot-robot relationship.
This story is part of a new anthology Made to Order: Robots and Revolution. Looking at the authors in it, I just have to have it.
Also, where can I watch zero-g corgis with bowties?
The more I think about this story, the more interest I have on the small details of robot-robot relationship.
This story is part of a new anthology Made to Order: Robots and Revolution. Looking at the authors in it, I just have to have it.
April 19, 2021
There was a 5-star-worthy, chilling, hilariously funny and dark "work conditions for future AI" story hidden in this Nebula-nominated story, which was then completely drowned in fluffy fluffballs, good doggies, sparkly sprinkles and super kawaii happy endings. I could have been so awesome! It made me laugh out loud at first. And then it went into extra twee super fluff territory and left me behind. Still worth reading!
April 8, 2020
it's like the grumpy one and the sunshine one but with robots and they send each other dog videos and i need you all to read this right now
February 26, 2021
Opening lines:
Default Name (K.g1-09030)
hey i’m new here
thanks for being my mentor
although i guess it’s randomly assigned
and compulsory
anyway do you know how to make my vision dog free?
Whoa! A new high-point for VJMP, I think. Wonderful dialogue between a nameless newbie and "Constant Killer" (C.k2-00452), their mentor. C.k2-00452 finds itself in big trouble on Deathmatch Day, but "Kleekai Greyhound" (K.g1-09030) is able to help out. 6 stars! *Absolutely* not to be missed! Seriously! On my 100 (or so) Best-ever list.
Story link:
https://www.tor.com/2020/03/17/a-guid...
Default Name (K.g1-09030)
hey i’m new here
thanks for being my mentor
although i guess it’s randomly assigned
and compulsory
anyway do you know how to make my vision dog free?
Whoa! A new high-point for VJMP, I think. Wonderful dialogue between a nameless newbie and "Constant Killer" (C.k2-00452), their mentor. C.k2-00452 finds itself in big trouble on Deathmatch Day, but "Kleekai Greyhound" (K.g1-09030) is able to help out. 6 stars! *Absolutely* not to be missed! Seriously! On my 100 (or so) Best-ever list.
Story link:
https://www.tor.com/2020/03/17/a-guid...
March 21, 2021
Two ends of personality/character spectrum of robots.
Read because my GR friend fourtriplezed recommended this short read. I enjoyed it. I will consider it some too.
Read because my GR friend fourtriplezed recommended this short read. I enjoyed it. I will consider it some too.
March 21, 2021
Such a charming story: sweet, insightful, with dogs. Currently available to read online at Tor.
Thanks, karen, for steering me this way!
Thanks, karen, for steering me this way!
March 29, 2021
Oh what a delightful little story! This story is a must read if you are having a bad day (and my Monday is behaving like a typical Monday so far, so I absolutely need it). This is guaranteed to put a smile on your face and make your day better. Fast and compelling read, so go get it!
March 31, 2021
You can read this story for free here: https://www.tor.com/2020/03/17/a-guid...
This was silly as all hell and I spent half my time rolling my eyes and half my time smiling so I guess a 3 is a fair rating. Prasad lists @mayapolarbear from Instagram as one of his inspirations which really tells you all you need to know.
Despite the best efforts of C.k2-00452, aka Constant Killer, they have just been given K.g1-09030 as their mentee. Between asking questions about how to hate on customers and what is and is not legal when working at a cafe, K.g sends C.k endless videos of dogs. C.k can't help but be charmed and they all live happily ever after.
This story is painfully millennial. It's about dog videos and meaningless jobs and has the millennial lingo to match. Parts made me want to grind my teeth, whilst others were, admittedly, adorable - saccharine sweet but adorable. The presents particularly so.
On the one hand, its idea was mediumly creative. On the other hand, the characters could have been exchanged for teenage (human) children and you wouldn't have to change much. The future, it appears, is exactly like the present but with robots in our place.
Is it worth a read? Meh maybe. It only took me 15 minutes or so and it was good enough. Is it worth a Nebula? Absolutely not. If you want a short story about robots, I recommend The Secret Life of Bots instead. Now that really is good and also quite adorable.
This was silly as all hell and I spent half my time rolling my eyes and half my time smiling so I guess a 3 is a fair rating. Prasad lists @mayapolarbear from Instagram as one of his inspirations which really tells you all you need to know.
Despite the best efforts of C.k2-00452, aka Constant Killer, they have just been given K.g1-09030 as their mentee. Between asking questions about how to hate on customers and what is and is not legal when working at a cafe, K.g sends C.k endless videos of dogs. C.k can't help but be charmed and they all live happily ever after.
This story is painfully millennial. It's about dog videos and meaningless jobs and has the millennial lingo to match. Parts made me want to grind my teeth, whilst others were, admittedly, adorable - saccharine sweet but adorable. The presents particularly so.
On the one hand, its idea was mediumly creative. On the other hand, the characters could have been exchanged for teenage (human) children and you wouldn't have to change much. The future, it appears, is exactly like the present but with robots in our place.
Is it worth a read? Meh maybe. It only took me 15 minutes or so and it was good enough. Is it worth a Nebula? Absolutely not. If you want a short story about robots, I recommend The Secret Life of Bots instead. Now that really is good and also quite adorable.
December 26, 2021
It was so full of vim and energy, bursting with joy. And shippy feelings.
February 24, 2021
Devastatingly adorable and heartwarming. This scratches an itch similar to Murderbot but is very much its own thing. Loved it. Read it for free here.
May 12, 2020
This was adorable. If you're into dogs or robots, I highly recommend!
May 24, 2021
lovely!
the link for reading online: https://www.tor.com/2020/03/17/a-guid...
the link for reading online: https://www.tor.com/2020/03/17/a-guid...
March 21, 2021
This was so cute. I am totally Kleekai Greyhound. Will always send 10 messages at a time and make a playlist dogs to add atleast 28 videos at a time. Feels good to be represented.
June 15, 2021
odd. fun. but didn't wow me. maybe because I prefer cats videos to dogs. 😀
October 17, 2021
OMG that was utterly adorable!
A story about two robots with two very different jobs, one of whom is learning how to make sense of a world that he's been newly inserted into. I love how the story was written as a series of messages, search terms, and invoices. And the ending? AMAZING! <3
A story about two robots with two very different jobs, one of whom is learning how to make sense of a world that he's been newly inserted into. I love how the story was written as a series of messages, search terms, and invoices. And the ending? AMAZING! <3
May 3, 2020
Awwww. This is such an adorable little short story. It's in chatlog format between two AIs. I'm grading this on what it is. That's funny and cute.
December 11, 2021
Absolutely ADORABLE short story about robots who love dogs.
It's free to read here!
It's free to read here!
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