Earth from Planet 9
The devastation was complete. Every satellite photo of Earth showed nothing left but rock and ash.
We, the R7 Series Robot, and the few humans from our last shuttle tour, are marooned here on Planet 9. Calculations for survival are slim.
Most of the visitors are over 60 years old. Fortunately, some brought their grandchildren. If we can nurture these through childbearing age, we may yet survive.
Our humans are depressed; they need hope to survive. Perhaps our thriving hydroponic gardens will provide a playground for the children. Play can foster hope.
Hope is the calculation where anything is possible.
You should have a Little Grey Book of Robot maxims!
ReplyDeleteI wish we had all the time in the world, for I do want to write my robot story. If only. My head just loves to figure out robot logic.
ReplyDeleteX
Dear Lindaura,
ReplyDeleteI find your story strangely evocative. A robot speaking of hope. We are headed there and one day, perhaps soon, your story will be true in more ways than one. i love your imagination set to paper.
Aloha,
Doug
http://ironwoodwind.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/look-closely/
Thanks, Doug. Because I have my robot head on when I write these, I always am dismayed at how unlovely the prose is, but I am glad it seems to work.
ReplyDeleteAloha
It is very odd to hear of a robot thinking of hope, but I'm glad it does! It seems to know that humans require it to thrive, if not survive. I like that Planet9 setting you have, Linda.
ReplyDeleteI am so hoping that some day I will find the time to write this R7's story..
DeleteEnjoyed this. You've managed to catch the robotic 'voice' perfectly. Great flash.
ReplyDeleteSandra Crook
Robot (computer) logic makes for an interesting situation: because it is supremely logical it can accept elements of human behavior better than humans can accept it of themselves. So they wouldn't look askance at something humans need, like playing, which humans would dismiss because it is nonproductive. Anyway, I ramble, but this is thought-provoking and deep. Perhaps you have a hidden robot brain!
ReplyDeleteYou, on the other hand, make me laugh, thus encouraging playfulness, which gives me hope!
ReplyDeleteonce again, Linda, your robot seems to know humanity better than we know ourselves. That last line is definitely one for the quotation books!
ReplyDeleteSomeday I will publish a little book of Robot Maxims.
DeleteGreat last sentence! Loved, Robin
ReplyDeleteThis is a GREAT drabble. I love the idea of the robots understanding what it is that the humans need to survive and flourish onto the next generation. Excellent job!
ReplyDeleteMy link is: http://quillshiv.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/let-flow-what-is-left/
"Our humans are depressed." So much story in even that one sentence. This is a dark story with hope providing light in the end. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteHere's my link:
http://jansthoughtsovercoffee.blogspot.com/2012/02/flashfriday-fridayfictioneers-lovers_24.html
It sure is! Scary thought to be driven from our own planet and kept as what...guinea pigs? Great post!
ReplyDeleteHere is mine~
http://susielindau.com/2012/02/24/100-word-flash-fiction-jagged-edge/
What an interesting tale, told from the perspective of a robot. I love that last line, Hope is the calculation.
ReplyDeleteI agree with a lot of what has been said: great POV with the robot speaking of hope. Here's mine: http://postcardfiction.com/2012/02/24/forgotten/
ReplyDeleteThat last line is epic. It sounds like something from a poster. I like the inspirational quality of this one. Also, maybe it will prepare us for the world to end later this year! Also wonder how you found out that I am an R7 robot. You have a great imagination.
ReplyDeleteHere's mine: http://bridgesareforburning.wordpress.com/
You and Carlos make me laugh! So, aha! When I publish my book of Robot Maxims, I shall be quoting you!
DeleteI'm not too sure that our robots/electronics are already on the verge of human feeling. :-) Someday, as in "Westworld" of long ago--they will control us. Wonderful outside-the-box imagination. Loved it! Mine: http://vsta.pr/zxAJ1y.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting that the robots seem to be nurturing toward the humans. They seem to "feel" more in the future...interesting.
ReplyDelete~Susan (here's mine http://www.susanwenzel.com/)
Very nice. Loved the robotic angle on this.
ReplyDeleteI loved the POV, communal compassion from a computer, a truly interesting proposition. Very good.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wakefieldmahon.com/1/post/2012/02/dem-bones-friday-fictioneers.html
Nice! Always love the sci-fi touch. BTW, you made a good point on my story--I left a word out which changed the whole direction. I'll fix it. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteAs you know, artificial intelligence is no match for genuine stupidity. I love the robot and the message of hope. Can we go play now?
ReplyDeleteA great read, Linda - and thanks for visiting my blog too.
Thanks Russell, I might take that quote and add it to my book of Robot Maxims: "artificial intelligence is no match for genuine stupidity", Thank you!
DeleteI really enjoyed reading this. Your story teased me with hints and left me with questions: when the robot says 'our humans', is it labelling them in order to differentiate from others? Planet 9 suggests others; if there are more, how many more? Is the robot reporting to a central hub and if so, are other R7s adopting different approaches to nurturing humanity?
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'm just reading too much into this. Either way, I thought it was well written and a very cool story. Thanks :-)
OH, Andy, I have been writing these little snippets about planet 9 since before Christmas. I started from the first human at the station there, but quickly decided the Planet was too inhospitable for human occupation and sent the R7 Series Robot there, top of the line, too good for Planet Earth, just now, because of the economic downturn (no one can afford them). If you have the time or inclination, go back to the 16th of December at http://fictionvictimtoo.blogspot.com - to read just 100 words each of the short saga. (the human story is the page before Day 27, Station Zero, Planet 9) That was how I started.
DeleteWhat I really like about this is how you humanized the robots, made them caring. Nice touch,
ReplyDeleteHere's mine: http://wp.me/s1Tjpv-fragile
My robots are a lovable bunch, but they don't actually have real emotions like caring, they "care for" their humans, because it is in their best interests to do so. They can understand the logic of emotions like happiness or even love, because these are healthy parts of their universe. For instance, when given a maintenance nano-bot, they calculated: "We will form a symbiotic bond with it, much like a pet.
DeletePerhaps we will learn to love it."
BTW - I love my robots...
I enjoyed reading this.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't work out if they were kind, caring robots or just ones that knew if the humans died out then so would they?
Just like my many Robot Maxims quotations, robots operate by logic - and it is logical to keep the humans happy, because they need the humans to survive: "We R7 Series robots were never built to live without human companionship. Our programming was designed to evolve as we interacted with sentient beings. Alone, we grew stale and could not fulfil our remit... Fulfilling one’s remit equals happiness."
ReplyDeleteRobots cannot feel, obviously, but they can understand the logic that is expressed by feelings.
My favorite parts of this piece: the point of view (totally interesting and empathetic -- unlike so many stereotypes of the essential robot), and the specificity of detail (things are made bright against the background of devastation).
ReplyDeleteFantastic :) Here's mine: http://thecolorlime.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/to-starve-98/