Bernardo's House

by James Patrick Kelly

Bernardo has gone and his intelligent house misses him desperately. Designed to meet all her master's needs, she is his cook, maid, secretary, lover, and secret refuge from the world. Now she struggles to cope with his loss. On the edge of madness, she is saved by the arrival of a damaged young girl, who will teach her what it means to be human.

James Patrick Kelly, author of this Hugo Award-nominated story, is a two-time winner of the Hugo Award and has been nominated 10 times for the Nebula Award. His stories appear frequently in Asimov's Science Fiction, and he writes the magazine's "On the Net" column. Publishers Weekly has called him "a meticulous craftsman in the demanding short-story form".

Bernardo's House, which was first published in Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine in June of 2003. It was a finalist for the Hugo Award the following year.
WARNING: CONTAINS BRIEF SCENES OF EXPLICIT SEXUALITY.

1 hr and 8 mins

Genres: Science Fiction

1 pages, Audible Audio

First published May 1, 2003

About the author

James Patrick Kelly (please, call him Jim) has had an eclectic writing career. He has written novels, short stories, essays, reviews, poetry, plays and planetarium shows. His short novel Burn won the Science Fiction Writers of America's Nebula Award in 2007. He has won the World Science Fiction Society’s Hugo Award twice: in 1996, for his novelette “Think Like A Dinosaur” and in 2000, for his novelette, “Ten to the Sixteenth to One.” His fiction has been translated into eighteen languages. He produces two podcasts: James Patrick Kelly's StoryPod on Audible and the Free Reads Podcast (Yes, it’s free). His most recent publishing venture is the ezine James Patrick Kelly’s Strangeways. His website is www.jimkelly.net.

Reviews

[Erich Franz Linner-Guzmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting short story about a house and not just any house. And "not a house of love" but a house that is "in love." In love with a man. But it doesn't end there. . . .

How did James Patrick Kelly pull this one off? He deserves more credit than he gets. Well, actually; he does get the credit, he just does not get the recognition of the science fiction masses. I hope one day this all changes. The man is a brilliant science fiction writer from the "Free State" of New Hampshire".

Kudos to him too for his generousness in giving a lot of his own stories away for free. Including this one "Bernardo's House."
Just read the description and make your own call. I personally didn't think it was all that bad and that's coming from me, :) ha. Go ahead and give it a free listen.
http://feeds.feedburner.com/freereads

[Lennie Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! this one is by far my most favorite story I've read by James Kelly. Even more than Lovestory and that one about the guy all alone on the spaceship. It was so creative and odd and I loved it. And he narrates his own story! It makes extra good, adds emotions that a regular narrator just can't get.

This book tells the story of a sentient house/robot who's in love with her owner. Trouble is, the owner is missing. Then a kid named Fly shows up and things get interesting. :) I won't give more away, but if you're a lover of science fiction I totally recommend this one.

[Francesco Verso · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful short-story build like a clockwork mechanism. A domotic opera mixing Home Automation and Artificial Intelligence in a brilliant way. You'll start asking yourself: "where's Bernardo?" on page 1 and you will find that out - maybe- only at the end. But there's more than just a thriller story: there's a programmed love, a true affection, human delusions and personal growth. There are two strong women characters trying to "reconstruct" their personality and recovering after a devastating - though by different nature - shock.
Bernardo's House after the success when it was first published on Asimov's Magazine, currently is being adapted for the stage in Italy by the Future Fiction Factory.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

A living house has not been entered by her master Bernardo in years when a young girl happens upon the house. Bernardo's house is fascinated with the girl and glad to have company, so Bernardo's house begins to take care of the girl.

First, this book has some strong sexual content. Beyond this, the story explores artificial intelligence and what happens when this intelligence is left to exist on its own.