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Lacuna
Imperfect
On Belthas IV, the great forge world in the inner sphere of Toralii space, thousands of constructs -- artificial slaves, artificial lives -- are manufactured every week.They are built identical, each indistinguishable from the other, until they are implanted with a stock neural net. From that moment onward every construct is different.They all have one thing in common, though; all constructs are bound by rules. They serve. They do not question their place. They do not betray.Each construct is different, but one is more different than the others...A 4,300 word short story set in the Lacuna universe focused on the creation of Ben, later appearing in The Sands of Karathi, infused with a healthy dose of science.Parts of the Lacuna The Sands of The Spectre of The Ashes of Humanity (new release!) The Prelude to Eternity (coming soon!)Don't miss these short stories set in the Lacuna Special ScarecrowMagnet Omnibus I (new release!)ImperfectFaith
14 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 25, 2012
25 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
David Adams
54 books74 followersI've always been writing in my mind. I have way, way, way too many stories to tell and far too little time to tell them.
I've been involved in Star Trek roleplay-by-emails for a few years, where basically I learned my craft, but it's only last year that I actually started putting these thoughts to paper.
By day I'm a software engineer. But by night I write a little science fiction, a little fantasy, a little humour and comedy, and a little erotica under pen names.
I've been involved in Star Trek roleplay-by-emails for a few years, where basically I learned my craft, but it's only last year that I actually started putting these thoughts to paper.
By day I'm a software engineer. But by night I write a little science fiction, a little fantasy, a little humour and comedy, and a little erotica under pen names.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 25, 2017
How a unique robot was forged from sand. About 7,000 words or a 35 minute read.
It starts out really slow an fantastical, but mostly is a rehash of how golems were said to be made, and how modern silicon chips are made. Afterwards there is a short episode of a robot undergoing some testing, which has an element of suspense.
I give it four stars mostly because I found it somewhat curious to read a description of how silicon chips are manufactured in such detail, though it doesn't seem to be a 100% accurate.
While certainly I was very intrigued at the end of it, and considered getting the "Sands of Karathi" which has the described Robot in it. It seems that the main focus of the Lacuna series is the humans, which seems rather dull to me.
Perhaps David Adams will write a book about the journey of this Robot in particular and how they took over their planet or whatever it is that they did. Though one of the issues I had is it mentioned "Unlike a biological creature, he would not age, not wither, not forget." this is patently false, since silicon chips degrade with age, and memories are corrupted. Robots and computers need to be continuously backed-up, upgrades, repaired, and restored.
Had he done a little more research and looked into the half-life (life-expectancy) of most hardware components, he'd find that it was 4-7 years. So if that robot is going to be around for more than a decade, it better have a functional mining and manufacturing base, so that it can have a constant supply of fresh parts. Because of the nature of how small these parts are, even simply laying on a shelf means that the heat of room temperature can be degrading them -- so simply having a stash of old parts wouldn't be enough, unless they were carefully cryogenicly frozen and carefully thawed.
If you want to read this short story it is in the Robot Chronicles, which you can acquire for under $5 from Amazon (as an ebook).
It starts out really slow an fantastical, but mostly is a rehash of how golems were said to be made, and how modern silicon chips are made. Afterwards there is a short episode of a robot undergoing some testing, which has an element of suspense.
I give it four stars mostly because I found it somewhat curious to read a description of how silicon chips are manufactured in such detail, though it doesn't seem to be a 100% accurate.
While certainly I was very intrigued at the end of it, and considered getting the "Sands of Karathi" which has the described Robot in it. It seems that the main focus of the Lacuna series is the humans, which seems rather dull to me.
Perhaps David Adams will write a book about the journey of this Robot in particular and how they took over their planet or whatever it is that they did. Though one of the issues I had is it mentioned "Unlike a biological creature, he would not age, not wither, not forget." this is patently false, since silicon chips degrade with age, and memories are corrupted. Robots and computers need to be continuously backed-up, upgrades, repaired, and restored.
Had he done a little more research and looked into the half-life (life-expectancy) of most hardware components, he'd find that it was 4-7 years. So if that robot is going to be around for more than a decade, it better have a functional mining and manufacturing base, so that it can have a constant supply of fresh parts. Because of the nature of how small these parts are, even simply laying on a shelf means that the heat of room temperature can be degrading them -- so simply having a stash of old parts wouldn't be enough, unless they were carefully cryogenicly frozen and carefully thawed.
If you want to read this short story it is in the Robot Chronicles, which you can acquire for under $5 from Amazon (as an ebook).
March 3, 2025
He knew it the moment he was first powered on and he knew instantly and completely that his neural net was not like the others.
Set on the planet of Belthas IV, among the Toralii people.
In the old days…shamans and golems—animating the “loose piles of sand.”
If you created life, you could never make it too free.
Constructs and artificial intelligence.
The chemical ingredients and compounds, listed in the beginning, rather detract from the main event.
Painstaking perfection process.
The construct knows he is a man.
A favorite color of red…and an ill-timed ‘thank you’…
Asks the poignant questions in a unique manner; what are the ethics of keeping AI beings as slaves?
Good intellectual and emotional work, especially after the dry opening.
Something about the story leapt out to grab him, the part about the soul fragment being breathed into the new life.
Set on the planet of Belthas IV, among the Toralii people.
In the old days…shamans and golems—animating the “loose piles of sand.”
If you created life, you could never make it too free.
Constructs and artificial intelligence.
The chemical ingredients and compounds, listed in the beginning, rather detract from the main event.
Painstaking perfection process.
The construct knows he is a man.
A favorite color of red…and an ill-timed ‘thank you’…
Asks the poignant questions in a unique manner; what are the ethics of keeping AI beings as slaves?
Good intellectual and emotional work, especially after the dry opening.
Something about the story leapt out to grab him, the part about the soul fragment being breathed into the new life.
August 21, 2023
This is a decent story about the origin of the Lacuna universe's Artificial Intelligences - both in general and about one in particular that has an internal defect that sets it apart from the rest.
The science behind the process was somewhat "eh", becoming shamelessly hand-wavey right when it came to the core of the AI personality, but the rest was interesting enough, at least from a visual point of view.
It sets up a larger story moving forward and it works as a decent hook, but on its own it didn't really have the page count to achieve or say very much.
Still, the writing was good and it interested me enough to bookmark the next entry in the series.
The science behind the process was somewhat "eh", becoming shamelessly hand-wavey right when it came to the core of the AI personality, but the rest was interesting enough, at least from a visual point of view.
It sets up a larger story moving forward and it works as a decent hook, but on its own it didn't really have the page count to achieve or say very much.
Still, the writing was good and it interested me enough to bookmark the next entry in the series.
March 26, 2023
Starts as a textbook on the history of integrated circuits. Then evolves into a discussion of android production. Finally ends with the construction of a flawed, self-aware android. The only conflict is an insignificant conflict between two of the creator race. Perhaps worthwhile if you are reading the series.
Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Great world building. Informative. Unpredictable. Wonderful characters.
Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Great world building. Informative. Unpredictable. Wonderful characters.
August 8, 2017
Saw it coming
Not only was the plot as a well-made arrow with the ending too predictable, the science was poor. As Asimov insisted, at least for sci-fi, the science must be correct or if the laws of physics are different in the universe of the story, they must be explained.
Not only was the plot as a well-made arrow with the ending too predictable, the science was poor. As Asimov insisted, at least for sci-fi, the science must be correct or if the laws of physics are different in the universe of the story, they must be explained.
January 8, 2025
A very technical explanation
Once the character of the construct was introduced, everything clicked. But the grand majority of this short passage was devoted to the creation processes of the AI, which was dense and dry. Be patient. It sets everything up for the larger novel.
Once the character of the construct was introduced, everything clicked. But the grand majority of this short passage was devoted to the creation processes of the AI, which was dense and dry. Be patient. It sets everything up for the larger novel.
April 30, 2018
I want more!!!
September 8, 2019
Nice
A nice short story. The only complaint is that I expected something longer. I am not sure where to look for the author’s other books.
A nice short story. The only complaint is that I expected something longer. I am not sure where to look for the author’s other books.
December 29, 2024
Finished it but not really for me
May 8, 2013
Imperfect is a short story set within David Adam's Lacuna Universe.
It begins with a mystical flavour, steeped in lore and legend. Then fast-forwards to the high-tech production line of constructs in Belthas IV. A stock neural net gives each construct memories and abilities, with each construct programmed to obey. Being that the production of constructs is 'organic', each construct is carefully evaluated to test whether they meet standards. The tester in the Imperfect story is suitably bored, until a single instance with one of the constructs occurs.
Imperfect is brilliant in its description of how the constructs are given life - each finely crafted detail lends a base understanding of the forge world of Belthas IV. I crave believable, detailed explanation when reading sci fi, and this didn't disappoint. (Although if I wanted to nitpick, I'd say the description of the construct creation is slightly lengthy - possibly because at this point, I'm wondering if the description is all scene-setting. It does however, directly relate to what follows and gives a richer layer to the construct that we meet.) The language used in the description has just the right of amount of distance, like a documentary, which gives it a quality that feels authentic.
We jump into the mind of one of the constructs - a newly-created mind that is self-aware. So self-aware that it understands the fragility of its existence, and knows fear just as keenly as a being that has lived out in the world for years. David Adams creates a stunning portrayal of this construct and its existence on the edge of life. All beings battle for life, no matter how life is gifted, and David Adams creates this battle within something that has been alive for mere minutes, evoking pathos and poignancy.
I would definitely read on from this point.
It begins with a mystical flavour, steeped in lore and legend. Then fast-forwards to the high-tech production line of constructs in Belthas IV. A stock neural net gives each construct memories and abilities, with each construct programmed to obey. Being that the production of constructs is 'organic', each construct is carefully evaluated to test whether they meet standards. The tester in the Imperfect story is suitably bored, until a single instance with one of the constructs occurs.
Imperfect is brilliant in its description of how the constructs are given life - each finely crafted detail lends a base understanding of the forge world of Belthas IV. I crave believable, detailed explanation when reading sci fi, and this didn't disappoint. (Although if I wanted to nitpick, I'd say the description of the construct creation is slightly lengthy - possibly because at this point, I'm wondering if the description is all scene-setting. It does however, directly relate to what follows and gives a richer layer to the construct that we meet.) The language used in the description has just the right of amount of distance, like a documentary, which gives it a quality that feels authentic.
We jump into the mind of one of the constructs - a newly-created mind that is self-aware. So self-aware that it understands the fragility of its existence, and knows fear just as keenly as a being that has lived out in the world for years. David Adams creates a stunning portrayal of this construct and its existence on the edge of life. All beings battle for life, no matter how life is gifted, and David Adams creates this battle within something that has been alive for mere minutes, evoking pathos and poignancy.
I would definitely read on from this point.
March 23, 2014
Maybe it's my profession (programming), but it's boring and feel like forced.
April 11, 2014
Confused
it could've been a little longer to give more insight about the main character.. BUT I guess that's what gets you to purchase books following.
debating on finishing series
it could've been a little longer to give more insight about the main character.. BUT I guess that's what gets you to purchase books following.
debating on finishing series
December 14, 2014
Interesting, but very short. The story could have been expanded so much. I wonder how it will continue? I have already downloaded the rest of the books.
March 1, 2015
Hooked
Mission accomplished, I have been hooked to keep reading. I'm looking forward to the adventures ahead for this imperfect? creature.
Mission accomplished, I have been hooked to keep reading. I'm looking forward to the adventures ahead for this imperfect? creature.
Read
May 5, 2015very short
February 11, 2018
A good short story about the awakening of an ai. Interesting opening for a new world.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews