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Ben and Dave
It is the tale of Dave, a hapless obnoxious employee in the accounting department of an electrical firm, and Ben, the computer he operates who happens to be alive with a very distinct personality and will. Dave is attracted to a woman who works in his unit, Evelyn. Also, in his spare time at work, Dave is writing a western story.
Unfortunately, the relationship of Ben and Dave turns adversarial and both co-workers and management, not to mention Dave’s story, get drawn into their drama. The story combines fantasy with the living computer and the reality of the workplace which we have all experienced.
Unfortunately, the relationship of Ben and Dave turns adversarial and both co-workers and management, not to mention Dave’s story, get drawn into their drama. The story combines fantasy with the living computer and the reality of the workplace which we have all experienced.
52 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 13, 2013
1 person want to read
About the author
Steve King
4 books14 followersWith a childhood grounded in the peaceful, predictable, family-centered, Eisenhower 1950's, I was raised in the surfing environment of Hermosa Beach, California. I attended high school and college in the tumultuous 1960's, finishing at UCLA. Those were defining years for my generation and I remember so much from that time---the idealism and the sense of possibility, the culture clashes, the movements, the demonstrations, the changes in lifestyle, new paradigms for looking at the world, and of course the music which included concerts that seemed to transcend.
Taking a sharp turn, I ended up working in aerospace for eighteen years and later the government (low-income housing) for another seventeen years. Currently I am retired from full time work and live in the Philippines. I love to travel and enjoy touring the US, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, and Asia. I have also had the experience of being a quiz show contestant and was background in a really mediocre Matthew Broderick movie.
I love good movies and documentaries but feel reading opens me up to an even wider range of human experience. I like to think that I am influenced by a whole range of authors, from skilled crafters of children's stories, historical fiction by the likes of Michener and Vidal, Mailer, Updike, Nelson DeMille, Dickens and Jane Austen, extending out to the more esoteric fantasy writers like Philip K. Dick, Dan Simmons and my famous namesake, and everything in between. Nothing fascinates me more than the human mind and new and different ways of perceiving life and people. I look forward to getting to know other readers and writers.
Taking a sharp turn, I ended up working in aerospace for eighteen years and later the government (low-income housing) for another seventeen years. Currently I am retired from full time work and live in the Philippines. I love to travel and enjoy touring the US, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, and Asia. I have also had the experience of being a quiz show contestant and was background in a really mediocre Matthew Broderick movie.
I love good movies and documentaries but feel reading opens me up to an even wider range of human experience. I like to think that I am influenced by a whole range of authors, from skilled crafters of children's stories, historical fiction by the likes of Michener and Vidal, Mailer, Updike, Nelson DeMille, Dickens and Jane Austen, extending out to the more esoteric fantasy writers like Philip K. Dick, Dan Simmons and my famous namesake, and everything in between. Nothing fascinates me more than the human mind and new and different ways of perceiving life and people. I look forward to getting to know other readers and writers.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 7, 2015
This is quite possibly one of the most unique and original stories I have ever read! Ben and Dave is something that everyone in American society needs to read because our society is flooded with technology. Here we have a story that gives one of these gadgets a voice.
Ben and Dave gives readers a glimpse of the ‘life’ lived by a computer, portrayed by the character Ben and the relationship Ben has with his?—its?—owner, Dave. It’s quirky, it’s funny, and it’s very interesting. The narration switches back and forth to give us more insight on both characters—that seems to be a theme in King’s writing and I would know as someone who’s read three of his books now.
Ben and Dave is something you should read when you’re in the mood for a unique laugh. It’s surprisingly witty and has a way of making you feel connected to the oddest things. I felt bad for the way I treat my phone and computer after reading this story! So kudos to King for bringing to life a very inanimate object. How crazy do you have to be to give a soul to a computer and then to be able to evoke emotion from the readers? Some call it crazy but I think it’s wildly creative.
I’m used to reading about animals or even robots having ‘lives’ and ‘emotion’ which is totally believable for an animal but a computer is a concept I'm only just now stumbling upon. Maybe I’ve been living under a rock all this time, if that’s the case then I’m glad Ben and Dave was my introduction to this wonderful style of writing.
I highly recommend this story to audiences of all ages, especially those who enjoy quirky comedies and characters with a unique voice.
Ben and Dave gives readers a glimpse of the ‘life’ lived by a computer, portrayed by the character Ben and the relationship Ben has with his?—its?—owner, Dave. It’s quirky, it’s funny, and it’s very interesting. The narration switches back and forth to give us more insight on both characters—that seems to be a theme in King’s writing and I would know as someone who’s read three of his books now.
Ben and Dave is something you should read when you’re in the mood for a unique laugh. It’s surprisingly witty and has a way of making you feel connected to the oddest things. I felt bad for the way I treat my phone and computer after reading this story! So kudos to King for bringing to life a very inanimate object. How crazy do you have to be to give a soul to a computer and then to be able to evoke emotion from the readers? Some call it crazy but I think it’s wildly creative.
I’m used to reading about animals or even robots having ‘lives’ and ‘emotion’ which is totally believable for an animal but a computer is a concept I'm only just now stumbling upon. Maybe I’ve been living under a rock all this time, if that’s the case then I’m glad Ben and Dave was my introduction to this wonderful style of writing.
I highly recommend this story to audiences of all ages, especially those who enjoy quirky comedies and characters with a unique voice.
May 24, 2015
Review of Ben and Dave by Steve King.
I had just finished a long and hard book and needed some light relief so started Ben and Dave by Steve King. I read it at one sitting because I wanted to know how it would finish.
This is a cautionary tale and everyone should read it before hurling abuse at inanimate objects which are only trying to make our lives easier. The book is short and the presentation unusual but the story gallops through a spiral of unintended consequences with all the enthusiasm of a lemming heading cliff wards. I found myself wanting to shout ‘Don’t do it’ but it adds to the enjoyment.
Buy this book, you need to read it before you next switch on your computer. You have been warned.
I had just finished a long and hard book and needed some light relief so started Ben and Dave by Steve King. I read it at one sitting because I wanted to know how it would finish.
This is a cautionary tale and everyone should read it before hurling abuse at inanimate objects which are only trying to make our lives easier. The book is short and the presentation unusual but the story gallops through a spiral of unintended consequences with all the enthusiasm of a lemming heading cliff wards. I found myself wanting to shout ‘Don’t do it’ but it adds to the enjoyment.
Buy this book, you need to read it before you next switch on your computer. You have been warned.
May 22, 2015
This is written in an unusual format, but once you get used to it it's quite fun and quirky. It definitely suits the subject matter.
So, we have PC Ben (computer not policeman), and this book explores his antics with employee Dave.
It's a nice quick story, but one that grabs your attention.
I'd love to read more; why is Dave drinking? What was Ben doing before Dave?
I'm certainly going to be a lot nicer to my computer, that's for sure!
It's so easy to bemoan the woeful hours spent in our day jobs but do we spare a thought for the poor computers who don't even get to leave the office, who are enslaved and cursed by us? ;-)
So, we have PC Ben (computer not policeman), and this book explores his antics with employee Dave.
It's a nice quick story, but one that grabs your attention.
I'd love to read more; why is Dave drinking? What was Ben doing before Dave?
I'm certainly going to be a lot nicer to my computer, that's for sure!
It's so easy to bemoan the woeful hours spent in our day jobs but do we spare a thought for the poor computers who don't even get to leave the office, who are enslaved and cursed by us? ;-)
July 28, 2015
This review is also posted on my blog: http://theshortreviewer.blogspot.com/...
I wasn't sure what to expect of this story, but it ended up being a lot of fun! It's written in a style more like a screenplay rather than in regular prose form, which I enjoyed. It's a story about Dave, an office employee with a poor work ethic, and Ben, his work computer - who has his own personality and is not too fond of Dave. He's rather judgmental actually, and he comes up with ways to sabotage him. Not that Dave is without blame; he has quite a few character flaws that make this story very entertaining.
This was quick and easy to read, and there were several moments where I literally did laugh out loud. I haven't read too many light, humorous books, so this was a refreshing change for me. It was really different and highly enjoyable.
Even though Dave made some dumb decisions and said some really stupid things, it was hard not to feel a little sorry for him. He was a bit of a dope, the kind of person I'm sure we've all run into or worked with at some point or another. This story depicted the American office life rather well and with the added element of a self-aware computer, it was a particularly amusing tale.
*Disclosure: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn't sure what to expect of this story, but it ended up being a lot of fun! It's written in a style more like a screenplay rather than in regular prose form, which I enjoyed. It's a story about Dave, an office employee with a poor work ethic, and Ben, his work computer - who has his own personality and is not too fond of Dave. He's rather judgmental actually, and he comes up with ways to sabotage him. Not that Dave is without blame; he has quite a few character flaws that make this story very entertaining.
This was quick and easy to read, and there were several moments where I literally did laugh out loud. I haven't read too many light, humorous books, so this was a refreshing change for me. It was really different and highly enjoyable.
Even though Dave made some dumb decisions and said some really stupid things, it was hard not to feel a little sorry for him. He was a bit of a dope, the kind of person I'm sure we've all run into or worked with at some point or another. This story depicted the American office life rather well and with the added element of a self-aware computer, it was a particularly amusing tale.
*Disclosure: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews