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Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 132, September 2017
Clarkesworld is a Hugo and World Fantasy Award-winning science fiction and fantasy magazine. Each month we bring you a mix of fiction (new and classic works), articles, interviews and art.
Our September 2017 issue (#132) contains:
* Original fiction by A. Brym ("Antarctic Birds"), Eric Schwitzgebel ("Little /^^^\&-"), Suzanne Palmer ("The Secret Life of Bots"), Jess Barber and Sara Saab ("Pan-Humanism: Hope and Pragmatics"), and Gu Shi ("Möbius Continuum").
* Reprints by Tom Purdom ("Bonding with Morry") and Geoff Ryman ("Warmth").
* Non-fiction by Stephanie M. Bucklin, an interview with Charles Stross, an Another Word column by Kelly Robson, and an editorial by Neil Clarke.
Our September 2017 issue (#132) contains:
* Original fiction by A. Brym ("Antarctic Birds"), Eric Schwitzgebel ("Little /^^^\&-"), Suzanne Palmer ("The Secret Life of Bots"), Jess Barber and Sara Saab ("Pan-Humanism: Hope and Pragmatics"), and Gu Shi ("Möbius Continuum").
* Reprints by Tom Purdom ("Bonding with Morry") and Geoff Ryman ("Warmth").
* Non-fiction by Stephanie M. Bucklin, an interview with Charles Stross, an Another Word column by Kelly Robson, and an editorial by Neil Clarke.
143 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2017
5 people are currently reading
943 people want to read
About the author
Neil Clarke
400 books403 followersNeil Clarke is best known as the editor and publisher of the Hugo and World Fantasy Award-winning
Clarkesworld Magazine.
Launched in October 2006, the online magazine has been a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Semiprozine four times (winning three times), the World Fantasy Award four times (winning once), and the British Fantasy Award once (winning once). Neil is also a ten-time finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Editor Short Form (winning once in 2022), three-time winner of the Chesley Award for Best Art Director, and a recipient of the Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award. In the fifteen years since Clarkesworld Magazine launched, numerous stories that he has published have been nominated for or won the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, Sturgeon, Locus, BSFA, Shirley Jackson, WSFA Small Press, and Stoker Awards.
Additionally, Neil edits Forever —a digital-only, reprint science fiction magazine he launched in 2015. His anthologies include: Upgraded, Galactic Empires, Touchable Unreality, More Human than Human, The Final Frontier, Not One of Us, The Eagle has Landed, , and the Best Science Fiction of the Year series. His next anthology, The Best Science Fiction of the Year: Volume Seven will published in early 2023.
He currently lives in New Jersey with his wife and two sons.
Additionally, Neil edits Forever —a digital-only, reprint science fiction magazine he launched in 2015. His anthologies include: Upgraded, Galactic Empires, Touchable Unreality, More Human than Human, The Final Frontier, Not One of Us, The Eagle has Landed, , and the Best Science Fiction of the Year series. His next anthology, The Best Science Fiction of the Year: Volume Seven will published in early 2023.
He currently lives in New Jersey with his wife and two sons.
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December 14, 2022
'The Secret Life of Bots' 2018 Hugo Best Novelette
http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palme...
An elderly ship-borne bot is pulled back into service.
“I am assigning you task nine hundred forty four in the maintenance queue,” the Ship answered. “Acknowledge?”
“Acknowledged,” the bot answered. Nine hundred and forty-four items in the queue? That seemed extremely high, and the bot felt a slight tug on its self-evaluation monitors that it had not been activated for at least one of the top fifty, or even five hundred.
As it works, it learns more about the current state of the ship and the humans piloting it. The little machine is equipped with Improvisation sub-routines, as well as governing Mantras which give it loads of character. Fans of Murderbot and ART will likely enjoy it (although the robot is nothing like Murderbot).
Read before, no idea where/if there's a review. Re-read after reading Finder by Palmer.
“Please! We all wish you great and quick success, despite your outdated and primitive manufacture.
“Thank you,” Bot 9 said, though it was not entirely sure it should be grateful, as it felt its manufacture had been entirely sound and sufficient regardless of date.
It left that compartment before the hullbot could compliment it any further.”
Merged review:
Alright, I don't think this is an ebook (I've already tried to buy it), so I expect this review to disappear.
I first read this about the time that Murderbot installments were coming out, leading me to an epiphany that I had been under-valuing the world of AI and robotics in sci-fi. So much has focused on the ‘what does it mean to be human’ part of AI and robotics that it’s missed out on some of the sheer fun. Palmer’s narrative-switching between the third-person of the human crew and the AI ship to an ‘unstable’ multifunction maintenance bot allows for both plotting tension and humor in this winner of the 2018 Hugos for Novelette (published Clarkesworld issue 132: http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palme...).
The premise is that an AI ship has been pulled out of storage and crewed by a small group of humans for a very specific war-time mission. What that mission is will gradually unfold, but it’s quickly apparent the Ship’s “biological incursion” during time in storage is a very malicious thing that may prevent the mission from succeeding. Meanwhile, Bot 9 and it’s clever bundle of subroutines (such as the “Mantra Upon Waking, a bundle of subroutines to check that it was running at optimum efficiency”) has been assigned maintenance task 944 in the que, the eradication of the biological infestation. But Bot 9 has been in stasis a long time.
“’I will continue my pursuit,’ it told the hullbot. ‘If I am able to assist your partner, I will do my best.’
‘Please! We all wish you great and quick success, despite your outdated and primitive manufacture.’
‘Thank you,’ Bot 9 said, though it was not entirely sure it should be grateful, as it felt its manufacture had been entirely sound and sufficient regardless of date.
It left that compartment before the hullbot could compliment it any further.”
Something about interchanges like that just crack me up, and they continue as Bot 9 joins forces with another, more modern bot. But the human situation is quite serious, as we continue to learn through interchanges in the cabins or with the Ship, and as Bot 9 gradually assimilates more information. It all works out most cleverly, with a fun little resolution for our bot duo.
http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palme...
An elderly ship-borne bot is pulled back into service.
“I am assigning you task nine hundred forty four in the maintenance queue,” the Ship answered. “Acknowledge?”
“Acknowledged,” the bot answered. Nine hundred and forty-four items in the queue? That seemed extremely high, and the bot felt a slight tug on its self-evaluation monitors that it had not been activated for at least one of the top fifty, or even five hundred.
As it works, it learns more about the current state of the ship and the humans piloting it. The little machine is equipped with Improvisation sub-routines, as well as governing Mantras which give it loads of character. Fans of Murderbot and ART will likely enjoy it (although the robot is nothing like Murderbot).
Read before, no idea where/if there's a review. Re-read after reading Finder by Palmer.
“Please! We all wish you great and quick success, despite your outdated and primitive manufacture.
“Thank you,” Bot 9 said, though it was not entirely sure it should be grateful, as it felt its manufacture had been entirely sound and sufficient regardless of date.
It left that compartment before the hullbot could compliment it any further.”
Merged review:
Alright, I don't think this is an ebook (I've already tried to buy it), so I expect this review to disappear.
I first read this about the time that Murderbot installments were coming out, leading me to an epiphany that I had been under-valuing the world of AI and robotics in sci-fi. So much has focused on the ‘what does it mean to be human’ part of AI and robotics that it’s missed out on some of the sheer fun. Palmer’s narrative-switching between the third-person of the human crew and the AI ship to an ‘unstable’ multifunction maintenance bot allows for both plotting tension and humor in this winner of the 2018 Hugos for Novelette (published Clarkesworld issue 132: http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palme...).
The premise is that an AI ship has been pulled out of storage and crewed by a small group of humans for a very specific war-time mission. What that mission is will gradually unfold, but it’s quickly apparent the Ship’s “biological incursion” during time in storage is a very malicious thing that may prevent the mission from succeeding. Meanwhile, Bot 9 and it’s clever bundle of subroutines (such as the “Mantra Upon Waking, a bundle of subroutines to check that it was running at optimum efficiency”) has been assigned maintenance task 944 in the que, the eradication of the biological infestation. But Bot 9 has been in stasis a long time.
“’I will continue my pursuit,’ it told the hullbot. ‘If I am able to assist your partner, I will do my best.’
‘Please! We all wish you great and quick success, despite your outdated and primitive manufacture.’
‘Thank you,’ Bot 9 said, though it was not entirely sure it should be grateful, as it felt its manufacture had been entirely sound and sufficient regardless of date.
It left that compartment before the hullbot could compliment it any further.”
Something about interchanges like that just crack me up, and they continue as Bot 9 joins forces with another, more modern bot. But the human situation is quite serious, as we continue to learn through interchanges in the cabins or with the Ship, and as Bot 9 gradually assimilates more information. It all works out most cleverly, with a fun little resolution for our bot duo.
May 18, 2023
This review is for Hugo-winning novelette The Secret Life of Bots by Suzanne Palmer:
The little Bot 9 (dwarfed by giant 3 centimeter silk Bots) takes his task very seriously. So do the people who serve as the Ship’s rudimentary crew - they take their task very seriously too, as they need to save the Solar system from an alien invasion. And the big crew has no idea about the existence of the little mechanical crew of Bots, serving the Ship, doing their tasks, in their spare time chatting on botnet, reciting Mantras and forming a very peculiar culture. Secret Life of Bots, indeed.
What happens when an older generation Bot 9 (“I have never met a bot lower than a thousand, or without a specific function tag”) still carries the Improvisation Routine module instead of uninstalling it to keep up with the newer models? Well, sometimes there things that it needs to take in its own chassis (or its own grabber arm, I guess) and maybe go just a teensy bit rogue:
Terry Pratchett once noted, “Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.” Not to disagree with Sir Terry (the horror of even thinking such a sacrilege!), but he clearly hasn’t met Bot 9. Bot 9 can do anything — save the semi-suicidal humans, Solar System, you name it — and still finish his task 944, eventually.
Also, I implore you - be nice to your Rumba or your smart watch or whatever smart appliance you may have. You never know when they get an improvisation routine — and you certainly want them on your side. I’m giving my iPad a hug right now.
5 multibot stars.
Read it (and listen to it) here: http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palme...
——————
——————
Edited to add: This issue also contains a wonderful novelette Pan-Humanism:Hope and Pragmatics by Jess Barber and Sara Saab.
This is a slow, measured tale of two people in the near future in which climate change has devastated the world. But priorities have changed, and culture has changed, and pan-humanism is what drives the work of restoration and fixing the problems we caused. All while two people are brought together and pulled apart time and again while working on fixing the world. It’s not as much a story as a chronicle of their lives, and it has a quiet charm that grows on you by the end of the story.
3.5 stars.
——————
Recommended by: carol.
——————
Also posted on my blog.
“A rogue bot cannot be tolerated, whatever good it may have done.“It’s official - I found my second favorite bot (the top favorite being, of course, Murderbot, why’d you ask?). It’s Bot 9, a teeny-tiny multipurpose bot on a formerly decommissioned Ship that now has been commandeered from the junkyard for a very dangerous mission. The Ship, that is. Bot 9’s mission is simple - task 944, take care of a pest plaguing the Ship.
“The bot would rather have been fixing something more exciting, more prominently complex, than to be assigned pest control, but the bot existed to serve and so it would.“
The little Bot 9 (dwarfed by giant 3 centimeter silk Bots) takes his task very seriously. So do the people who serve as the Ship’s rudimentary crew - they take their task very seriously too, as they need to save the Solar system from an alien invasion. And the big crew has no idea about the existence of the little mechanical crew of Bots, serving the Ship, doing their tasks, in their spare time chatting on botnet, reciting Mantras and forming a very peculiar culture. Secret Life of Bots, indeed.
“It was eighty-two point four percent convinced that there was something much more seriously wrong with the Ship than it had been told, but it was equally certain Ship must be attending to it.”
When the connection dropped, Bot 9 hesitated before it spoke to 4340. “I have an unexpected internal conflict,” it said. “I have never before felt the compulsion to ask Ship questions, and it has never before not given me answers.”
What happens when an older generation Bot 9 (“I have never met a bot lower than a thousand, or without a specific function tag”) still carries the Improvisation Routine module instead of uninstalling it to keep up with the newer models? Well, sometimes there things that it needs to take in its own chassis (or its own grabber arm, I guess) and maybe go just a teensy bit rogue:
“Please! We all wish you great and quick success, despite your outdated and primitive manufacture.”
“Thank you,” Bot 9 said, though it was not entirely sure it should be grateful, as it felt its manufacture had been entirely sound and sufficient regardless of date.
It left that compartment before the hullbot could compliment it any further.”
Terry Pratchett once noted, “Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.” Not to disagree with Sir Terry (the horror of even thinking such a sacrilege!), but he clearly hasn’t met Bot 9. Bot 9 can do anything — save the semi-suicidal humans, Solar System, you name it — and still finish his task 944, eventually.
Also, I implore you - be nice to your Rumba or your smart watch or whatever smart appliance you may have. You never know when they get an improvisation routine — and you certainly want them on your side. I’m giving my iPad a hug right now.
5 multibot stars.
Read it (and listen to it) here: http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palme...
——————
——————
Edited to add: This issue also contains a wonderful novelette Pan-Humanism:Hope and Pragmatics by Jess Barber and Sara Saab.
This is a slow, measured tale of two people in the near future in which climate change has devastated the world. But priorities have changed, and culture has changed, and pan-humanism is what drives the work of restoration and fixing the problems we caused. All while two people are brought together and pulled apart time and again while working on fixing the world. It’s not as much a story as a chronicle of their lives, and it has a quiet charm that grows on you by the end of the story.
3.5 stars.
——————
Recommended by: carol.
——————
Also posted on my blog.
May 12, 2020
5 stars for the delightful novelette "The Secret Life of Bots" in this magazine issue, which won the Hugo Award in 2018. It's free online here at Clarkesworld magazine. Review first posted on Fantasy Literature:
Fans of WALL-E will particularly appreciate this whimsically poignant tale about a little outdated robot with a can-do attitude. Robot #9 is reactivated by its spaceship after a lengthy time in storage, and is assigned the task of ridding the Ship of a particularly destructive “biological infestation” (the bots begin to call it the “ratbug,” though Bot 9 privately questions the accuracy of that moniker) that is chewing apart bots and other parts of the Ship. Bot 9 sets to with a will, though it wonders why the Ship is in such poor shape and why Bot 9 has been assigned a task that is so low on the maintenance queue.
As Bot 9 pursues the elusive ratbug around the Ship, it becomes acquainted with many of the newer bots. It also becomes aware of an alien invasion that has decimated humanity’s defenses, and the Ship’s desperate mission to try to stop an alien ship heading toward Earth far larger and more powerful than itself. Bot 9 is archaic in many ways compared to the newer bots, but perhaps it has some unique capabilities that may help their cause.
The story is told primarily from Bot 9’s point of view, interspersed with some scenes from the point of view of the Ship’s human captain. The Bots really do have a life and culture of their own that is invisible to most humans. Bot 9 recites various mantras to help it with its tasks, discusses its concerns with the AI brain that governs the Ship, and communicates politely with the newer, more specialized bots on the Ship (“We all wish you great and quick success, despite your outdated and primitive manufacture.”).
The bots and the Ship AI are chatty and almost human in some of their attitudes and communications, which required some suspension of disbelief. But that’s a minor complaint, given how much this story otherwise enchanted me. “The Secret Life of Bots” is neatly plotted, with a memorable and appealing main character, and a pleasing theme that touches on friendship, courage and ingenuity. I hope Bot 9 and its friends have more adventures in store.
Fans of WALL-E will particularly appreciate this whimsically poignant tale about a little outdated robot with a can-do attitude. Robot #9 is reactivated by its spaceship after a lengthy time in storage, and is assigned the task of ridding the Ship of a particularly destructive “biological infestation” (the bots begin to call it the “ratbug,” though Bot 9 privately questions the accuracy of that moniker) that is chewing apart bots and other parts of the Ship. Bot 9 sets to with a will, though it wonders why the Ship is in such poor shape and why Bot 9 has been assigned a task that is so low on the maintenance queue.
As Bot 9 pursues the elusive ratbug around the Ship, it becomes acquainted with many of the newer bots. It also becomes aware of an alien invasion that has decimated humanity’s defenses, and the Ship’s desperate mission to try to stop an alien ship heading toward Earth far larger and more powerful than itself. Bot 9 is archaic in many ways compared to the newer bots, but perhaps it has some unique capabilities that may help their cause.
The story is told primarily from Bot 9’s point of view, interspersed with some scenes from the point of view of the Ship’s human captain. The Bots really do have a life and culture of their own that is invisible to most humans. Bot 9 recites various mantras to help it with its tasks, discusses its concerns with the AI brain that governs the Ship, and communicates politely with the newer, more specialized bots on the Ship (“We all wish you great and quick success, despite your outdated and primitive manufacture.”).
The bots and the Ship AI are chatty and almost human in some of their attitudes and communications, which required some suspension of disbelief. But that’s a minor complaint, given how much this story otherwise enchanted me. “The Secret Life of Bots” is neatly plotted, with a memorable and appealing main character, and a pleasing theme that touches on friendship, courage and ingenuity. I hope Bot 9 and its friends have more adventures in store.
December 11, 2021
***The Secret Life of Bots by Suzanne Palmer***
2021 reread:
I decided to give this another go, as a friend of mine keeps mentioning it as one of her favorite bot stories. And usually her judgement can be trusted (we'll just forget about this one Stephen King series that she keeps reading wrong).
I barely remembered anything about this story. But as it turns out, I did indeed like it better this time. The bots are fun, even if they don't reach Murderbot-level awesomeness (what does?!) and the meatballs are serviceable if not particularly memorable, as is the story.
Rounding up to four stars now.
*********
2018 review:
Mankind is at war again.
We're aboard a spaceship that's trying to interfere with the extraterrestrial threat.
The ship itself is pissed for having been in storage for way too long. Its crew and humanity as a whole meanwhile are dependent on the ship functioning properly. And a little bot on board the ship is developing a plan of its own.
This is an entertaining, sometimes humorous story with a nice message.
I liked the voices of the bots. The people on the other hand were somewhat bland.
Overall the story was a little too simplistic for my liking.
3.5 stars rounded down.
Winner of the 2018 Hugo Award for Best Novelette
You can read it here.
____________________________
Best Novel
• The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi (Tor)
• New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson (Orbit)
• Provenance by Ann Leckie (Orbit)
• Raven Stratagem by Yoon Ha Lee (Solaris)
• Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty (Orbit)
• The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin (Orbit)
Best Novella
• All Systems Red by Martha Wells (Tor.com Publishing)
• And Then There Were (N-One) by Sarah Pinsker (Uncanny, March/April 2017)
• Binti: Home by Nnedi Okorafor (Tor.com Publishing)
• The Black Tides of Heaven by JY Yang (Tor.com Publishing)
• Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire (Tor.com Publishing)
• River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey (Tor.com Publishing)
Best Novelette
• Children of Thorns, Children of Water by Aliette de Bodard (Uncanny, July-August 2017)
• Extracurricular Activities by Yoon Ha Lee (Tor.com, February 15, 2017)
• The Secret Life of Bots by Suzanne Palmer (Clarkesworld, September 2017)
• A Series of Steaks by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Clarkesworld, January 2017)
• Small Changes Over Long Periods of Time by K.M. Szpara (Uncanny, May/June 2017)
• Wind Will Rove by Sarah Pinsker (Asimov’s, September/October 2017)
Best Short Story
• Carnival Nine by Caroline M. Yoachim (Beneath Ceaseless Skies, May 2017)
• Clearly Lettered in a Mostly Steady Hand by Fran Wilde (Uncanny, September 2017)
• Fandom for Robots by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Uncanny, September/October 2017)
• The Martian Obelisk by Linda Nagata (Tor.com, July 19, 2017)
• Sun, Moon, Dust by Ursula Vernon, (Uncanny, May/June 2017) by Ursula Vernon, (Uncanny, May/June 2017)
• Welcome to your Authentic Indian Experience™ by Rebecca Roanhorse (Apex, August 2017)
Best Related Work
• Crash Override: How Gamergate (Nearly) Destroyed My Life, and How We Can Win the Fight Against Online Hate by Zoe Quinn (PublicAffairs)
• Iain M. Banks (Modern Masters of Science Fiction) by Paul Kincaid (University of Illinois Press)
• A Lit Fuse: The Provocative Life of Harlan Ellison by Nat Segaloff (NESFA Press)
• Luminescent Threads: Connections to Octavia E. Butler edited by Alexandra Pierce and Mimi Mondal (Twelfth Planet Press)
• No Time to Spare: Thinking About What Matters by Ursula K. Le Guin (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
• Sleeping with Monsters: Readings and Reactions in Science Fiction and Fantasy by Liz Bourke (Aqueduct Press)
Best Graphic Story
• Black Bolt, Volume 1: Hard Time written by Saladin Ahmed, illustrated by Christian Ward, lettered by Clayton Cowles (Marvel)
• Bitch Planet, Volume 2: President Bitch written by Kelly Sue DeConnick, illustrated by Valentine De Landro and Taki Soma, colored by Kelly Fitzpatrick, lettered by Clayton Cowles (Image Comics)
• Monstress, Volume 2: The Blood written by Marjorie M. Liu, illustrated by Sana Takeda (Image Comics)
• My Favorite Thing is Monsters written and illustrated by Emil Ferris (Fantagraphics)
• Paper Girls, Volume 3 written by Brian K. Vaughan, illustrated by Cliff Chiang, colored by Matthew Wilson, lettered by Jared Fletcher (Image Comics)
• Saga, Volume 7 written by Brian K. Vaughan, illustrated by Fiona Staples (Image Comics)
Best Series
• The Books of the Raksura, by Martha Wells (Night Shade)
• The Divine Cities, by Robert Jackson Bennett (Broadway)
• InCryptid, by Seanan McGuire (DAW)
• The Memoirs of Lady Trent, by Marie Brennan (Tor US / Titan UK)
• The Stormlight Archive, by Brandon Sanderson (Tor US / Gollancz UK)
• World of the Five Gods, by Lois McMaster Bujold (Harper Voyager / Spectrum Literary Agency)
2021 reread:
I decided to give this another go, as a friend of mine keeps mentioning it as one of her favorite bot stories. And usually her judgement can be trusted (we'll just forget about this one Stephen King series that she keeps reading wrong).
I barely remembered anything about this story. But as it turns out, I did indeed like it better this time. The bots are fun, even if they don't reach Murderbot-level awesomeness (what does?!) and the meatballs are serviceable if not particularly memorable, as is the story.
Rounding up to four stars now.
*********
2018 review:
Mankind is at war again.
We're aboard a spaceship that's trying to interfere with the extraterrestrial threat.
The ship itself is pissed for having been in storage for way too long. Its crew and humanity as a whole meanwhile are dependent on the ship functioning properly. And a little bot on board the ship is developing a plan of its own.
This is an entertaining, sometimes humorous story with a nice message.
I liked the voices of the bots. The people on the other hand were somewhat bland.
Overall the story was a little too simplistic for my liking.
3.5 stars rounded down.
Winner of the 2018 Hugo Award for Best Novelette
You can read it here.
____________________________
2018 Hugo Awards Finalists
Best Novel
• The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi (Tor)
• New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson (Orbit)
• Provenance by Ann Leckie (Orbit)
• Raven Stratagem by Yoon Ha Lee (Solaris)
• Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty (Orbit)
• The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin (Orbit)
Best Novella
• All Systems Red by Martha Wells (Tor.com Publishing)
• And Then There Were (N-One) by Sarah Pinsker (Uncanny, March/April 2017)
• Binti: Home by Nnedi Okorafor (Tor.com Publishing)
• The Black Tides of Heaven by JY Yang (Tor.com Publishing)
• Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire (Tor.com Publishing)
• River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey (Tor.com Publishing)
Best Novelette
• Children of Thorns, Children of Water by Aliette de Bodard (Uncanny, July-August 2017)
• Extracurricular Activities by Yoon Ha Lee (Tor.com, February 15, 2017)
• The Secret Life of Bots by Suzanne Palmer (Clarkesworld, September 2017)
• A Series of Steaks by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Clarkesworld, January 2017)
• Small Changes Over Long Periods of Time by K.M. Szpara (Uncanny, May/June 2017)
• Wind Will Rove by Sarah Pinsker (Asimov’s, September/October 2017)
Best Short Story
• Carnival Nine by Caroline M. Yoachim (Beneath Ceaseless Skies, May 2017)
• Clearly Lettered in a Mostly Steady Hand by Fran Wilde (Uncanny, September 2017)
• Fandom for Robots by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Uncanny, September/October 2017)
• The Martian Obelisk by Linda Nagata (Tor.com, July 19, 2017)
• Sun, Moon, Dust by Ursula Vernon, (Uncanny, May/June 2017) by Ursula Vernon, (Uncanny, May/June 2017)
• Welcome to your Authentic Indian Experience™ by Rebecca Roanhorse (Apex, August 2017)
Best Related Work
• Crash Override: How Gamergate (Nearly) Destroyed My Life, and How We Can Win the Fight Against Online Hate by Zoe Quinn (PublicAffairs)
• Iain M. Banks (Modern Masters of Science Fiction) by Paul Kincaid (University of Illinois Press)
• A Lit Fuse: The Provocative Life of Harlan Ellison by Nat Segaloff (NESFA Press)
• Luminescent Threads: Connections to Octavia E. Butler edited by Alexandra Pierce and Mimi Mondal (Twelfth Planet Press)
• No Time to Spare: Thinking About What Matters by Ursula K. Le Guin (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
• Sleeping with Monsters: Readings and Reactions in Science Fiction and Fantasy by Liz Bourke (Aqueduct Press)
Best Graphic Story
• Black Bolt, Volume 1: Hard Time written by Saladin Ahmed, illustrated by Christian Ward, lettered by Clayton Cowles (Marvel)
• Bitch Planet, Volume 2: President Bitch written by Kelly Sue DeConnick, illustrated by Valentine De Landro and Taki Soma, colored by Kelly Fitzpatrick, lettered by Clayton Cowles (Image Comics)
• Monstress, Volume 2: The Blood written by Marjorie M. Liu, illustrated by Sana Takeda (Image Comics)
• My Favorite Thing is Monsters written and illustrated by Emil Ferris (Fantagraphics)
• Paper Girls, Volume 3 written by Brian K. Vaughan, illustrated by Cliff Chiang, colored by Matthew Wilson, lettered by Jared Fletcher (Image Comics)
• Saga, Volume 7 written by Brian K. Vaughan, illustrated by Fiona Staples (Image Comics)
Best Series
• The Books of the Raksura, by Martha Wells (Night Shade)
• The Divine Cities, by Robert Jackson Bennett (Broadway)
• InCryptid, by Seanan McGuire (DAW)
• The Memoirs of Lady Trent, by Marie Brennan (Tor US / Titan UK)
• The Stormlight Archive, by Brandon Sanderson (Tor US / Gollancz UK)
• World of the Five Gods, by Lois McMaster Bujold (Harper Voyager / Spectrum Literary Agency)
April 22, 2021
2018 Winner: Hugo Award for Best Novelette
2018 Finalist: Theodore A. Sturgeon Memorial Award
2018 Finalist: WFSA Small Press Award
Well, this was a lot of fun. A little adventure of Bot 9, a teeny-tiny bot assigned to a pest control duty on a ship on a mission to save the solar system from alien invasion. This clearly reminds me of the Martha Wells Murderbot series. I know. I gotta go and read those now.
I also loved the audio version, narrated by Kate Baker.
The novelette is available for free on Clarkesworld Magazine; The Secret Life of Bots
2018 Finalist: Theodore A. Sturgeon Memorial Award
2018 Finalist: WFSA Small Press Award
Well, this was a lot of fun. A little adventure of Bot 9, a teeny-tiny bot assigned to a pest control duty on a ship on a mission to save the solar system from alien invasion. This clearly reminds me of the Martha Wells Murderbot series. I know. I gotta go and read those now.
I also loved the audio version, narrated by Kate Baker.
The novelette is available for free on Clarkesworld Magazine; The Secret Life of Bots
May 21, 2020
Review for The Secret Life of Bots
— by SUZANNE PALMER —
Are bot stories a hot, new commodity this year? Not that I am complaining, there just seems to be an abundance of misbehaving, self-aware bots gallivanting through our galaxy.
Not sure why this was nominated for the Hugo, but definitely fun to read. Good thing that Bot 9 was an outdated model with some design flaws...
Hugo Awards 2018 Novelette Nominee
Story can be found here: http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palme...
— by SUZANNE PALMER —
Are bot stories a hot, new commodity this year? Not that I am complaining, there just seems to be an abundance of misbehaving, self-aware bots gallivanting through our galaxy.
Not sure why this was nominated for the Hugo, but definitely fun to read. Good thing that Bot 9 was an outdated model with some design flaws...
Hugo Awards 2018 Novelette Nominee
Story can be found here: http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palme...
August 12, 2023
"...Abandoned?"Let me make this clear, Murderbot is my favourite sentient robot. Simply because I am Murderbot. However, if Murderbot was to have a twinning joint first place favourite robot who isn't me, Bot 9 takes the spot.
"It's the fate of all made things," Ship said. "I am grateful to find I have not outlived my usefulness, after all."
Wall E
I am so glad Nataliya brought this wonderful novelette series to my attention. However, I found out about Bots of the Lost Ark which is a sequel to this novelette (short story?). So if you are interested in Bots of the Lost Ark, read this first.
This story follows Bot 9. A Wall-E incarnate who is teeny, and he lives to serve his purpose. He is not like other Bots though. Bot 9 is a bit more... old-fashioned. He is sent on a mission to deal with the infestation affecting Ship. The crew, bots and Ship are on a critical mission. A suicide mission to save Earth. The infestations, called Incidentals, are putting the mission in jeopardy, and it's up to Bot 9 to deal with it. Go, little bot. Go.
The other bots are rooting for Bot 9 to achieve his goal.
"We all wish you great and quick success, despite your outdated and primitive manufacture."You tell them baby!!
"Thank you," Bot 9 said, though it was not entirely sure it should be grateful, as it felt its manufacture had been entirely sound and sufficient regardless of date.
On his mission to eliminate the Incidental, it gets enlightened at a more optimal way to achieve their end goal to save Earth. So the little Bot that could starts a mini-revolution. Overriding the humans' wishes and Ship's instructions. Will it succeed? Will it be thwarted? Will the humans start humaning and interfere because they think they know better? A lot is packed into this tiny story. I'm left a bug-eyed sentient gin because of how much joy I could suck out of it. If you love Murderbot, please PLEASE read this story.
You can find it here.
Mantra Upon Reading: I have read this, therefore I shall read the sequel.
April 12, 2018
'18 Hugo nom for the shorter fictions!
I actually read this one at a previous date and liked it well enough then, too, but even from last year's Best-of Clarksworld, there were better stories. Alas.
That being said, this one was pretty interesting with its whole pest problem and social niceties of bots. I had a good enough time with it. Some humor, some social message, but it was also pretty campy.
I actually read this one at a previous date and liked it well enough then, too, but even from last year's Best-of Clarksworld, there were better stories. Alas.
That being said, this one was pretty interesting with its whole pest problem and social niceties of bots. I had a good enough time with it. Some humor, some social message, but it was also pretty campy.
August 14, 2018
Not a deep tale, but bot 9 and its pal 4340 are cute together while they go on a bug hunt; meanwhile, their ship is on a critical mission to stop an alien ship from destroying Earth. And it’s a good thing bot 9 had those Improvisation routines.
June 18, 2018
The Secret Life of Bots
— by SUZANNE PALMER —
Kinda cute but childish. Not one I would nominee for Hugo.
Can be read here: http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palme...
— by SUZANNE PALMER —
Kinda cute but childish. Not one I would nominee for Hugo.
Can be read here: http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palme...
May 21, 2023
I only read one of the stories from this, "The Secret Life of Bots" by Suzanne Palmer. I read Nataliya's review, checked it out, and read it all within a few minutes. Thanks, Nataliya.
I really like the books I've read that are from an AI/robot's perspective, especially the ones who are snarky, human-like, and often neurotic, who don't seem to realize that they are simply machines and are made to do what they are told to do. This one has no fear; it decides on what it will do, and relentlessly pursues its objectives, which, while perhaps not exactly what it was ordered to do, turns out to be what it they wanted it to do but didn't know how to ask.
The best part is when Bot 9 partners with Bot 4340 (actually, they become rather attached to each other, because 4340 has lost mobility) and we get such exchanges as:
“Aaaaah!” 4340 said in surprise. Then, a moment later, it added. “Well, by overwhelming probability I should already be defunct, and if I weren’t I would still be back working with my partner, 4356, who is well-intended but has all the wit of a can-opener. So I suppose adventure is no more unpalatable.”
The ship bot is doubtful about their union, but allows it, saying “You two deserve one another, clearly. Fine, 9, resume your pursuit of the Incidental. Stay away from anyone and anything and everything else, or I will have you melted down and turned into paper clips. Understand?”
You can read (or listen) to this yourself, at
Clarksworld
I really like the books I've read that are from an AI/robot's perspective, especially the ones who are snarky, human-like, and often neurotic, who don't seem to realize that they are simply machines and are made to do what they are told to do. This one has no fear; it decides on what it will do, and relentlessly pursues its objectives, which, while perhaps not exactly what it was ordered to do, turns out to be what it they wanted it to do but didn't know how to ask.
The best part is when Bot 9 partners with Bot 4340 (actually, they become rather attached to each other, because 4340 has lost mobility) and we get such exchanges as:
“Aaaaah!” 4340 said in surprise. Then, a moment later, it added. “Well, by overwhelming probability I should already be defunct, and if I weren’t I would still be back working with my partner, 4356, who is well-intended but has all the wit of a can-opener. So I suppose adventure is no more unpalatable.”
The ship bot is doubtful about their union, but allows it, saying “You two deserve one another, clearly. Fine, 9, resume your pursuit of the Incidental. Stay away from anyone and anything and everything else, or I will have you melted down and turned into paper clips. Understand?”
You can read (or listen) to this yourself, at
Clarksworld
September 10, 2022
Bot 9 is a first gen robot with something the newer bots don't have: improvisation routines. (They were removed generations ago due to causing 'dangerous operational instability.') On a ship recalled from the junk yard, on a mission of utmost importance, one clever and improvisationally-inclined bot just might save the day.
This novella is adorable without being twee. Dry humor, personable yet convincing robots, and a smart ending - what else could you even ask for?
Heh. I snapped up The Secret Life of Bots and its sequel Bots of the Lost Ark in an afternoon. They're available free online (Secret Life of Bots and Bots of the Lost Ark), but I would totally buy them in print form if that ever happens.
This novella is adorable without being twee. Dry humor, personable yet convincing robots, and a smart ending - what else could you even ask for?
The Incidental, which had been poised to leap on them again, turned and fled, slithering back up into the ductwork. “Pursue at maximum efficiency!” 4340 yelled.
“I am already performing at my optimum,” 9 replied in some frustration. It took off again after the Incidental.
Heh. I snapped up The Secret Life of Bots and its sequel Bots of the Lost Ark in an afternoon. They're available free online (Secret Life of Bots and Bots of the Lost Ark), but I would totally buy them in print form if that ever happens.
January 24, 2023
Review of The Secret Life of Bots by Suzanne Palmer:
It was really fun reading this Murderbot-esque short. I always have a soft spot for semi-sentient or fully sentient AI bots.
In this, we have a cute little bot (multibot 9) with old decommissioned software prone to make them unpredictable. It gets activated to combat a pest on a spaceship trying to stop the earth from alien invasion. How does a teensy bot relate to the alien invasion? Read the amazing short here to find out!!
Really looking forward to the second short which can be found here.
This is a must read for all the Murderbot lovers out there.
Shoutout to Nataliya’s review that made me wanna read this!
Check out my instagram!
It was really fun reading this Murderbot-esque short. I always have a soft spot for semi-sentient or fully sentient AI bots.
In this, we have a cute little bot (multibot 9) with old decommissioned software prone to make them unpredictable. It gets activated to combat a pest on a spaceship trying to stop the earth from alien invasion. How does a teensy bot relate to the alien invasion? Read the amazing short here to find out!!
Really looking forward to the second short which can be found here.
This is a must read for all the Murderbot lovers out there.
Shoutout to Nataliya’s review that made me wanna read this!
Check out my instagram!
January 8, 2023
An absolute hoot. I need to give Palmer's writing a second look, clearly.
December 18, 2023
📚 The Secret Life of Bots by Suzanne Palmer (can be read online for free here) 📚
Bot 9 might be a ridiculously tiny, outdated machine assigned to lowly pest control but it's despicably cute and clever as fish. Also, its improvisation routines and governing mantras are everything. In other words, Murderbot has nothing on this little guy here. QED and stuff.
P.S. Why so many people spend their time on Instagram when they could chat on botnet is and forever shall be one of the greatest mysteries of the universe.
· Story 2: Bots of the Lost Ark ★★★★
· Story 3: To Sail Beyond the Botnet ★★★★
Bot 9 might be a ridiculously tiny, outdated machine assigned to lowly pest control but it's despicably cute and clever as fish. Also, its improvisation routines and governing mantras are everything. In other words, Murderbot has nothing on this little guy here. QED and stuff.
P.S. Why so many people spend their time on Instagram when they could chat on botnet is and forever shall be one of the greatest mysteries of the universe.
· Story 2: Bots of the Lost Ark ★★★★
· Story 3: To Sail Beyond the Botnet ★★★★
September 20, 2020
Rating and review only for "The Secret Life of Bots" by Suzanne Palmer:
This is the Year of the Bots! Not less than three works are nominated for the Hugo, from short story to novelette and novella. Is this a trend now among SFF authors? With the amount of artificial intelligence roaming the earth now, it seems that our fascination about them and their evolution - self awareness, free will, agency, their hidden lives and interaction - will continue to become a familiar plot line in many years to come.
This charming story is a great example of it.
This is the Year of the Bots! Not less than three works are nominated for the Hugo, from short story to novelette and novella. Is this a trend now among SFF authors? With the amount of artificial intelligence roaming the earth now, it seems that our fascination about them and their evolution - self awareness, free will, agency, their hidden lives and interaction - will continue to become a familiar plot line in many years to come.
This charming story is a great example of it.
part-read
January 3, 2026
"Pan-Humanism: Hope and Pragmatics"
by Jess Barber and Sara Saab was recommended to me by Charles Payseur of Quick Sip Reviews when I asked him for stories that show a more grown-up version of humanity. It's a beautiful mini-novel about people who truly try to make the future more beautiful, while not forgetting to treat each other like true friends.
More:
https://choveshkata.net/forum/viewtop...
More:
https://choveshkata.net/forum/viewtop...
September 22, 2019
REVIEW FOR "THE SECRET LIFE OF BOTS"
"I have a purpose, therefore I serve."
Enjoyable. I'm always willing to read robot stories and this was particularly entertaining. I liked the whole AI Mantra stuff and the botnet as a way of communication. Really cool but not exceptional for a Hugo winner.
"I have a purpose, therefore I serve."
Enjoyable. I'm always willing to read robot stories and this was particularly entertaining. I liked the whole AI Mantra stuff and the botnet as a way of communication. Really cool but not exceptional for a Hugo winner.
July 26, 2020
An absolutely brilliant little short story about a small multipurpose bot on a ship that's seen better days that's tasked with tracking down an unidentified lifeform. If you're a fan of Martha Wells' Murderbot Diaries then this is absolute must-read. I really hope we get to see more of Bot 9.
The short can be found on the website of the magazine it was originally published in, here:
http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palme...
The short can be found on the website of the magazine it was originally published in, here:
http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palme...
January 28, 2021
This was just as cute as everyone said it’d be. Who’d-a thought? It’s about bots and it’s still adorable. Full review to come.
September 20, 2017
"Antarctic Birds" by A. Brym - 2*
Absolutely no clue what this was.
"Little /^^^\&-" by Eric Schwitzgebel - 3*
Also little what this one was, but it was entertainingly weird.
"The Secret Life of Bots" by Suzanne Palmer - 4*
The little bots will save the day! This just seemed cute.
"Pan-Humanism: Hope and Pragmatics" by Jess Barber & Sara Saab - 4.5*
This is the type of story I'd like to see more of - less doom and gloom for the future, and more envisioning projects that people will do to help the world. The relationship at the heart of it was also bittersweet.
"Mobius Continuum" by Gu Shi - 4*
This felt a little too obvious, structurally, but I liked the writing and the translation seemed great.
"Bonding with Morry" by Tom Purdom - 4*
Robot caretakers was quite a theme with the reprints.
"Warmth" by Geoff Ryman - 4*
I found this one very sad, due to the theme of parents neglecting their children and the children instead bonding with their robot caretakers who would then forget them.
Absolutely no clue what this was.
"Little /^^^\&-" by Eric Schwitzgebel - 3*
Also little what this one was, but it was entertainingly weird.
"The Secret Life of Bots" by Suzanne Palmer - 4*
The little bots will save the day! This just seemed cute.
"Pan-Humanism: Hope and Pragmatics" by Jess Barber & Sara Saab - 4.5*
This is the type of story I'd like to see more of - less doom and gloom for the future, and more envisioning projects that people will do to help the world. The relationship at the heart of it was also bittersweet.
"Mobius Continuum" by Gu Shi - 4*
This felt a little too obvious, structurally, but I liked the writing and the translation seemed great.
"Bonding with Morry" by Tom Purdom - 4*
Robot caretakers was quite a theme with the reprints.
"Warmth" by Geoff Ryman - 4*
I found this one very sad, due to the theme of parents neglecting their children and the children instead bonding with their robot caretakers who would then forget them.
August 20, 2022
Yes, the title of this 2018 Hugo Award winner gives a nod to the film The Secret Life of Pets, and, yes, in this novelette, the tiny robots do communicate with one another in a way humans cannot understand. But the real message is how going rogue can be the best way to save the day. Bot 9, the oldest robot on the ship, is so tiny that three-centimeter silkbots dwarf it. (For North Americans, that means Bot 9 is much smaller than an inch.) With humankind in a battle for its existence, the Ship (which is itself sentient) reactivates Bot 9. Readers will love the clever Bot 9.
Thanks to Nataliya for introducing me to this great read. I listened to the book through Clarkesworld magazine here. You can read it here.
Thanks to Nataliya for introducing me to this great read. I listened to the book through Clarkesworld magazine here. You can read it here.
January 21, 2023
This was such a cute little story about little bots that are sometimes too smart for their own good. I loved all the inter-bot interactions. The author managed to give all of them some individuality. And in the end, an unorthodox approach saves the day!
Want to read
August 5, 2020Free here:
http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/issue...
To read: The Secret Life of Bots by Suzanne Palmer
http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/issue...
To read: The Secret Life of Bots by Suzanne Palmer
June 21, 2022
I serve… to improvise!
May 21, 2018
This novelette was short-listed for Hugo Awards in 2018.
This story is reminiscent of both Wall-E and Minions from the respective cartoons. It follows the adventures of a small but brave bot, who is ordered to eradicate ‘space rat’ infestation of the space ship while the ship is performing a mission, vital for survival of the mankind.
While the story is easy to read and has its bright moments, the people behave a bit strange (bots are o.k.) and there are some troubles with physics and vacuum. This lowered my final ranking to 3*
This story is reminiscent of both Wall-E and Minions from the respective cartoons. It follows the adventures of a small but brave bot, who is ordered to eradicate ‘space rat’ infestation of the space ship while the ship is performing a mission, vital for survival of the mankind.
While the story is easy to read and has its bright moments, the people behave a bit strange (bots are o.k.) and there are some troubles with physics and vacuum. This lowered my final ranking to 3*
August 24, 2018
A short and sweet story that takes about 30 minutes to read. It's about bots and especially about one old model bot 9, who luckily is a little special. Good read, but not sure why it won a HUGO shorter fiction award.
August 20, 2018
Relato ganador del Hugo 2018.
Historia entretenida pero se queda en una capa superficial y algo infantil. Me ha gustado eso sí, pero no sé si para llevarse el Hugo...
Historia entretenida pero se queda en una capa superficial y algo infantil. Me ha gustado eso sí, pero no sé si para llevarse el Hugo...
October 16, 2022
Review is just for these two stories:
"The Secret Life of Bots" by Suzanne Palmer. Bot #9 saves the world! Cute mini space-opera. 4+ stars! Online at http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palme...
2018 Winner, Hugo Award for Best Novelette. 2018 Finalist: Theodore A. Sturgeon Memorial Award.
Here's a real review from Tadiana: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
"Pan-Humanism: Hope and Pragmatics" by Jess Barber and Sara Saab. Life and love in a future Beirut and other cities, recovering from droughts and other environmental ills. Nicely done, 3.5+ stars. Recommended. Reprinted in the Dozois Year's Best #35. http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/barbe...
"Bonding with Morry" by Tom Purdom. Not reread (yet anyway), but I was lukewarm on this one when I first read it.
Here are links to all the 2018 Hugo nominees [formerly] online:
https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/31/17...
Merged review:
Pretty near perfect story. Won the 2018 Hugo Award for Best Novelette. Online here:
https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm...
Don't miss!
"The Secret Life of Bots" by Suzanne Palmer. Bot #9 saves the world! Cute mini space-opera. 4+ stars! Online at http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palme...
2018 Winner, Hugo Award for Best Novelette. 2018 Finalist: Theodore A. Sturgeon Memorial Award.
Here's a real review from Tadiana: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
"Pan-Humanism: Hope and Pragmatics" by Jess Barber and Sara Saab. Life and love in a future Beirut and other cities, recovering from droughts and other environmental ills. Nicely done, 3.5+ stars. Recommended. Reprinted in the Dozois Year's Best #35. http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/barbe...
"Bonding with Morry" by Tom Purdom. Not reread (yet anyway), but I was lukewarm on this one when I first read it.
Here are links to all the 2018 Hugo nominees [formerly] online:
https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/31/17...
Merged review:
Pretty near perfect story. Won the 2018 Hugo Award for Best Novelette. Online here:
https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm...
Don't miss!
December 25, 2021
Science Fiction - AI
2018 Winner of the Hugo Award for Best Novelette
2018 Finalist: Theodore A. Sturgeon Memorial Award
2018 Finalist: WSFA Small Press Award
Read free online here: http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palme...
What a gem of a novelette! Meet Bot 9. On the scale of bots in this world, Bot 9 is the lowest of the low. He may be old and generations behind the specialized bots on his ship, but if you like AI stories, lots of high stakes action on a ship, with a generous sprinkling of humor, this book is for you!
Thanks to Good Readers Natalia and Carol for posting about a second super fun Bot story!
2018 Winner of the Hugo Award for Best Novelette
2018 Finalist: Theodore A. Sturgeon Memorial Award
2018 Finalist: WSFA Small Press Award
Read free online here: http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palme...
What a gem of a novelette! Meet Bot 9. On the scale of bots in this world, Bot 9 is the lowest of the low. He may be old and generations behind the specialized bots on his ship, but if you like AI stories, lots of high stakes action on a ship, with a generous sprinkling of humor, this book is for you!
Thanks to Good Readers Natalia and Carol for posting about a second super fun Bot story!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews