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Eating Robots: And Other Stories
The future is bright...or is it?
Step into a high-tech vision of the future with author of Quantum Confessions and Fluence Stephen Oram. Featuring health-monitoring mirrors, tele-empathic romances and limb-repossessing bailiffs, Eating Robots explores the collision of utopian dreams and twisted realities in a world where humanity and technology are becoming ever more intertwined.
Sometimes funny, often unsettling, and always with a word of warning, these thirty sci-fi shorts will stay with you long after you've turned the final page.
Step into a high-tech vision of the future with author of Quantum Confessions and Fluence Stephen Oram. Featuring health-monitoring mirrors, tele-empathic romances and limb-repossessing bailiffs, Eating Robots explores the collision of utopian dreams and twisted realities in a world where humanity and technology are becoming ever more intertwined.
Sometimes funny, often unsettling, and always with a word of warning, these thirty sci-fi shorts will stay with you long after you've turned the final page.
- GenresScience Fiction
107 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2017
13 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Oram
23 books49 followersI write novels and flash fiction that are designed set off small firecrackers of thought to light the world slightly differently inside your head!
I've been a hippie-punk, a religious-squatter and a bureaucrat-anarchist; I thrive on contradictions and am a great believer in being slightly askew from the crowd. There's all sorts of ways of doing that - by being on the fringes of society, by travelling to other cultures or simply by being tipsy during the day.
I write contemporary dystopian fiction set in a recognisable near-future. I love taking reality, nudging it out of kilter and seeing what happens.
Like each and every one of us, my perspective of the world has been affected by many people and experiences: as a teenager I was heavily influenced by the ethos of punk; in my early twenties I embraced the squatter scene and then joined a religious cult, briefly; I did some computer stuff in what became London’s silicon roundabout; and I’m now a civil servant with a gentle attraction to anarchism.
You can find more about me and my writing on my website www.stephenoram.net
I've been a hippie-punk, a religious-squatter and a bureaucrat-anarchist; I thrive on contradictions and am a great believer in being slightly askew from the crowd. There's all sorts of ways of doing that - by being on the fringes of society, by travelling to other cultures or simply by being tipsy during the day.
I write contemporary dystopian fiction set in a recognisable near-future. I love taking reality, nudging it out of kilter and seeing what happens.
Like each and every one of us, my perspective of the world has been affected by many people and experiences: as a teenager I was heavily influenced by the ethos of punk; in my early twenties I embraced the squatter scene and then joined a religious cult, briefly; I did some computer stuff in what became London’s silicon roundabout; and I’m now a civil servant with a gentle attraction to anarchism.
You can find more about me and my writing on my website www.stephenoram.net
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
May 2, 2017
Alright these short stories really got me intrigued and scared! Yes this is correct the last word is SCARED, but not that kind of scared when you read a horror story or you think you saw and heard something moving in the dark right in front of your bed and then you freak out and cover your self with the blankets, no this is not the case. (I guess most of the people do cover themselves with the blanket when they are frightened aren't they?)
The type of scared I was, was the type when you know that what you read might become true in the future and that creeps the hell outta you and you pray to all gods and mystical creatures that it would not happen like EVER!
The author gathered some of the probable outcomes for the future world we might live in based on our current life styles, beliefs, stereotypes and technology development. I really enjoyed the read and in fact I finished the book in 2 days and I will not hide that some of the stories I would have preferred to be much longer!
The author has managed to pull up amazing ''predictions'' about our future I would say. And the thought of this is just slowly crawling underneath your subconscious and makes you jiggle of fear that all of this might become true. In some cases for the better in some for the worst and I really do hope it wouldn't be for the later one.
Now to get a better idea what all of this is about here some reflections that I got while reading that really shook me...
Can you imagine living in a world where you no longer have the need to eat or drink and forget about that delicious cake your grandmother used to make when you were visiting?
Or in a world where you are ready to trade the last thing left of your beloved one just to get a pill sold by some con artists to cure your pneumonia or infection without even knowing if it will work out? Will you take that risk?
And more, not being able to say the same thing twice for the rest of your life? And living your prolonged life in silence because you ran out of ''new things'' to talk about?
Or perhaps imagining a romantic relationship between a human and a gynoid, or an android? Will you be even able to comprehend this whereas these robots are fully capable of making meaningful conversation and look like humans?
I would love to share more, but you MUST read it yourself to be able to savour the bitter sweet creations of Stephen. That will take you to other places where some fears and some longings have already fulfilled and there is no way of escaping them.
For you Sci-fi and dystopian lovers I can guarantee you that you would adore every bit of each story from the shortest one to the longest one. You will have enough material to feed to your brain and think about and will hardly digest some of the stories, due the high possibility it might actually really become true...
A big Thank you to B00k R3vi3ws and Stephen Oram for the opportunity!
The type of scared I was, was the type when you know that what you read might become true in the future and that creeps the hell outta you and you pray to all gods and mystical creatures that it would not happen like EVER!
The author gathered some of the probable outcomes for the future world we might live in based on our current life styles, beliefs, stereotypes and technology development. I really enjoyed the read and in fact I finished the book in 2 days and I will not hide that some of the stories I would have preferred to be much longer!
The author has managed to pull up amazing ''predictions'' about our future I would say. And the thought of this is just slowly crawling underneath your subconscious and makes you jiggle of fear that all of this might become true. In some cases for the better in some for the worst and I really do hope it wouldn't be for the later one.
Now to get a better idea what all of this is about here some reflections that I got while reading that really shook me...
Can you imagine living in a world where you no longer have the need to eat or drink and forget about that delicious cake your grandmother used to make when you were visiting?
Or in a world where you are ready to trade the last thing left of your beloved one just to get a pill sold by some con artists to cure your pneumonia or infection without even knowing if it will work out? Will you take that risk?
And more, not being able to say the same thing twice for the rest of your life? And living your prolonged life in silence because you ran out of ''new things'' to talk about?
Or perhaps imagining a romantic relationship between a human and a gynoid, or an android? Will you be even able to comprehend this whereas these robots are fully capable of making meaningful conversation and look like humans?
I would love to share more, but you MUST read it yourself to be able to savour the bitter sweet creations of Stephen. That will take you to other places where some fears and some longings have already fulfilled and there is no way of escaping them.
For you Sci-fi and dystopian lovers I can guarantee you that you would adore every bit of each story from the shortest one to the longest one. You will have enough material to feed to your brain and think about and will hardly digest some of the stories, due the high possibility it might actually really become true...
A big Thank you to B00k R3vi3ws and Stephen Oram for the opportunity!
April 9, 2017
Robot-driven redundancies, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, rogue algorithms, fake news, driverless cars, the insatiable demands on our already-depleted planet… Stephen Oram’s new collection of short stories captures our waking nightmares.
The stories are brief, some less than a page — perfect bite-size anxieties. Their immediacy makes them compelling, as though they were ripped from tomorrow’s headlines.
“The Downward Spiral of the Disenfranchised Consumer” takes the proposal of a universal basic income to one logical conclusion. The chillingly-titled “Jodie has Been Deleted” taps into our uneasiness about the ubiquity of social media.
The protagonist of “Anxiety Loop” writes “speculative news items”. This is the story of what happens when self-learning AIs are not only granted the same legal rights as humans, but also develop authentic human emotions.
“The Thrown-Away Things” describes the revenge of everyday objects networked by the Internet of Things. “Everyday Stims” portrays a dystopian call centre in which staff are given individually-tailored cocktails of performance enhancing drugs. (I suspect this is already happening.)
Light relief arrives in a playful story, “The Mythical Moss”, about a partially-sentient moss which likes to ride around on the back of a rabbit.
Lest readers think that these stories owe more to fiction than science, Stephen Oram has provided several thoughtful responses from academics. Alan Winfield, Professor of Robot Ethics at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, University of the West of England, reports that:
“A few research labs, including my own, are already testing robots with ethical governors.”
His colleague, Dr Antonia Tzemanaki, adds:
“… scientists cannot afford to be naïve; we have to always be alert and recognize the warnings, such as those coming from science-fiction stories.”
In case there was any doubt, Eating Robots shows that the future has already arrived.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2017
Bite sized visions of dystopian futures. The book contains 30 very short stories featuring robots, AI, electronic credit systems, radical body modifications and more. Marvellous snippets that make a big impact on you as you read. At the end of the book are a series of responses to the stories from robotic experts which were an interesting addition.
These were powerful stories that stay with you long after you close the book. The fascinatingly eerie takes on the near future were well-crafted to give you nightmares. Some shorts were only a few pages long which I felt were a little too short to more than glimpse at an idea and the briefness of the stories did not lead to much character development or extensive plots. But many were just the perfect size for a quick reading break to devour the thought provoking ideas often with twisted endings. The book contained a wide range of interesting concepts that Id like to read expanded versions of in a longer story by the author.
I loved this dark glance upon the future which reminded me of the TV series Black Mirror. Very imaginative, sometimes disturbing sometimes humorous but all brilliant examples of possible futures that were scarily recognisable.
I look forward to Volume 2.
Anyone who loves sci-fi, dystopia, speculative fiction and robots should pick up a copy to read
These were powerful stories that stay with you long after you close the book. The fascinatingly eerie takes on the near future were well-crafted to give you nightmares. Some shorts were only a few pages long which I felt were a little too short to more than glimpse at an idea and the briefness of the stories did not lead to much character development or extensive plots. But many were just the perfect size for a quick reading break to devour the thought provoking ideas often with twisted endings. The book contained a wide range of interesting concepts that Id like to read expanded versions of in a longer story by the author.
I loved this dark glance upon the future which reminded me of the TV series Black Mirror. Very imaginative, sometimes disturbing sometimes humorous but all brilliant examples of possible futures that were scarily recognisable.
I look forward to Volume 2.
Anyone who loves sci-fi, dystopia, speculative fiction and robots should pick up a copy to read
April 10, 2017
‘Imagine being a hedonist forever’…
Eating Robots is a collection of 30 short stories, offering bite-sized future visions based on technological advances, while holding up a mirror to our current social tendencies.
Most often I find compilations of short stories a bit hit and miss: there are powerful pieces, but hidden among weaker ones. As such I end up stalling, and taking much longer than usual to complete a book. Eating Robots is not like that at all. It is a strong collection with no weak links, and I couldn't put it down. The stories are very short, sometimes only a page, and yet even in such brief pieces Oram manages to make a big impact. Of course, there is little space for character and plot development, but it is the concepts that are important here and they are conveyed in an innovative and distinctive way.
How do you think the world might look if we had an electronic universal credit system, whereby everyone received the same income? Where everyone would have adequate funds for food and clothing? It sounds wonderful. And yet maybe there would still be social outcasts; maybe new prejudices and poverties would emerge, because maybe that's the way the human race works.
What if we could live forever, but not repeat the same phrase to a person more than once every 1000 years? If we could be with others, but necessarily end up in silence with only our own thoughts as conversation?
‘Some days his brain would be so hyperactive that he’d skitter from one scrap of thought to another. And on others he was unable to process any thought at all.’
It seems to me like the complete opposite to the noisy world in which we live now, where all is retweeting and sharing and regurgitating opinion. It made me think about just how much of what comes out of our mouths has been said before, many times. Put like that we seem dull and repetitive, mechanical almost. And yet even as an introvert who would relish the opportunity to live in silence a while, reading books and creating and imagining; a world without conversation and comforting repetition for potentially hundreds of years sounds like hell.
Some of the stories are explorations into possible avenues for AI development, including the commonly discussed idea of sentient robots, and what that could mean for us.
‘He wondered whether she was human or gynoid, a female robot, and whether that mattered. Rationally, he believed that it was important to know, but it wouldn't alter his feelings. However the reality that he might be walking hand in hand with an artificially intelligent gynoid was testing those rational beliefs.’
There are also some radical examples of body modifications and enhancements here, including ‘Picasso’ people who go to extreme measures to show their love for their partners, brain altering pills to improve the performance of customer service operatives, and an unsettling way of obtaining meat without animal slaughter.
Then, just when the future of the human race was all feeling rather bleak, Eating Robots hit me with an old woman in piss-powered pyjamas who is over-protective of her robot helper, and a mischievous species of genetically modified moss. Very amusing, and welcomed for balance.
The last and longest story in the book - US - is also my favourite. It is full of feeling, expressing a harsh world of grief and pain in a minefield of defence mechanisms, enforced isolation and empathy. It describes the internal conflict between the need for human connection and the need for privacy, and shows the difficult truth of how the majority treat those in despair.
‘Agnature believes in goodness. She believes that, rather than a deliberate act of cruelty, they are so absorbed in their own lives and with their own struggles that they don't notice the grey skinned woman.
I can accept that up to a point. Surely they get a small pinprick of conscience? Maybe they're too lazy to engage with it. Although I also get a sense that the vibrations she's creating, which feel like a never ending pit of need, are scaring off even the most generous of people.’
There is a lot of depth to this story in particular, and I just know I will continue to ponder it.
At the end of the book there is a section ‘responses from the experts’ in which medicinal research fellows and robotics professors give their comments on some of the stories. This was unexpected, but it did add some dimension to the ideas by putting them into a real, present day context. The stories in Eating Robots are after all designed to be discussion points, and for me they have already lived up to that because I couldn't keep from reading parts aloud to my partner!
In summary, Eating Robots is a well-crafted, highly imaginative collection of ideas that are inescapably relevant to our era. At times it is terrifying. Other times it is whimsical. But every instalment is food for thought, and that is what I enjoy most in reading fiction.
Note: I was given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
For the original review and more, please visit my blog.
Eating Robots is a collection of 30 short stories, offering bite-sized future visions based on technological advances, while holding up a mirror to our current social tendencies.
Most often I find compilations of short stories a bit hit and miss: there are powerful pieces, but hidden among weaker ones. As such I end up stalling, and taking much longer than usual to complete a book. Eating Robots is not like that at all. It is a strong collection with no weak links, and I couldn't put it down. The stories are very short, sometimes only a page, and yet even in such brief pieces Oram manages to make a big impact. Of course, there is little space for character and plot development, but it is the concepts that are important here and they are conveyed in an innovative and distinctive way.
How do you think the world might look if we had an electronic universal credit system, whereby everyone received the same income? Where everyone would have adequate funds for food and clothing? It sounds wonderful. And yet maybe there would still be social outcasts; maybe new prejudices and poverties would emerge, because maybe that's the way the human race works.
What if we could live forever, but not repeat the same phrase to a person more than once every 1000 years? If we could be with others, but necessarily end up in silence with only our own thoughts as conversation?
‘Some days his brain would be so hyperactive that he’d skitter from one scrap of thought to another. And on others he was unable to process any thought at all.’
It seems to me like the complete opposite to the noisy world in which we live now, where all is retweeting and sharing and regurgitating opinion. It made me think about just how much of what comes out of our mouths has been said before, many times. Put like that we seem dull and repetitive, mechanical almost. And yet even as an introvert who would relish the opportunity to live in silence a while, reading books and creating and imagining; a world without conversation and comforting repetition for potentially hundreds of years sounds like hell.
Some of the stories are explorations into possible avenues for AI development, including the commonly discussed idea of sentient robots, and what that could mean for us.
‘He wondered whether she was human or gynoid, a female robot, and whether that mattered. Rationally, he believed that it was important to know, but it wouldn't alter his feelings. However the reality that he might be walking hand in hand with an artificially intelligent gynoid was testing those rational beliefs.’
There are also some radical examples of body modifications and enhancements here, including ‘Picasso’ people who go to extreme measures to show their love for their partners, brain altering pills to improve the performance of customer service operatives, and an unsettling way of obtaining meat without animal slaughter.
Then, just when the future of the human race was all feeling rather bleak, Eating Robots hit me with an old woman in piss-powered pyjamas who is over-protective of her robot helper, and a mischievous species of genetically modified moss. Very amusing, and welcomed for balance.
The last and longest story in the book - US - is also my favourite. It is full of feeling, expressing a harsh world of grief and pain in a minefield of defence mechanisms, enforced isolation and empathy. It describes the internal conflict between the need for human connection and the need for privacy, and shows the difficult truth of how the majority treat those in despair.
‘Agnature believes in goodness. She believes that, rather than a deliberate act of cruelty, they are so absorbed in their own lives and with their own struggles that they don't notice the grey skinned woman.
I can accept that up to a point. Surely they get a small pinprick of conscience? Maybe they're too lazy to engage with it. Although I also get a sense that the vibrations she's creating, which feel like a never ending pit of need, are scaring off even the most generous of people.’
There is a lot of depth to this story in particular, and I just know I will continue to ponder it.
At the end of the book there is a section ‘responses from the experts’ in which medicinal research fellows and robotics professors give their comments on some of the stories. This was unexpected, but it did add some dimension to the ideas by putting them into a real, present day context. The stories in Eating Robots are after all designed to be discussion points, and for me they have already lived up to that because I couldn't keep from reading parts aloud to my partner!
In summary, Eating Robots is a well-crafted, highly imaginative collection of ideas that are inescapably relevant to our era. At times it is terrifying. Other times it is whimsical. But every instalment is food for thought, and that is what I enjoy most in reading fiction.
Note: I was given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
For the original review and more, please visit my blog.
May 3, 2017
Eating Robots is a short story collection about fantasy, science and robots, a future where the robots are a part of each and every aspect of our lives. The author has penned the stories of varying lengths and they cover so many different aspects science fiction.
The blurb mentions, “health-monitoring mirrors, tele-empathic romances and limb-repossessing bailiffs, Eating Robots explores the collision of utopian dreams and twisted realities.” The stories are definitely twisted, surprising and satisfying. All sci-fi lovers and fans of how robotics and technology will eventually invade all aspects of our lives will clearly see their vision reflected in these stories.
It is difficult to choose which I liked the most since even the smallest story has a powerful ending. Some happy, some not so much but the machines and their stories cannot be ignored. I shall be picking more works of the author soon.
The story, which shared the name of the anthology, was particularly interesting and so aptly named – Eating Robots indeed. Works both ways I say 😉 Anxiety Loop, Update Me or Die, Real Meat, Deliver Me From Darkness, US along with Eating Robots left an impact on me. Overall, I enjoyed the book whether it was about love, health or relationships between humans or machines, this was one interesting book to read and I finished it in one day. 🙂
I reviewed an ARC of the book but it has no issues of language, grammar or typos. Well written, taunt, thought provoking with imagery that is food for thought even after the book finishes.
I cannot express what works in the book except the fact that it almost mirrors our life but with machines and technology. If you love this science – fiction then it is a must read.
The blurb mentions, “health-monitoring mirrors, tele-empathic romances and limb-repossessing bailiffs, Eating Robots explores the collision of utopian dreams and twisted realities.” The stories are definitely twisted, surprising and satisfying. All sci-fi lovers and fans of how robotics and technology will eventually invade all aspects of our lives will clearly see their vision reflected in these stories.
It is difficult to choose which I liked the most since even the smallest story has a powerful ending. Some happy, some not so much but the machines and their stories cannot be ignored. I shall be picking more works of the author soon.
The story, which shared the name of the anthology, was particularly interesting and so aptly named – Eating Robots indeed. Works both ways I say 😉 Anxiety Loop, Update Me or Die, Real Meat, Deliver Me From Darkness, US along with Eating Robots left an impact on me. Overall, I enjoyed the book whether it was about love, health or relationships between humans or machines, this was one interesting book to read and I finished it in one day. 🙂
I reviewed an ARC of the book but it has no issues of language, grammar or typos. Well written, taunt, thought provoking with imagery that is food for thought even after the book finishes.
I cannot express what works in the book except the fact that it almost mirrors our life but with machines and technology. If you love this science – fiction then it is a must read.
April 16, 2017
Instructions for administration;
Keep book available
Read sparingly
Savour each story
Insure contemplation time between readings.
Beware of side-effects;
Thoughts provoked causing unexpected bouts of daydreaming was standing in queues.
Shift in perspective when encountering day-to-day experiences.
Urge to read entire book in one go, see above the administration instructions.
Not a string of pearls as each story is so different. A garland of gems. Oram is perfecting the art of the micro story and character sculpture. Definitely worth putting some time aside to relish this book.
Keep book available
Read sparingly
Savour each story
Insure contemplation time between readings.
Beware of side-effects;
Thoughts provoked causing unexpected bouts of daydreaming was standing in queues.
Shift in perspective when encountering day-to-day experiences.
Urge to read entire book in one go, see above the administration instructions.
Not a string of pearls as each story is so different. A garland of gems. Oram is perfecting the art of the micro story and character sculpture. Definitely worth putting some time aside to relish this book.
May 2, 2017
Eating Robots and other stories by Stephen Oram
Review by: Fatima Ahmed Alsuwaidi
3.5 stars
In a futuristic world where science and technology and humans are entwined beyond separation. The future is dark and mentally disturbing I have to admit some endings made me get out of my seat and shut the laptop so I can fully digest what happened.
Stephen Oram gives us thirty short stories about living algorithms, robots, non-eating humans and artificial parts. Some funny, some incredibly dark and some with really,,,,, really twisted endings.
It was such a page turner, I knew that when I read the second story "Little Modern Miracles" about small antibiotics pills that cures everything but it's only available for the rich and powerful. also "The Thrown Away Things" with its concept of revenge that all the things were feeling because they were thrown away by no more needing humans
"She was not going to simply give up and switch off like a good little doll. No way. She had rights. Well, she didn't, but she should"
and both stories had satisfying and oddly justified endings.
"The Mythical Moss" is an entertaining story about moving moss chasing down a rabbit but with a hidden purpose.
"Jodie Had Been Deleted" this one was more modern than futuristic, I take it as a simplistic story about our existence in the digital world.
"Real Meat" Vegetarian Humans are lingering for real meat. That one scared the hell out me.
"Loans For Limbs" gave us the purest picture about greedy companies and how far what they go to gain money.
"but it hadn't been long before he'd fallen behind with the payments"
You see this book had been very entertaining, Stephen Oram had successfully made me starving for short stories books, with the different themes of each story, getting as much information as needed in each story no matter how short, and if you don't like one it will soon end overall the book had been interesting, I so want to give this book a four star rating but…….. stories like "Make Me As You See Me" and especially "Trauma Games" had really let the book down the last made me feel a little sick and I think the subject was handled poorly and he could have had more sympathy and even respect for the main character, I just didn't like, didn't agree to it
but I am looking forward to Vol. 2 of Nudge The Future
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review by: Fatima Ahmed Alsuwaidi
3.5 stars
In a futuristic world where science and technology and humans are entwined beyond separation. The future is dark and mentally disturbing I have to admit some endings made me get out of my seat and shut the laptop so I can fully digest what happened.
Stephen Oram gives us thirty short stories about living algorithms, robots, non-eating humans and artificial parts. Some funny, some incredibly dark and some with really,,,,, really twisted endings.
It was such a page turner, I knew that when I read the second story "Little Modern Miracles" about small antibiotics pills that cures everything but it's only available for the rich and powerful. also "The Thrown Away Things" with its concept of revenge that all the things were feeling because they were thrown away by no more needing humans
"She was not going to simply give up and switch off like a good little doll. No way. She had rights. Well, she didn't, but she should"
and both stories had satisfying and oddly justified endings.
"The Mythical Moss" is an entertaining story about moving moss chasing down a rabbit but with a hidden purpose.
"Jodie Had Been Deleted" this one was more modern than futuristic, I take it as a simplistic story about our existence in the digital world.
"Real Meat" Vegetarian Humans are lingering for real meat. That one scared the hell out me.
"Loans For Limbs" gave us the purest picture about greedy companies and how far what they go to gain money.
"but it hadn't been long before he'd fallen behind with the payments"
You see this book had been very entertaining, Stephen Oram had successfully made me starving for short stories books, with the different themes of each story, getting as much information as needed in each story no matter how short, and if you don't like one it will soon end overall the book had been interesting, I so want to give this book a four star rating but…….. stories like "Make Me As You See Me" and especially "Trauma Games" had really let the book down the last made me feel a little sick and I think the subject was handled poorly and he could have had more sympathy and even respect for the main character, I just didn't like, didn't agree to it
but I am looking forward to Vol. 2 of Nudge The Future
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 16, 2017
The cover of the book says “Nudge The Future Volume 1” and it makes sense once you have read the book. This is unlike any other sci-fi short stories book that I have ever read.
While the total count is 30 stories spanning 125 pages, the fact is that there are only a few ‘stories’. Others are ‘situations’ of a future world. These so called stories are just about a few page in which Stephen introduces a futuristic real-world very-believable situation to you. You then pause, close the book and think about it. Think about the implications and the consequences. Think about how could humans end up in a situation like that and what will it lead to in further future. Often asking the questions … “How could we mess up so royally?”
The stories in the book are meant to make you think. They are not entertainment but fodder for the fertile and intellectual mind to question and think. The thought provoking stories are in effect, a social commentary on the pace and direction of technology.
The author has taken up various advances in science & technology and extrapolated them into their future shape. Then he created a situation of amusement, horror and even despair as a result of that technology.
The common theme is technology and how it is invading human beings and taking on more and more tasks that humans were doing. As this encroachment increases, will there be anything for the humans to do other than exist?
Will that be in a way ‘machines overtaking humans’ since everything that needs to be done is being done by machines and there is nothing the humans have to do. Won’t the humans die of lethargy and become suicidal due to inactivity … or replace their real life activities with virtual activities … a la Matrix.
I will easily recommend this collection of stories to anyone interested in future tech and sci-fo genre of books. I would even recommend this book to those interested in philosophy – they are sure to find some interesting angles in there.
While the total count is 30 stories spanning 125 pages, the fact is that there are only a few ‘stories’. Others are ‘situations’ of a future world. These so called stories are just about a few page in which Stephen introduces a futuristic real-world very-believable situation to you. You then pause, close the book and think about it. Think about the implications and the consequences. Think about how could humans end up in a situation like that and what will it lead to in further future. Often asking the questions … “How could we mess up so royally?”
The stories in the book are meant to make you think. They are not entertainment but fodder for the fertile and intellectual mind to question and think. The thought provoking stories are in effect, a social commentary on the pace and direction of technology.
The author has taken up various advances in science & technology and extrapolated them into their future shape. Then he created a situation of amusement, horror and even despair as a result of that technology.
The common theme is technology and how it is invading human beings and taking on more and more tasks that humans were doing. As this encroachment increases, will there be anything for the humans to do other than exist?
Will that be in a way ‘machines overtaking humans’ since everything that needs to be done is being done by machines and there is nothing the humans have to do. Won’t the humans die of lethargy and become suicidal due to inactivity … or replace their real life activities with virtual activities … a la Matrix.
I will easily recommend this collection of stories to anyone interested in future tech and sci-fo genre of books. I would even recommend this book to those interested in philosophy – they are sure to find some interesting angles in there.
October 12, 2017
Volume one of the ‘Nudge the future’ series, Stephen Oram’s Eating Robots and other stories is a fun collection of thought-provoking short stories that hover on the boundary fence between science fiction and science fact. Oram’s stories mix science fiction with social comment, and are mainly set in a recognisable near-future, one which borders on being dystopian.
Some of the stories are funny - in a darkly humorous sense - while others are designed as cautionary tales, warning the unwary of the tricky and possibly treacherous path that mankind faces as we plummet, often thoughtlessly, towards a future filled with both great wonder, but also great peril, especially if we don’t watch our faltering forward steps, in both an ethical and ‘common sense’ way.
This collection of Oram’s stories features the likes of health-monitoring mirrors, limb-repossessing bailiffs, extreme body-modification, cannibalistic robots and a world nearly devoid of antibiotics that still work.
Highlights for me include the story ‘The Thrown Away Things’ that features everyday objects that, through the IoT, are connected to each other and who collectively decide to seek revenge on their human master; ‘Trauma Games’, where a young man discovers more than he bargained for when he trades in some of his father’s memories for membership of an exclusive members-only VR club; and ‘The Downward Spiral of the Disenfranchised Consumer’, where credit problems lead to an otherwise perfectly sound human being effectively removed and ostracised from normal society.
The author has previously published two near future novels - Fluence and Quantum Confessions - and several shorter pieces of work, including ‘S{t}imulation’, ‘Foodflix’, ‘Joined At the Chip’ and ‘Little Modern Miracles’, and is definitely one to watch or, in this case, read!
Review by Justin Richards
Originally posted: http://www.bcs.org/content/conWebDoc/...
Some of the stories are funny - in a darkly humorous sense - while others are designed as cautionary tales, warning the unwary of the tricky and possibly treacherous path that mankind faces as we plummet, often thoughtlessly, towards a future filled with both great wonder, but also great peril, especially if we don’t watch our faltering forward steps, in both an ethical and ‘common sense’ way.
This collection of Oram’s stories features the likes of health-monitoring mirrors, limb-repossessing bailiffs, extreme body-modification, cannibalistic robots and a world nearly devoid of antibiotics that still work.
Highlights for me include the story ‘The Thrown Away Things’ that features everyday objects that, through the IoT, are connected to each other and who collectively decide to seek revenge on their human master; ‘Trauma Games’, where a young man discovers more than he bargained for when he trades in some of his father’s memories for membership of an exclusive members-only VR club; and ‘The Downward Spiral of the Disenfranchised Consumer’, where credit problems lead to an otherwise perfectly sound human being effectively removed and ostracised from normal society.
The author has previously published two near future novels - Fluence and Quantum Confessions - and several shorter pieces of work, including ‘S{t}imulation’, ‘Foodflix’, ‘Joined At the Chip’ and ‘Little Modern Miracles’, and is definitely one to watch or, in this case, read!
Review by Justin Richards
Originally posted: http://www.bcs.org/content/conWebDoc/...
April 10, 2017
This volume holds a double delight for me. It contains 30 short stories, of various lengths, and Stephen Oram writes about possible futures. I personally am a big fan of the short story and I love any sort of speculative fiction. Oram also contains some responses from the experts. I’m glad to report that these are positive.
I have to confess to reading these stories almost at one sitting. That’s not really the way to do it. Short stories are economical. We should read each one in isolation and let it marinate in our mind for a while. This time, though, I was eager each time to get on to the next. This wasn’t a problem. The theology is consistent as one goes from story to story. Oram provides a coherent world.
As with all good speculative fiction, Oram takes something that is already beginning to happen and projects it forward using his writing as way of exploring.
He uses a palatable style, with a good narrative balance and a tone that is consistent and appropriate.
I’m looking forward to Volume 2.
I have to confess to reading these stories almost at one sitting. That’s not really the way to do it. Short stories are economical. We should read each one in isolation and let it marinate in our mind for a while. This time, though, I was eager each time to get on to the next. This wasn’t a problem. The theology is consistent as one goes from story to story. Oram provides a coherent world.
As with all good speculative fiction, Oram takes something that is already beginning to happen and projects it forward using his writing as way of exploring.
He uses a palatable style, with a good narrative balance and a tone that is consistent and appropriate.
I’m looking forward to Volume 2.
December 1, 2017
Eating Robots & Other Stories by Stephen Oram is an amazing collection of sci-fi / dystopian stories.
Each story has been written with care and so much so that it is reflected in the stories themselves. All the stories as a collection is amazing, though when judging individually, I must say that I liked some stories more than the others. Sacred Waters, Logical Love and A Rude Awakening are my favourites. The title story, Eating Robots is a story that I am on the fence about.
The stories feel alive because Stephen Oram has done an amazing job of mixing up sci-fi possibilities from the future to our realities. Each story is designed to make you think that there is a possibility of it coming true someday even when in your heart, you know what you are reading is fiction. And some of the stories are borderline scary.
All in all, this is a book that has all the elements of an entertainer and the author’s language and description style only elevates the level of the book.
Each story has been written with care and so much so that it is reflected in the stories themselves. All the stories as a collection is amazing, though when judging individually, I must say that I liked some stories more than the others. Sacred Waters, Logical Love and A Rude Awakening are my favourites. The title story, Eating Robots is a story that I am on the fence about.
The stories feel alive because Stephen Oram has done an amazing job of mixing up sci-fi possibilities from the future to our realities. Each story is designed to make you think that there is a possibility of it coming true someday even when in your heart, you know what you are reading is fiction. And some of the stories are borderline scary.
All in all, this is a book that has all the elements of an entertainer and the author’s language and description style only elevates the level of the book.
May 15, 2017
What a fantastic collection of stories! All set in an eerily recognizable future, they seem like an uncomfortable warning. There are robots and physical enhancements to humans, but the changes to our current world are so subtle that they seem plausible. The descriptions are so realistic and complete, that it's like being there. Some of the stories are very dark, but they all have an undercurrent of optimism and ultimate belief in human kindness. The real threat seems to be the system and technology, but people are basically good, even when misguided. This book really planted ideas in my mind, and I will keep thinking about it for a while.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Silverwood Books!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Silverwood Books!
May 23, 2017
This collection of tightly focussed stories by Stephen Oram reveals an ability for making you uncomfortable while also forewarning you about what might lie around the corner.
Showing a remarkable brevity, none of these stories outstays its welcome but many will stay with you for a long time after you've finished reading them.
Like sharp slivers under your fingernails these stories definitely hit a nerve. Stephen Oram has a talent for identifying seemingly small details that could easily make the future an even more horrifying place to live than the present.
Be prepared for your copy to become well-thumbed (or the digital equivalent thereof) because I guarantee this collection of remarkable stories is one that will reward repeated reading.
Showing a remarkable brevity, none of these stories outstays its welcome but many will stay with you for a long time after you've finished reading them.
Like sharp slivers under your fingernails these stories definitely hit a nerve. Stephen Oram has a talent for identifying seemingly small details that could easily make the future an even more horrifying place to live than the present.
Be prepared for your copy to become well-thumbed (or the digital equivalent thereof) because I guarantee this collection of remarkable stories is one that will reward repeated reading.
April 25, 2017
Eating Robots: And Other Stories should be consumed with relish by the community that enjoy the popular "Black Mirror" view of the near future. Many of the short stories left me desiring more and that is only a good response. Stephen Orams capability to create characters that you resonate with immediately is a skill less found nowadays and this collection is a great addition to his portfolio.
This book made me question and wonder in equal measures on how this world could develop within even my life time and that is a challenging aspect that is rarely found in this genre.
This book made me question and wonder in equal measures on how this world could develop within even my life time and that is a challenging aspect that is rarely found in this genre.
May 31, 2017
I think this is one of the most original collections of short stories I've read. The stories are set in a dystopian future, some of it not very far in the future at all! Each one is a bite size imagining of where an aspect of our life might go. And you really can't predict which direction each story will take. Some are funny, some heartwarming, many are sinister and frequently they are frightening in how close they are to where we are heading. Oram has produced another razor sharp, and ever so slightly twisted, view on the world.
April 23, 2017
A good collection of stories well worth a read
May 7, 2017
This is a collection of 30 short science fiction stories. A lot of different stories that were interesting but a few I thought were too short. I did love this collection though.
I would have liked some to be longer than a few pages as as soon as you got into the story it cuts of sharply. A lot were fantastic though so this is worth picking up for those quick reads. The writing style was great and the stories flowed well so I would be happy to read more from this author.
I did receive this free for an unbiased review.
June 6, 2017
I received a free e-copy of this book for reviewing purposes. That said, all opinions given in this review are genuine and unbiased. Also, there are a few light spoilers for one of the stories ahead, so beware.
I’ll start with full disclosure - while I enjoy short stories, short-short stories usually do nothing for me. Making connections with the characters and story is quite difficult for me when there are only a couple of pages to read. If you enjoy ultra-short stories, then you might have a different view of this collection.
Eating Robots is a collection of short science fiction stories by Stephen Oram that center, for the most part, around dystopian aspects of a technologically advanced future. The stories might all take place in the same world, but Oram chooses not to impart that knowledge on the reader. Each story stands alone quite well, and together they paint a less-than-savory picture of humanity’s future.
Because it took me a while to latch on to Oram’s writing style, I reread several of the beginning stories. I’m glad I did. Some of my least favorite pieces in the collection became my favorites. For example, “The Thrown-Away Things” failed to catch my attention or imagination during the first read. Without giving away too much, Oram plays with the newly-emerging concept of the Internet of Things. He creates a story revolving around a cast of unrelated characters who all belong to the Internet of Things and use their chance connection to exact revenge on those who have hurt and neglected them. After the second read-through, I felt a new understanding of the characters’ emotions and desires. The main character, a doll, specifically caught my attention because, to my knowledge, the current Internet of Things has not yet incorporated objects like dolls or children’s toys. The inclusion of childhood belongings pushed me to feel more empathy for the characters.
Sadly, my favorite stories are also the stories that receive most of my criticism. Many of Oram’s stories in the collection are based on interesting and dynamic plots, but the length of the stories hamstrung my ability to completely delve in and explore the ideas presented. Going back to “The Thrown-Away Things,” I ended it feeling that I had just read a proposal for a novel or movie, not a complete, well-rounded short story. Everything was slightly glossed over, without time or room for the characters or plot to breathe. In turn, I felt rushed and left wanting more (but not in a good way).
My final thoughts on Eating Robots: I would have appreciated more length and depth in each story. The ideas are solid and intriguing, but the stories skim the surface without really satisfying my interest in this future world into which Oram tries to lure the reader.
Final rating: 3 of 5
I’ll start with full disclosure - while I enjoy short stories, short-short stories usually do nothing for me. Making connections with the characters and story is quite difficult for me when there are only a couple of pages to read. If you enjoy ultra-short stories, then you might have a different view of this collection.
Eating Robots is a collection of short science fiction stories by Stephen Oram that center, for the most part, around dystopian aspects of a technologically advanced future. The stories might all take place in the same world, but Oram chooses not to impart that knowledge on the reader. Each story stands alone quite well, and together they paint a less-than-savory picture of humanity’s future.
Because it took me a while to latch on to Oram’s writing style, I reread several of the beginning stories. I’m glad I did. Some of my least favorite pieces in the collection became my favorites. For example, “The Thrown-Away Things” failed to catch my attention or imagination during the first read. Without giving away too much, Oram plays with the newly-emerging concept of the Internet of Things. He creates a story revolving around a cast of unrelated characters who all belong to the Internet of Things and use their chance connection to exact revenge on those who have hurt and neglected them. After the second read-through, I felt a new understanding of the characters’ emotions and desires. The main character, a doll, specifically caught my attention because, to my knowledge, the current Internet of Things has not yet incorporated objects like dolls or children’s toys. The inclusion of childhood belongings pushed me to feel more empathy for the characters.
Sadly, my favorite stories are also the stories that receive most of my criticism. Many of Oram’s stories in the collection are based on interesting and dynamic plots, but the length of the stories hamstrung my ability to completely delve in and explore the ideas presented. Going back to “The Thrown-Away Things,” I ended it feeling that I had just read a proposal for a novel or movie, not a complete, well-rounded short story. Everything was slightly glossed over, without time or room for the characters or plot to breathe. In turn, I felt rushed and left wanting more (but not in a good way).
My final thoughts on Eating Robots: I would have appreciated more length and depth in each story. The ideas are solid and intriguing, but the stories skim the surface without really satisfying my interest in this future world into which Oram tries to lure the reader.
Final rating: 3 of 5
May 4, 2017
As a fan of Science Fiction, I think that's what initially caught my eye. I enjoy stories set in a tech future, especially ones that cause the reader to pause and think for a moment. Eating Robots by Stephen Oram is a collection of Sci-Fi short stories that does just that. The best way for me to describe it is to imagine if the Black Mirror series were written in short story format. I think Stephen Oram's stories really come close to the uneasiness that Black Mirror gives the audience. The stories are imaginative, clever and at times disturbing.
These stories also reminded me of other books and films I'd seen in the past: Repo Men, etc. Crichton was good at showing how the technology we rely on daily could easily turn against us. Demon Seed, a 1977 Sci-Fi horror film about an AI home that goes horribly wrong, could have easily been in this collection. Oram covers a wide range, from A.I.s revolting to the actions of desperate humans. Some of the stories felt way too short and left me asking, "But what happens next?!" Whereas others had an obvious, inevitable conclusion.
All in all, this was an entertaining read and great for someone like me who's been so busy lately. Short bites of good stories to entertain for the moment between doctor's office visits and work. For fans of Sci-Fi, especially along the lines of Twilight Zone, Black Mirror and the like, they'll certainly enjoy this collection from Stephen Oram.
I received a free electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.
These stories also reminded me of other books and films I'd seen in the past: Repo Men, etc. Crichton was good at showing how the technology we rely on daily could easily turn against us. Demon Seed, a 1977 Sci-Fi horror film about an AI home that goes horribly wrong, could have easily been in this collection. Oram covers a wide range, from A.I.s revolting to the actions of desperate humans. Some of the stories felt way too short and left me asking, "But what happens next?!" Whereas others had an obvious, inevitable conclusion.
All in all, this was an entertaining read and great for someone like me who's been so busy lately. Short bites of good stories to entertain for the moment between doctor's office visits and work. For fans of Sci-Fi, especially along the lines of Twilight Zone, Black Mirror and the like, they'll certainly enjoy this collection from Stephen Oram.
I received a free electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2022
Review also available on my blog The Shameful Narcissist Speaks.
Stephan Oram, the author of this volume, intrinsically understands the function of a short story and does an excellent job with the ideas he presents. The collection uses a variety of genres/subgenres like the subtle horror of "Disjointed" to the satisfying, poetic justice found in "Little Miracles." Most importantly, these stories reveal a glimpse of a much closer future than expected where the disenfranchised become even more so due to public opinion turned policy, and there's a sinister similarity between the mien of many of them and the show Black Mirror. Some of these stories touch on the same topics as Jonathan Luna's Alex + Ada: The Complete Collection (a review I've put on hold as I think I need to read the graphic novel again before I can adequately discuss it) with respect to AI rights.
We are reaching the point where speculative fiction is not so speculative anymore, nor is cyberpunk dystopian. Spend any time on Disabled Twitter and you will see stories of people priced out of life improving if not saving technology. Substances or activities the abled bodied can do without assistance (produce insulin or even breathe) are behind a paywall for diabetics and asthmatics respectively. What was once merely metaphor has become reality.
Stephan Oram, the author of this volume, intrinsically understands the function of a short story and does an excellent job with the ideas he presents. The collection uses a variety of genres/subgenres like the subtle horror of "Disjointed" to the satisfying, poetic justice found in "Little Miracles." Most importantly, these stories reveal a glimpse of a much closer future than expected where the disenfranchised become even more so due to public opinion turned policy, and there's a sinister similarity between the mien of many of them and the show Black Mirror. Some of these stories touch on the same topics as Jonathan Luna's Alex + Ada: The Complete Collection (a review I've put on hold as I think I need to read the graphic novel again before I can adequately discuss it) with respect to AI rights.
We are reaching the point where speculative fiction is not so speculative anymore, nor is cyberpunk dystopian. Spend any time on Disabled Twitter and you will see stories of people priced out of life improving if not saving technology. Substances or activities the abled bodied can do without assistance (produce insulin or even breathe) are behind a paywall for diabetics and asthmatics respectively. What was once merely metaphor has become reality.
July 22, 2020
Great set of short stories about the future which get you thinking. Develops possible scenarios of the evolution of humankind and society through a lens of robotics, AI, nanotechnology and biotech and paints a collage of potential futures , some more dystopian than others. Thought provoking. I enjoyed the reviews and narrative of some of the UK’s robotics experts on particular stories at the end of the book and shows the author has hit on some very contentious and critical issues being considered as we rapidly evolve as a tech enhanced species. It reminded me of the pitfalls pointed out in Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari for the future of mankind.
June 3, 2017
I'm not normally a fan of short stories, but this book has gone some way to change my mind. Developments that we embrace, or don't really consider fully are challenged through plausible scenarios - such as the story about driverless/artificial intelligence cars with chilling consequences. In contrast, the Eating Robots story made me literally laugh out loud! Whatever your feelings about technology, AI and future developments, this book will make you think, smile and shudder in equal doses - highly recommended.
June 6, 2017
(An ARC from NetGalley)
A selection of short stories concerning technology.
Each story is quite short, never more than 6 or so pages at most.
There is also notes at the end from scientists responding to some of the stories.
I enjoyed the fact the stories offer a brief glimpse into the worlds although that can be a little frustrating.
Worth a read.
A selection of short stories concerning technology.
Each story is quite short, never more than 6 or so pages at most.
There is also notes at the end from scientists responding to some of the stories.
I enjoyed the fact the stories offer a brief glimpse into the worlds although that can be a little frustrating.
Worth a read.
August 11, 2017
I’m on the fence with this book, the stories are all really creative and insightful but many are far too short to have any sort of deep impact. Lots of the stories were literally only one paragraph long, others were much longer, but nearly all of them left me thinking 'is that it?'.
Many of the stories were reminiscent of the TV show Black Mirror; weird and futuristic. Overall Eating Robots didn’t provide meaty enough stories for me to engage fully, but fun and thought provoking nonetheless, I’d be interested to read more from this author.
Many of the stories were reminiscent of the TV show Black Mirror; weird and futuristic. Overall Eating Robots didn’t provide meaty enough stories for me to engage fully, but fun and thought provoking nonetheless, I’d be interested to read more from this author.
February 23, 2018
A for effort.
Second half is much better than the first. There's a good diversity of stories in terms of themes/positivity/negativity, but way too many of the stories were just meh. I'd say it's still worth the read, since sci-fi short stories aren't really in high supply.
Second half is much better than the first. There's a good diversity of stories in terms of themes/positivity/negativity, but way too many of the stories were just meh. I'd say it's still worth the read, since sci-fi short stories aren't really in high supply.
May 23, 2017
4 Stars
Full review coming soon.
Full review coming soon.
August 11, 2017
.
This is Oram's third book and the best. Read it in short bursts with time to consider the implications of his ideas. I look forward to his fourth book and the new ideas it will contain
This is Oram's third book and the best. Read it in short bursts with time to consider the implications of his ideas. I look forward to his fourth book and the new ideas it will contain
February 10, 2025
Thought provoking. Makes one think about ethics, AI and future. A fun read.
July 6, 2019
Fans of TV shows like Black Mirror and Years and Years will enjoy this collection of technological, mostly dystopian stories.
May 1, 2017
An amazing collection of short stories, 'Eating Robots' is both intriguing and spine-chilling. Progress and new technology is always touted as good for us, but looking closer, just how good is it? How much of ourselves are we willing to give up in the name of progress? How much control over our lives are we willing to give to another, to an artificial intelligence? How safe is it really, despite what those creating and selling the technology say? A must read, but perhaps out of sight of you your smart phone...
Advance review copy
Advance review copy
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