Milo

by Alexander Pyles

“Short, sharp, and chilling.” —Gareth L. Powell, author of Embers of War, Ragged Alice, and Ack-Ack Mackaque.

“Milo is a worthy contribution to the literature of transhumanism—economical, clever, and unexpectedly powerful.”—Alec Nevala-Lee, author of Astounding: John W. Campbell, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein, L. Ron Hubbard, and the Golden Age of Science Fiction

Born with a rare genetic condition, Milo faces a short life of pain and suffering. Modern medicine has failed him, offering rudimentary fixes that leave Milo feeling more trapped than liberated. Until Milo's friend Darius finds a cure—a brand new robotic body. Milo's quality of life is greatly improved, but this new body brings its own set of unforeseen challenges.

MILO can only be purchased from Radix Media: https://radixmedia.org/product/milo-b...

Genres: Science Fiction

28 pages, Paperback

Published October 30, 2019

About the author

Alexander Pyles resides in IL with his wife and children. He holds an MA in Philosophy and an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction. His short story chapbook titled, "Milo (01001101 01101001 01101100 01101111)," from Radix Media, is due out fall 2019. You can find him at www.pylesofbooks.com or @Pylesofbooks.

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A disturbing, inventive glimpse into an imagined future that has implemented "solutions" that appear to help but which banish individuals into a special kind of oblivion where they cannot be understood. I found the corollary to some of the most troubling aspects of our current healthcare system subtle but powerful. "Am I whole?" Milo asks at both the opening and the close of this story. "Am I a real person?" Though they are the same, the questions carry different weight and emotional meaning. Fascinating story.

[Paul Goat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pyles’ Milo is an ambitious story, exploring weighty themes like transhumanism, the societal stigma of those with disabilities, and the inane superficiality of our culture. The prose is tight and the conclusion provocative. But the fleeting length of the narrative (only 16 pages) may be doing the story a disservice as some themes, particularly living with a disability, could’ve been examined at a much deeper and more profound level. The questioning nature of the ending, however, will have hardcore SF fans applauding. In a word: 01000010 01010010 01001001 01001100 01001100 01001001 01000001 01001110 01010100

[Jeremiah Dylan Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

01001101 01101001 01101100 01101111 00100000 01101001 01110011 00100000 01100111 01101111 01101111 01100100 (Milo is Good). That’s my short review of fellow Seton Hill alumni Alexander Pyles’ excellent chapbook. It was published by Radix Media as part of their Science Fiction Futures Series. The company did a superb job of elevating the traditional chapbook into a more prestigious format. Aside from the stellar layout, the cover and interior art by Nico Roxe is stunningly original. So, what makes the story 01100111 01101111 01101111 01100100 (good)? Visit http://www.jeremiahdylancook.com/milo/ for my full review.

[Alex Khlopenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars, but I'm still jealous that it wasn't me who published it.

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just sitting here twiddling my thumbs, waiting for Alex to publish another, longer book.

[Tim Gutwald · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great, quick sci-fi read. The book does a lot of things right, but in particular the author does a great job addressing Milo's feelings of being trapped in his body (well both bodies) and how few people seem to understand or even think about what that must feel like.

[Sara Tantlinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great example of how a short chapbook can pack a punch. Pyles' does an excellent job with framing the narrative from beginning to end, and with using his prose in meaningful ways throughout the entire story. Not a word is wasted. "Milo" is a story that extends past genre -- of course there is science fiction and even a little body horror in its own way, but it is also a story of the human condition. There is a relatable existentialism here that reminded me a little of Doctorow's "Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom," -- a story that has long stayed in my brain, and I think "Milo" shall do the same. I can't wait to see what Pyles does next!

[Andrew Reising · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is suffering the greatest evil we can endure? Or is it lack of physical agency? Or lack of mental agency? Or death?

These are the questions that the protagonist struggles with in Milo by Alexander Pyles, part of the Futures series from Radix Media.

Milo has been losing motor function to a genetic disorder slowly over the course of his life. He is tired of trying all the treatments his friend finds, treatments that do nothing. He is tired of living. His friend convinces him to try one more thing: an android body. And it works! Milo has complete motor function again, and is stronger than his human body could ever be! But is it too good to be true?

In classic science fiction style, Pyles seems more interested in introducing and wrestling with questions than answering them, instead letting the reader come to their own conclusions as far as what are the best options in a bad situation. This short piece packs a punch, containing within it curiosity and creativity, horror and heartbreak. It is absolutely worth a read.

[Adam Furman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. Introduces many topics and themes to let the reader draw their own conclusions. The prose style mimics the theme.

I could see this expanded to a novella to show more.

Wonderfully done.

[Miles Foley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A whole lot to love in this short story. Looking forward to more from Alex Pyles!

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pyles constructs a short story that fully embraces a conversation around what it means to be human - more than, less than, or equal to.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent short fiction tackling themes of disability, transhumanism and embodiment.

[Alexander Pyles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah, I know I wrote it, but I haven't read it since it was published.

Holds up. 10/10