Restore

Stories of Singularity #1

by Susan Kaye Quinn

Restorative Human Medical Care Unit 7435, sentience level fifty, is happiness level five out of ten to serve and heal the human master it loves. But Unit 7435 finds there is a price to be paid for love… and for failing in its primary mission. 

Restore  is a standalone short story that takes place in the world of the Singularity novels.

Start the novel series with The Legacy Human (Singularity 1).

A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
The future is… unsettling.

Technology isn’t just racing forward, it’s accelerating. This isn’t just our imagination, it’s a natural consequence of innovation building upon innovation. The gap between what we can imagine and reality shrinks every day. Our relationship with technology is already one of the defining issues of the 21st century. As we integrate it ever-more-intimately into our lives and bodies and brains—as we mold our creations in our own image, not only physically, but mentally and emotionally—our tech will shape us in ways we will barely understand.

The 21st century will challenge us to remember what it means to be only human.

But creating a truly sentient Artificial Intelligence is far more complicated than first dreamed in Asimov’s Bicentennial Man. As we learn more about the three pounds of meat and electricity between our ears, as well as consciousness itself, we are realizing how difficult the job is. In a sense, creating an AI will force us to answer some of the deepest questions humanity has ever asked… about ourselves and our place in the universe.

What does it mean to create intelligence if you intentionally limit it? Is it cruel or compassionate to keep your tech from evolving above a certain sentience level?

I hope Restore will provoke a bit of thought in your own personal set of three pounds of meat and electricity.

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Fiction, Young Adult, Sci Fi Fantasy, Ebooks, Fantasy

Unknown Binding

First published May 3, 2015

About the author

CLICK HERE for a FREE STORY

Susan Kaye Quinn has designed aircraft engines and researched global warming, but now she uses her PhD to invent cool stuff in books. Her works range from hopeful climate fiction to gritty cyberpunk. Sue believes being gentle and healing is radical and disruptive. Her short fiction can be found in Grist, Solarpunk Magazine, Reckoning, and all her novels and short stories can be found on her website. She is the host of the Bright Green Futures podcast.

SOLARPUNK
collections
Bright Green Futures: 2024 (edited by SKQ)
Halfway to Better

novels
Nothing is Promised series
When You Had Power
You Knew The Price
Of Kindness and Kilowatts
Yet You Cry When It Hurts

short stories
A Moon Goddess to Watch Over Me (Luna Station Quarterly) (hopepunk)
It's in the Blood (Reckoning 8)
Once and Future Kilowatts (Solarpunk Magazine)
Rewilding Indiana (Little Blue Marble)
Seven Sisters (Grist)
The Joy Fund (DreamForge Magazine)

SCI-FI
Singularity Novel Series
The Legacy Human
The Duality Bridge
The Illusory Prophet
The Last Mystic

Stories of Singularity
Restore
Containment
Augment
Awakening
Harvest
Defiance
Resistance

YA SF
Mindjack Series
Open Minds
Closed Hearts
Free Souls
Locked Tight
Cracked Open
Broken Wide
Mindjack Short Story Collection

WATCH the award-winning live-action Mindjack Book Trailer!

STEAMPUNK ROMANCE
Royals of Dharia
Third Daughter
Second Daughter
First Daughter

CYBERPUNK
Debt Collector
LIRIUM (Season One)
WRAITH (Season Two)

WATCH the Debt Collector Book Trailer

ANTHOLOGIES
Synchronic
Telepath Chronicles
AI Chronicles
Dark Beyond The Stars
Future Chronicles
Cyborg Chronicles
CLONES: The Anthology

MIDDLE GRADE FANTASY
Faery Swap

WATCH the Faery Swap Book Trailer

CONTACT SUSAN
Susan's Website | Sue on Bluesky | Sue on Mastodon
Susan's Email: sue@twistedspacepub.com

Reviews

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review

Restore is a short story set into the world of Susan Kaye Quinn her Singularity series, but these stories fall outside the main plot line. In restore we get the point of view from a medical unit, she restores people and provides medical care. One of the masters takes her to a patient in his house which she has to cure. I call her a she, but actually she has no gender and choices a voice based on what works best for the individual patient.

It was really interesting to get the point of view of a robot. The way it was written really emphasized she wasn't a human, the things she observed or paid attention to, the way she communicated, lots of little details that really helped shape the story and feel like you were in her point of view. Combined with the first persons perspective it worked really well. And I even became to like this medical unit, even though she is a robot and does everything in a robotic way. Like recording her happiness level as a number and observing how it went up and down due to what went on around. It still felt like she had emotions and was real even while it was also obvious she was a robot, if that makes sense? I just felt sorry for this robot and also liked seeing her perspective on things.

This story was an enjoyable read and I like how we get another piece of this world and see another perspective. The medical unit mentions legacy Humans and Ascenders and I liked seeing things from her point of view, without judgement just dragging up the fact from the knowledge base. It was very well written and there was even a plot twist that surprised me. While it can be read as standalone I think it gives a different experience if you have already read the Legacy Human first as you have more of an idea of the world and can better place this novella and event in that world. I think that adds something to the experience.

To conclude: I really enjoyed this short story, it was well written and I am in awe how Susan managed to convey the robotic perspective. Seeing things from a robot their point of view was really interesting and it was well done, little touches that made it clear this was a robot. I liked getting an extra piece of the Singularity world and it makes me looking forward to more of these short stories.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the Singularity World, Restore tells the story of Human Medical Care Unit 7435 who is sent to care for a dying legacy human. Desire to please brings happiness, but the reality of failure to please is a costly thing.

This was my first experience with the author's futuristic advanced world and I was fascinated by the description and authentic setting behind a moving story. I will definitely be going back for more.

[Veronica of V's Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short novella chronicling the events of a medical bot who is brought to the home of an Ascender, a human consciousness within a surrogate automaton body, to treat the Ascender's legacy human artist-in-residence who is dying.

This futuristic world (post-Singularity) has genetic treatments for all sorts of cancers and infections, but these are prohibited to legacy humans--it is their genetic variability which is valuable, so they cannot change their genetics, even if it means dying young due to otherwise curable diseases.

Tyrus is a powerful Ascender and has brought Unit 7435 to his home to treat Sherrie, a 20 y/o artist whom Tyrus not only supports, he has great affection for her, a feeling which is reciprocated. Unit 7435 and Sherrie are told that Tyrus has acquired experimental medicine that will help Sherrie, and in one way this is true. Sherrie has battled through several rounds of chemotherapy for lymphoma, but is now suffering an opportunistic pneumonia infection.

As the day passes, Unit 7435 experiences, for the first time, emotional connection to a medical situation that is out of control. The tension is great and increases dramatically as the bot continues to check Sherrie's vitals throughout the treatment. Tyrus and Sherrie express their great affection, while Unit 7435 observes and relates the tale, and the anxiety. The end is stark, but truly awesome. Don't expect miracles of the human kind.

I was fascinated by the resonance within the bot's POV. Having spent too many days at the bedside of a terribly ill loved one, this short read captured those experiences with a chilling accuracy that was anything but detached. Bravo!

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.

[Nat · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a fascinating short read. Nice twist

[Rachel Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored Susan Kaye Quinn's THE LEGACY HUMAN, so I was thrilled to discover this thought-provoking short story that further fleshes out the Singularity universe Ms Quinn has so expertly created.

Restorative Human Medical Care Unit 7435 has personality. I'm sorry, but it does! How is that possible? How can I feel an emotional connection to a robot on a page? How can I smile in amusement at the way it refers so matter-of-factly to its happiness level in exact numbers? I don't know. That is one of the questions I'm left pondering ...

This brief yet fascinating story of A.I. consciousness and the questions it poses sucked me in from page one--no, paragraph one--and kept my attention until the last word. As always, I look forward to more from this brilliant author.

(I was given a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.)

[Cherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Restorative Human Medical Care Unit 7435 may only have a sentient level of fifty, but its love is unconditional in Susan Kaye Quinn's Restore. The human-like qualities of Unit 7435 pulled me into this short story. Its happiness levels are linked to how it can help its masters, legacy patient and ascender. The unfairness of this post-Singularity world brought tears to my eyes. My happiness became linked to Unit 7435's as it desperately tried to restore health to its patient master. A heartbreaking story, Susan Kaye Quinn's Restore will make you rethink AIs and robots.

[Frank Carver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a surprisingly moving story of love and death, set in the future, in a world after “the singularity” - the point at which artificial intelligence and human intelligence become effectively the same thing. It’s a very short book at around 7500 words, but manages to pack in a lot of story. I bought it when it was available for free as a promotion for the rest of the series.

The tale is told from the viewpoint of a medical robot whose job is to “restore”, i.e. to heal, “legacy humans”, the ones with old-fashioned human bodies which need medical care rather than the ones who have “ascended” to life as a machine. As the story progresses we track the robot’s happiness level. Expressed as a number from 0 to (presumably) 9 or 10 this is a really neat way of indicating a kind of emotional state for a machine which does not, as such, have one. Happiness is increased by being needed, making humans happy, and successfully restoring humans to better health. Happiness is reduced, it turns out, by confusion, lying, failure, and rain.

The story represents a snapshot of one case where the robot is required by an ascended human to help with the care of his legacy human artist in residence. It is clear that they care deeply for each other, despite the social stigma of such a relationship, and he is willing to do whatever he can to save her. His methods are unorthodox, and cause problems for the medical robot.

For such a short story this was intense, enjoyable, and surprisingly believable. I was immersed in the story and its world from the very start, and found the tracking of happiness level to be a masterstroke in giving life to a machine character. Even the otherwise cliched use of rain to signify death was cleverly explained and used as part of the story.

I can’t imagine that further stories in this series will use the same point-of-view character, so my best guess would be that the rest will be other stories from other characters but set in the same post-singularity world. I’ll keep an eye out for them.

[Lydia Schoch · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

A happy medical care unit is a productive medical care unit.

I liked the fact that Restorative Human Medicine Care Unit 7435 had such a distinct personality. This wasn’t something I was expecting to find, especially based on my first impression of this bot who originally came across as someone who followed strict protocols with no room from deviation. This changed once 7435 decided to identify as female for the day and began receiving commands that were in direct opposition to her programming. (Medical care units in this universe can alter their gender presentation and preferred pronoun based on what makes their patient most comfortable)

With that being said, I struggled with the thin plot. It was difficult to remain interested when so little was happening, especially since 7435 had such a limited understanding of anything other than the various types of psychological and physical medical care she was programmed to provide to her patients. She was an interesting protagonist for sure, but developing a well-rounded storyline from someone whose perspective is naturally so limited is tough.

The world building was otherwise well done. My curiosity was piqued by the differences between legacy and ascender humans in this universe. The narrator knew just enough about this topic to keep me wondering why humanity decided to branch off in these ways and what other ways the two groups might be distinct from each other that a medical bot wouldn’t necessarily be aware of.

I’d recommend Restore to anyone who is a big fan of stories about artificial intelligence.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An aim of technology is to make human lives easier and plays a large role in healthcare, manifesting in an unique way in Susan Kaye Quinn’s Restore (Stories of Singularity, #1).

To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.

When activated, Restorative Human Medical Care Unit 7435 is dedicated to serving and helping to heal their human masters. Starting from a base-level happiness of five out of ten, Unit 7435 modifies this happiness level in accordance with the information available and possible outcome based on the patient’s prognosis. The most recent patient being treated presents several peculiarities for Unit 7435, including leaving the hospital premises and treating a patient who has a terminal diagnosis who has already undergone all available, and permissible, treatment, which sets them off toward an existential malfunction.

With the rapid advance of technology and innovation that fosters that advance there’s an abundance of opportunity to explore how this intersects with various aspects of the world. This quick to read short story, which is a small and distinct portion of a larger world and story established by Quinn, speculates a potential future for how this technology could manifest and integrate within society, coupling it with a moral, existential dilemma that highlights humanity’s relationship with technology. Being provided the perspective and thoughts of the medical unit, an android, was a compelling way to introduce the moral dilemma it encountered, as it infused the protocol-laden, logical thoughts with some emotion through the happiness level.

Overall, I’d give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

[Brooke A Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

My happiness is at five levels out of ten

This was...depressing. But also intriguing. This was good and, like the best science fiction, is an example of what might be but also what is.
That opening sentence though was a banger and it really accurately set the stage for the rest of it. I'm intrigued about everything else and I will probably read more of the series.
But, this was short, which made for a good bite to eat, and it made me feel all the things.

[Randy Tramp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Restorative Human Medical Care Unit 7435, sentience level fifty, is happiness level five out of ten to serve and heal the human master it loves. But Unit 7435 finds there is a price to be paid for love… and for failing in its primary mission.

Restore gave me eerie, weird feelings. And I loved it.

[CJ Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is sort of the opposite of the Murderbot books. It's a short story about a medBot caring for a patient.
It's also a window into Quinn's established world, which does its job and made me say "I would like to read more stories about this world." Unfortunately my to-read pile really can't bear any extra weight, so I probably won't.

[Andria Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

That packed a punch right in the feels. It vaguely made me think of Murderbot at the end. RTC. I need to think of this and maybe reread before writing a review. 5 ⭐ for depressed robots! A bit of a slow build but that ending was just perfect.

[Ryan Vilano · Rating 4 out of 5]

7.6

Delightfully thought provoking! SKQ has her finger on the pulse of pressing sci-fi questions (soon not to be so "fi").

Like a sampler of a modern Do Androids Dream.

This is an author worth your attention.

[shannon Stubbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

After working in a hospital all day, this story makes my happiness a 1.5 . It's very sad.

[Dinnl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not mad on short stories but i did enjoy these. Perhaps better than the main novel. It maeans i am now more likely to read the second novel.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

My happiness level is...
My happiness level is...
I do not like the rain.

Susan Kaye Quinn is GOOOOD! If she publishes a list of her pets names since she was a child, I'll read it.

[Pat Welte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and the characters are different. I enjoyed reading this book and will be reading more by this author.

[joel croyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good


fast fun read that also gets the kind working. What does the future hold for medicine and AI featured nuses?

[Jason Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

To do no harm

Tis a question indeed... how why what.... many questions of moral dilemas...perhaps there are answers...or perhaps not...read and ponder this mystery

[Scott Shjefte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short Story of human DNA diversity preserved at too high of a cost ... Obtained for free from Amazon on January 27, 2023.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories of are side stories on the series. The first three Stories of Singularity came in a free set, so I read them all in one blow.

[Pam Lagrange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interstate

Good short story. I'm looking for more stories like this. Makes you look at life differently. Will read again and again.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, could we create an AI that feels emotions?

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing view of a future where artificial intelligence "robots" replace nurses

I really enjoyed this story because the main point of view is from the robot. I look forward to developments in artificial intelligence for the medical industry.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

What does emotion look like in a world where humans have ascended into a race of sentient beings? What are the rules of this new world and where do non-ascended human beings and low-level sentience robots fit in? Restore gives the reader a peek into this futuristic world from the perspective of a low-level sentient robot.
The robot, Restorative Human Medical Care Unit 7435, is a med-bot who serves humans in need of medical treatment. When 7435 is given an unusual assignment, it follows through as instructed but as we read the story we realize that the job is not done without some pause on 7435's part.
What is great about this story is how the emotions experienced by 7435 is expressed through precise, logical thought, a sequence of reasoning that governs 7435's actions. This is not unusual given the common understanding of the principles that guide a robot's behavior.
What is intriguing about 7435's thought process is how much connectedness it feels towards his ascender and human masters, especially who's desires are to be given a higher priority and the subtle ways that these influence 7435's logic.
What's most striking about the story is how 7435 responds when its mission has concluded.
It's an interesting take on whether robots have a soul or even memories, a question that the reader is left to ponder at the end of the tale.

[Sher A. Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have tears in my eyes as I write this. Restore is powerful for being so short. I don't usually read short stories because few of them satisfy my craving for emotional connection to the characters, let alone my wish for a full plot arc, a level of completion usually attainable only in novels.

I admit I fell in love with R. Daneel Olivaw in grade school, so if any short story would tempt me, it would be one with sentient robots. But it's more than that -- from experience, I know Susan Kaye Quinn has such a way with words, she gets under my skin in short order and straight to my heart. This time, she had to do it faster and also succeeded in making me cry.

This is a record review from me. Considering my months-long TBR list, it was also fortuitous timing. I just finished editing a book Friday and was trying to decide what to read next for fun when I saw the request today. I couldn't have made a better choice. If you're looking for a thought-provoking or heart-rending yet restorative short read, this is it. 1000+ on the ascender scale.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

What if the world were now be taken care of by AI’s in every manner including the health of humans. Medical Care Unit 7435 is just that. She is a AI in a very human looking robotic body. AI’s perform the medical care to a perfection but AI’s must have a certain level of sentience or clearance to perform certain tasks and 7435 is only a level 50 one of the lowest AI’s. It is her task to care for a human in need of medical care. Her master-human has asked her to lie to her Master-human-patient which unusual but she does it anyway. AI’s must also perform at a happiness level generally a 5 to keep the patients unaware of the true nature of their illnesses. As 7435’s happiness level drops to a level 1 she/it starts having flashes of a time that cannot be recalled by just memory banks, is she malfunctioning? What is really wrong with her, she must figure this out. This is a fast read and unusual too. The AI’s are the intelligence of everything and yet nothing. This is a series and will grab you and make you want more.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have yet to find a book of Quinn's that I don't give a full five stars to. Her stories are unique, vibrant and emotional. Restore is no exception. While it is only a handful of pages, it manages to carry so much weight! Restore takes an interesting perspective, from the POV of Restorative Human Medical Care Unit 7435. Quinn showcases her versatility in creating the perfect writing style to reflect a robot's inner monologue.

While I would have though it would be hard for me to relate to a robot, or especially to feel sympathy for a machine made of metal and wires, Quinn has made a believer out of me! I can only imagine the potential controversy around creating such a level of sentience, all the more so because it's not outside the realm of possibility.

A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

AI ROBOTS in Human Medical Care. This was a really good book about AI Robots being used to care for human patients. But this AI bot has feelings also and he/she continually lets you know what level their feelings are at. High or low. Can an AI bot really do this? Really feel? It kind of gives me the shivers that a robot could be taking care of me and have feelings about it. This book was very interesting and thought provoking too. I think you have to read more of Susan Kaye Quinn's stories to really be invested. That's why only four stars. I plan on reading more of this series and I'm sure the more you read the better you will enjoy them. I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.