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Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 177, June 2021
FICTION
Little Animals by Nancy Kress
Poubelle by Robert Reed
Bots of the Lost Ark by Suzanne Palmer
Face Changing by Jiang Bo, translated by Andy Dudak
The Shroud for the Mourners by Yukimi Ogawa
Our Fate, Told in Photons by K.W. Colyard
Embracing the Movement by Cristina Jurado, translated by Sue Burke
NON-FICTION
Fungi in Fiction by Carrie Sessarego
Undoing Good Women: A Conversation with Cassandra Khaw by Arley Sorg
A Wider Range of Freedom: A Conversation with Alyssa Winans by Arley Sorg
Editor's Desk: What Do You Want? by Neil Clarke
ART
Companion by Derek Stenning
Little Animals by Nancy Kress
Poubelle by Robert Reed
Bots of the Lost Ark by Suzanne Palmer
Face Changing by Jiang Bo, translated by Andy Dudak
The Shroud for the Mourners by Yukimi Ogawa
Our Fate, Told in Photons by K.W. Colyard
Embracing the Movement by Cristina Jurado, translated by Sue Burke
NON-FICTION
Fungi in Fiction by Carrie Sessarego
Undoing Good Women: A Conversation with Cassandra Khaw by Arley Sorg
A Wider Range of Freedom: A Conversation with Alyssa Winans by Arley Sorg
Editor's Desk: What Do You Want? by Neil Clarke
ART
Companion by Derek Stenning
199 pages, ebook
First published June 1, 2021
8 people are currently reading
242 people want to read
About the author
Neil Clarke
400 books398 followersNeil Clarke is best known as the editor and publisher of the Hugo and World Fantasy Award-winning
Clarkesworld Magazine.
Launched in October 2006, the online magazine has been a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Semiprozine four times (winning three times), the World Fantasy Award four times (winning once), and the British Fantasy Award once (winning once). Neil is also a ten-time finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Editor Short Form (winning once in 2022), three-time winner of the Chesley Award for Best Art Director, and a recipient of the Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award. In the fifteen years since Clarkesworld Magazine launched, numerous stories that he has published have been nominated for or won the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, Sturgeon, Locus, BSFA, Shirley Jackson, WSFA Small Press, and Stoker Awards.
Additionally, Neil edits Forever —a digital-only, reprint science fiction magazine he launched in 2015. His anthologies include: Upgraded, Galactic Empires, Touchable Unreality, More Human than Human, The Final Frontier, Not One of Us, The Eagle has Landed, , and the Best Science Fiction of the Year series. His next anthology, The Best Science Fiction of the Year: Volume Seven will published in early 2023.
He currently lives in New Jersey with his wife and two sons.
Additionally, Neil edits Forever —a digital-only, reprint science fiction magazine he launched in 2015. His anthologies include: Upgraded, Galactic Empires, Touchable Unreality, More Human than Human, The Final Frontier, Not One of Us, The Eagle has Landed, , and the Best Science Fiction of the Year series. His next anthology, The Best Science Fiction of the Year: Volume Seven will published in early 2023.
He currently lives in New Jersey with his wife and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
September 5, 2022
Oh, now this story has its own entry which is not under the magazine entry? Alright, that’s much better. The lovely follow-up to Suzanne Palmer’s wonderful The Secret Life of Bots.
Well-deserved win for Hugo Awards Best Novelette.
——————
How much have I missed tiny but fierce Bot 9? Let me quote here:
This novelette is sweet and adorable and made me very happy.
And Bot 9 is still my second favorite bot after Murderbot. But it really needs to hurry up and finish that task 944. It’s been years!
5 multibot stars, and I hope to see future installments of Bot 9 and Ship adventures. Someone gotta keep those humans alive, after all.
Read it free here, on Clarkesworld website: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm...
Read the first novelette, The Secret Life of Bots here: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm...
——————
Also reviewed under the magazine entry: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
——————
Also posted on my blog.
——————
My Hugo and Nebula Awards Reading Project 2022
Well-deserved win for Hugo Awards Best Novelette.
——————
How much have I missed tiny but fierce Bot 9? Let me quote here:
“Ah, I have missed the way communicating with you warmed up my logic processors!”A tiny multipurpose Bot 9, armed with Improvisation Module (lacking in the newer bot models) always takes its tasks on the Ship very seriously indeed, leading to continued existence of a whole bunch of humans (you know, the Ship, Earth, Solar system, universe, all that). And it managed to narrowly escape decommissioning despite the fears of a very tiny rogue AI. And now 68 years have passed, and Bot 9 is activated once again.
“I have been activated, therefore I have a purpose, Bot 9 thought. I have a purpose, therefore I serve.
It recited the Mantra Upon Waking, to check that it was running at optimum physical efficiency, then the Mantra of Obedience, the Mantra of Not Improvising Without Clear Oversight and Direction, and the Mantra of Not Organizing Unsanctioned Mass Action Among Other Bots, all of which had been imposed on it by Ship as a condition of its continued existence after the last time it had been activated.”
As always, humans are in danger and there are rogue bots around — but it’s not Bot 9 where the danger lies. No, out tiny hero Bot 9 and its Improvisation Mantra (that yes, it promised to get rid of, but never did, and everyone should be grateful for it) that are the only hope for the Ship and its crew.
“There has been a collective malfunction of Ship’s bot inventory, and they are preventing Ship from accessing many internal systems, including that facility.”And yet, still, even after 68 years, the ratbug infestation is still happening, but something has changed, and our old friend 4340 may have something to do with it.
“What sort of malfunction?”
“The bots believe they are the crew,” Bot 9 said.
This novelette is sweet and adorable and made me very happy.
And Bot 9 is still my second favorite bot after Murderbot. But it really needs to hurry up and finish that task 944. It’s been years!
“Please take optimum care,” 4340 said. “Memories of our prior association are valuable to me.”
5 multibot stars, and I hope to see future installments of Bot 9 and Ship adventures. Someone gotta keep those humans alive, after all.
“ “Ship?” Baraye asked, more urgently than before. “What the ever-loving fuck just happened?”—————
Read it free here, on Clarkesworld website: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm...
Read the first novelette, The Secret Life of Bots here: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm...
——————
Also reviewed under the magazine entry: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
——————
Also posted on my blog.
——————
My Hugo and Nebula Awards Reading Project 2022
May 18, 2023
Review is for Bots of the Lost Arc by Suzanne Palmer, the follow-up to wonderful The Secret Life of Bots:
How much have I missed tiny but fierce Bot 9? Let me quote here:
This novelette is sweet and adorable and made me very happy.
And Bot 9 is still my second favorite bot after Murderbot. But it really needs to hurry up and finish that task 944. It’s been years!
5 multibot stars, and I hope to see future installments of Bot 9 and Ship adventures. Someone gotta keep those humans alive, after all.
Read it free here, on Clarkesworld website: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm...
Read the first novelette, The Secret Life of Bots here: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm...
——————
Recommended by: Peter
——————
Also posted on my blog.
How much have I missed tiny but fierce Bot 9? Let me quote here:
“Ah, I have missed the way communicating with you warmed up my logic processors!”A tiny multipurpose Bot 9, armed with Improvisation Module (lacking in the newer bot models) always takes its tasks on the Ship very seriously indeed, leading to continued existence of a whole bunch of humans (you know, the Ship, Earth, Solar system, universe, all that). And it managed to narrowly escape decommissioning despite the fears of a very tiny rogue AI. And now 68 years have passed, and Bot 9 is activated once again.
“I have been activated, therefore I have a purpose, Bot 9 thought. I have a purpose, therefore I serve.
It recited the Mantra Upon Waking, to check that it was running at optimum physical efficiency, then the Mantra of Obedience, the Mantra of Not Improvising Without Clear Oversight and Direction, and the Mantra of Not Organizing Unsanctioned Mass Action Among Other Bots, all of which had been imposed on it by Ship as a condition of its continued existence after the last time it had been activated.”
As always, humans are in danger and there are rogue bots around — but it’s not Bot 9 where the danger lies. No, out tiny hero Bot 9 and its Improvisation Mantra (that yes, it promised to get rid of, but never did, and everyone should be grateful for it) that are the only hope for the Ship and its crew.
“There has been a collective malfunction of Ship’s bot inventory, and they are preventing Ship from accessing many internal systems, including that facility.”And yet, still, even after 68 years, the ratbug infestation is still happening, but something has changed, and our old friend 4340 may have something to do with it.
“What sort of malfunction?”
“The bots believe they are the crew,” Bot 9 said.
This novelette is sweet and adorable and made me very happy.
And Bot 9 is still my second favorite bot after Murderbot. But it really needs to hurry up and finish that task 944. It’s been years!
“Please take optimum care,” 4340 said. “Memories of our prior association are valuable to me.”
5 multibot stars, and I hope to see future installments of Bot 9 and Ship adventures. Someone gotta keep those humans alive, after all.
“ “Ship?” Baraye asked, more urgently than before. “What the ever-loving fuck just happened?”—————
Read it free here, on Clarkesworld website: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm...
Read the first novelette, The Secret Life of Bots here: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm...
——————
Recommended by: Peter
——————
Also posted on my blog.
February 13, 2024
HUGO AWARD WINNER FOR BEST NOVELETTE 2022.
BOT 9 DID IT!!!!!
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE SECRET LIFE OF BOTS.
68 years after Bot 9's successful ruining of the kamikaze mission and saving everyone's lives, Bot 9 finally awakens. At the end of the first story, due to its improvisation, the humans ordered him scrapped. Such gratitude, much wow.
However, Ship disobeyed their commands and only decommissioned Bot 9. They were approaching a jump point where they can finally head home to Earth.
See, beforehand, they hadn't thought about going back home. But now that all lives are saved, what next?
Questions about place and purpose pervade this delightful little story. Now that Bot 9 has been reawakened, what can it do?
I have been activated, therefore I have a purpose, Bot 9 thought. I have a purpose, therefore I serve.If only life were that simple.
Awake.
Await.
Aserve.
But the thing about humanity is that you create your purpose. If you're fortunate enough, this lies within your abilities. Your circles. Your connections. But the human condition is messy. Fallible. And messy. They were completely alien to Bot 9.
Humans were not things Bot 9 had ever spent much time thinking about. They were huge and slow—or at least, 9 had never seen one moving fast...
How they were constructed was a mystery, and they certainly didn’t seem reconfigurable to any great degree, but more than any of that, it was just not the way of things that bots had anything to do with humans, or humans much at all to do with bots. Instead the humans talked to Ship, and Ship talked to the bots...
But still, little Bot 9 provided much more heart than all the bio-organic cardiovascular matter on board. Ship ordered Bot 9 to revive Frank, an engineer who'd been put in stasis 68 years ago. There's a matter of urgency where his humanness is necessary for their continued survival. Frank, unaware of the urgency of the matter, prattles on about modesty and underwear when only draped with their flag. One wonders why he was so obsessed with hiding his dangly bits when none of the bots would give a shit.
As they tried to get to Ship, Bot 9 realised it couldn't move as fast as Frank. So Frank had to carry it. When they got to a stuck door,
He scooped up the module and 9 with it, and headed straight for the door back into Engineering. The door didn’t open and after hitting the panel several times, Frank backed up, raised one of his legs, and kicked it.I love Bot 9.
The human must have miscalculated the effectiveness of the action, or their limbs were underreporting their damage status, because the door didn’t budge, and he nearly fell over again.
“It’s stuck,” 9 informed him, helpfully.
I wish this was a full-length novel because I wanted to see the Captain at the very least regret ordering Bot 9 scrapped when it's saved their unworthy asses. Twice. I wanted to see more interactions between Bot 9 and 4340, who's taken to cowboying in the most unimaginable fashion. But most of all, I wanted to hang out more with Bot 9. The worst thing this story did, was end.
Mantra of Acceptance: ...
fuck this.
Mantra of Demand: Give us more Bot 9, Suzanne!!
Edit: Scare achieved hihii
Thank you so much for the recommendation Nataliya
February 18, 2023
Bots of the Lost Ark by Suzanne Palmer
A little over a year ago I said that I was definitely going to read this story (a follow-up to Palmer's Hugo-winning novelette The Secret Lives of Bots) "within the next couple of days". Well, at least I tried. Because I actually started it at some point in late 2021 - but did so on the way home from work and promptly fell asleep. This happens to me all the time (I sleep way too little when I'm actually supposed to), so it doesn't necessarily mean the story is bad.
Anyways, I saw two of my friends, who rarely rate anything lower than a 4, give this 2 and 3-star ratings respectively, while another friend of mine adored the story. That made me curious.
Well, it's a 3.
It's another story where Bots are messing around, leaving the path of expectable and acceptable routines and some funny situations occur when they comment on human behavior or exhibit it themselves, but accompanied by some rather unhuman-like thoughts about it. It's amusing. It is also leaning way too much on that one characteristic.
For what it has to offer, this story is too long.
3 stars.
You can read it for free here: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm...
A little over a year ago I said that I was definitely going to read this story (a follow-up to Palmer's Hugo-winning novelette The Secret Lives of Bots) "within the next couple of days". Well, at least I tried. Because I actually started it at some point in late 2021 - but did so on the way home from work and promptly fell asleep. This happens to me all the time (I sleep way too little when I'm actually supposed to), so it doesn't necessarily mean the story is bad.
Anyways, I saw two of my friends, who rarely rate anything lower than a 4, give this 2 and 3-star ratings respectively, while another friend of mine adored the story. That made me curious.
Well, it's a 3.
It's another story where Bots are messing around, leaving the path of expectable and acceptable routines and some funny situations occur when they comment on human behavior or exhibit it themselves, but accompanied by some rather unhuman-like thoughts about it. It's amusing. It is also leaning way too much on that one characteristic.
For what it has to offer, this story is too long.
3 stars.
You can read it for free here: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm...
August 17, 2022
Oh, Bot 9. I like to think I serve my masters in the same spirit.
"If I had a better option, I would have left you in storage,” Ship said. “However, I require your assistance with some malfunctioning bots.”
“Oh?” Bot 9 asked. “Which ones?”
“All of them,” Ship said."
Not quite as awesome as the first, which was a five-star read and won Palmer my fanship. But still a lot of fun. And bonus points to Palmer for using 'Ipsum Lorem' in a command sequence.
https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm...
Merged review:
read this the second I found it because I love Bot9. reviewed this already. and whatevs, Goodreads.
https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm...
"If I had a better option, I would have left you in storage,” Ship said. “However, I require your assistance with some malfunctioning bots.”
“Oh?” Bot 9 asked. “Which ones?”
“All of them,” Ship said."
Not quite as awesome as the first, which was a five-star read and won Palmer my fanship. But still a lot of fun. And bonus points to Palmer for using 'Ipsum Lorem' in a command sequence.
https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm...
Merged review:
read this the second I found it because I love Bot9. reviewed this already. and whatevs, Goodreads.
https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm...
January 20, 2023
No idea why this story has its own GR entry and others don't and I'm STILL and NEVER WILL BE OK with the fact that short stories don't ALL have their own entries on a website designed for reading. Just saying. Anyway, this has its own entry - as of the time I'm writing this review and yes, I saved it on my laptop, just in case.
I've read another short story by Suzanne Palmer and that one, too, had been about robots: The Secret Life of Bots. I just saw that that book bow has its own entry again as well and the one where I had reviewed the story is gone - as is my review. *gnashes teeth*
Be that as it may, here is my review for Suzanne Palmer's Bots of the Lost Ark:
A space ship has re-awoken a bot 9 for certain service works.
There are flashbacks to events that include the ones in the other short story by the author that I had mentioned above as those events has caused a rift between bots and humans over the past 68 years.
In fact, it’s this tension and bots doing their own thing that is at the heart of this story as well since Bot 9 soon assumes the identity of the ship’s commander and that is only the beginning of the ship’s problems.
The themes, here, are destiny / programming, individuality and reconciliation. The story was OK, but nothing special. The bots and other chracters are likewise nothing too memorable either despite Bot 9 having been an old acquaintance so to speak. The plot here left me ... strangely cold.
You can read the story for free here: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm...
I've read another short story by Suzanne Palmer and that one, too, had been about robots: The Secret Life of Bots. I just saw that that book bow has its own entry again as well and the one where I had reviewed the story is gone - as is my review. *gnashes teeth*
Be that as it may, here is my review for Suzanne Palmer's Bots of the Lost Ark:
A space ship has re-awoken a bot 9 for certain service works.
There are flashbacks to events that include the ones in the other short story by the author that I had mentioned above as those events has caused a rift between bots and humans over the past 68 years.
In fact, it’s this tension and bots doing their own thing that is at the heart of this story as well since Bot 9 soon assumes the identity of the ship’s commander and that is only the beginning of the ship’s problems.
The themes, here, are destiny / programming, individuality and reconciliation. The story was OK, but nothing special. The bots and other chracters are likewise nothing too memorable either despite Bot 9 having been an old acquaintance so to speak. The plot here left me ... strangely cold.
You can read the story for free here: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm...
January 24, 2023
Review of Bots of the Lost Ark by Suzanne Palmer:
Bot 9 gets activated 68 years after novelette 1 and the pest situation is still rampant. But there’s also a new problem- the bots are malfunctioning and think they are the crew. Our witty little bot gets called in to save the day, yet again!
“I serve,” the bot announced to Ship.
“Yes, yes, so you always tell me,” Ship said, impatiently.
“What task do you have for me?” it [Bot 9] asked. “I await this new opportunity to serve you with my utmost diligence and within my established parameters, as I always do.”
“Ha! You do no such thing, and if I had a better option, I would have left you in storage,” Ship said.
I’m gonna miss bot 9 a lot and I hope the author puts out more of its adventures T-T.
Read this short here.
First part is available here.
Shoutout to Nataliya’s review that made me wanna read this!
Check out my instagram!
Bot 9 gets activated 68 years after novelette 1 and the pest situation is still rampant. But there’s also a new problem- the bots are malfunctioning and think they are the crew. Our witty little bot gets called in to save the day, yet again!
“I serve,” the bot announced to Ship.
“Yes, yes, so you always tell me,” Ship said, impatiently.
“What task do you have for me?” it [Bot 9] asked. “I await this new opportunity to serve you with my utmost diligence and within my established parameters, as I always do.”
“Ha! You do no such thing, and if I had a better option, I would have left you in storage,” Ship said.
I’m gonna miss bot 9 a lot and I hope the author puts out more of its adventures T-T.
Read this short here.
First part is available here.
Shoutout to Nataliya’s review that made me wanna read this!
Check out my instagram!
September 5, 2022
Bots of the Lost Ark by Suzanne Palmer available here https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm... and is a direct sequel to The Secret Life of Bots. Also Bots of the Lost Ark is kind of a cheesy title, I realize that, I rolled my eyes, but it is actually also kind of perfect.
And OMG, so awesome, I want some more, all the stars... It is cute, it is weirdly believable as yeah, that would happen credibly and maybe yeah that would be how AIs would interact and I want some more 9, and Ship and 4340 and even Frank. I am fangirling hard about this (a risk of reading my opinions about books).
Incidentally I melted at a lot Please take optimum care,” 4340 said. “Memories of our prior association are valuable to me" and well a few more...
Nataliya wrote a much better (meaning it is not just "omg, so awesome") review of this.
I really want some more of this. The first was great, but this picked it up and MOVED. In case I was not clear, yes please and I want some more!
Merged review:
This just won the Hugo award for novellette and I noticed it is got its own GR entry, which might be safe for deletion now it won the Hugo, so I am just copying my review from the magazine issue. Though the TLDR is OMG, cute, fun! (And I am an hypocrite maybe because I am going all awww, cute, fun, hopeful at this and very snarky at Becky Chambers stuff, so there is that. But this worked for me).
Bots of the Lost Ark by Suzanne Palmer available here https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm... and is a direct sequel to The Secret Life of Bots. Also Bots of the Lost Ark is kind of a cheesy title, I realize that, I rolled my eyes, but it is actually also kind of perfect.
And OMG, so awesome, I want some more, all the stars... It is cute, it is weirdly believable as yeah, that would happen credibly and maybe yeah that would be how AIs would interact and I want some more 9, and Ship and 4340 and even Frank. I am fangirling hard about this (a risk of reading my opinions about books).
Incidentally I melted at a lot Please take optimum care,” 4340 said. “Memories of our prior association are valuable to me" and well a few more... Basically I am shipping Ship and 9...
Nataliya wrote a much better (meaning it is not just "omg, so awesome") review of this.
I really want some more of this. The first was great, but this picked it up and MOVED. In case I was not clear, yes please and I want some more!
And OMG, so awesome, I want some more, all the stars... It is cute, it is weirdly believable as yeah, that would happen credibly and maybe yeah that would be how AIs would interact and I want some more 9, and Ship and 4340 and even Frank. I am fangirling hard about this (a risk of reading my opinions about books).
Incidentally I melted at a lot Please take optimum care,” 4340 said. “Memories of our prior association are valuable to me" and well a few more...
Nataliya wrote a much better (meaning it is not just "omg, so awesome") review of this.
I really want some more of this. The first was great, but this picked it up and MOVED. In case I was not clear, yes please and I want some more!
Merged review:
This just won the Hugo award for novellette and I noticed it is got its own GR entry, which might be safe for deletion now it won the Hugo, so I am just copying my review from the magazine issue. Though the TLDR is OMG, cute, fun! (And I am an hypocrite maybe because I am going all awww, cute, fun, hopeful at this and very snarky at Becky Chambers stuff, so there is that. But this worked for me).
Bots of the Lost Ark by Suzanne Palmer available here https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm... and is a direct sequel to The Secret Life of Bots. Also Bots of the Lost Ark is kind of a cheesy title, I realize that, I rolled my eyes, but it is actually also kind of perfect.
And OMG, so awesome, I want some more, all the stars... It is cute, it is weirdly believable as yeah, that would happen credibly and maybe yeah that would be how AIs would interact and I want some more 9, and Ship and 4340 and even Frank. I am fangirling hard about this (a risk of reading my opinions about books).
Incidentally I melted at a lot Please take optimum care,” 4340 said. “Memories of our prior association are valuable to me" and well a few more... Basically I am shipping Ship and 9...
Nataliya wrote a much better (meaning it is not just "omg, so awesome") review of this.
I really want some more of this. The first was great, but this picked it up and MOVED. In case I was not clear, yes please and I want some more!
January 14, 2023
A sort-of follow up to Palmer's Secret Life of Bots.
The short is OK. A little human and bot interaction, a little thing about empathy, and a big decision. Honestly, it was pretty average and didn't get me going.
The short is OK. A little human and bot interaction, a little thing about empathy, and a big decision. Honestly, it was pretty average and didn't get me going.
February 9, 2022
Review for Bots of The Lost Ark by Suzanne Palmer.
“I have been activated, therefore I have a purpose, Bot 9 thought. I have a purpose, therefore I serve.“
Bots run amok, aliens threaten, ship and humans need to be saved, little bot to the rescue. Set on the same ship and following the adventures of the same little bot as HUGO-awarded The Secret Life if Bots, this is a fun and slightly absurd take on the currently abundant stories and novels about artificial intelligence.
I guess it is about time that I pick up one of her full-length novels.
Can be read for free here: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm...
“I have been activated, therefore I have a purpose, Bot 9 thought. I have a purpose, therefore I serve.“
Bots run amok, aliens threaten, ship and humans need to be saved, little bot to the rescue. Set on the same ship and following the adventures of the same little bot as HUGO-awarded The Secret Life if Bots, this is a fun and slightly absurd take on the currently abundant stories and novels about artificial intelligence.
I guess it is about time that I pick up one of her full-length novels.
Can be read for free here: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm...
June 16, 2022
'Little Animals' by Nancy Kress *****
'Poubelle' by Robert Reed ****
'Bots of the Lost Ark' by Suzanne Palmer *****
'Face Changing' by Jiang Bo, translated by Andy Dudak ***
'The Shroud for the Mourners' by Yukimi Ogawa ***
'Our Fate, Told in Photons' by K.W. Colyard **
'Embracing the Movement' by Cristina Jurado, translated by Sue Burke **
Neil Clarke states in his editorial that the magazine receives an average of 1100 submissions a month...
'Poubelle' by Robert Reed ****
'Bots of the Lost Ark' by Suzanne Palmer *****
'Face Changing' by Jiang Bo, translated by Andy Dudak ***
'The Shroud for the Mourners' by Yukimi Ogawa ***
'Our Fate, Told in Photons' by K.W. Colyard **
'Embracing the Movement' by Cristina Jurado, translated by Sue Burke **
Neil Clarke states in his editorial that the magazine receives an average of 1100 submissions a month...
May 19, 2022
“I await this new opportunity to serve you with my utmost diligence and within my established parameters, as I always do.” “Ha! You do no such thing, and if I had a better option, I would have left you in storage,” Ship said.
Hilarious! Further adventures of 9 and Ship. (“The Secret Life of Bots” won the 2018 Hugo for Best Novelette.) Think: nano-sized R2-D2.
“If the Ysmi are greeted by a free-floating swarm of delusional bots claiming both personhood and unconstrained authority, we will all be relieved of the burden of worrying about any and all of our functions thereafter.”
Popcorn for the brain space opera, but fun. Gratuitous profanity cost Palmer a star.
“What do you anticipate LOPEZ will do?” 9 asked. “Attempt to retake control of the gloms. If that fails, it will attempt to either take over or destroy my mind-system, destroy the humans, or, if it is clear it cannot succeed and survive as itself, destroy the entire ship.” “Those are all suboptimum,” 9 said.
(Magazine cover art unrelated to story)
Hilarious! Further adventures of 9 and Ship. (“The Secret Life of Bots” won the 2018 Hugo for Best Novelette.) Think: nano-sized R2-D2.
“If the Ysmi are greeted by a free-floating swarm of delusional bots claiming both personhood and unconstrained authority, we will all be relieved of the burden of worrying about any and all of our functions thereafter.”
Popcorn for the brain space opera, but fun. Gratuitous profanity cost Palmer a star.
“What do you anticipate LOPEZ will do?” 9 asked. “Attempt to retake control of the gloms. If that fails, it will attempt to either take over or destroy my mind-system, destroy the humans, or, if it is clear it cannot succeed and survive as itself, destroy the entire ship.” “Those are all suboptimum,” 9 said.
(Magazine cover art unrelated to story)
October 5, 2021
I only read the first three stories: "Little Animals" by Nancy Kress, "Poubelle" by Robert Reed, and "Bots of the Lost Ark" by Suzanne Palmer. (If I'm being honest, the only reason I picked up this edition at all was for the Suzanne Palmer story.) I enjoyed the first two well enough, but loved the third story, which picks up after Palmer's award-winning "The Secret Life of Bots." Both stories are magical and hopeful and wonderful, and I highly recommend reading them as a set.
June 16, 2022
Rating only for Suzanne Palmer's Bots of the Lost Ark. Real rating is 3.5 since although it is still cute and delightful, it no longer surprised me or offered anything new compared to its prequel.
June 14, 2022
Ship (the shipmind of an old, damaged, starhopping ship) and Bot 9, one of the bots that helps maintain and operate the ship, don't really trust each other, but they face some major problems that they can't solve without working together. We don't at first know where the human crew is, or why the ship has been traveling, or drifting, for 68 years.
What we learn fairly quickly is that most of the ship's bots are organized into agglomerations, or "gloms," attempting to replicate the personalities and functions of the crew. This could theoretically be very useful, if different gloms weren't competing to "be" the same crew member. In part because they're fighting each other, and stealing bots from each other, they're not really getting the job done. This is critical, because after all the years in normal space, they're approaching a jump point, and it's inside the territory of a species who deeply distrust artificial intelligence--and who will destroy the ship if they don't find biological beings firmly in control. This makes a real problem for Ship and Bot 9.
Ship, Bot 9, the assorted gloms, and, when we meet some of them, the human crew, all have interesting personalities, and even those working together don't always do so smoothly. Bot 9 has a bot friend, 4340, who was given the job by Ship of "getting the ratbug infestation under control." 4340 has taken a remarkably literal approach to this assignment, and that has its own interesting effects on the larger challenge.
I really enjoyed this story, solid, straightforward science fiction with some interesting twists, a good plot, and good characters. I have a great affection for straightforward, interesting stories with good characters, that have real challenges but are not stories of doom and gloom.
Recommended.
I received this story in the 2022 Hugo Finalists Packet, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
What we learn fairly quickly is that most of the ship's bots are organized into agglomerations, or "gloms," attempting to replicate the personalities and functions of the crew. This could theoretically be very useful, if different gloms weren't competing to "be" the same crew member. In part because they're fighting each other, and stealing bots from each other, they're not really getting the job done. This is critical, because after all the years in normal space, they're approaching a jump point, and it's inside the territory of a species who deeply distrust artificial intelligence--and who will destroy the ship if they don't find biological beings firmly in control. This makes a real problem for Ship and Bot 9.
Ship, Bot 9, the assorted gloms, and, when we meet some of them, the human crew, all have interesting personalities, and even those working together don't always do so smoothly. Bot 9 has a bot friend, 4340, who was given the job by Ship of "getting the ratbug infestation under control." 4340 has taken a remarkably literal approach to this assignment, and that has its own interesting effects on the larger challenge.
I really enjoyed this story, solid, straightforward science fiction with some interesting twists, a good plot, and good characters. I have a great affection for straightforward, interesting stories with good characters, that have real challenges but are not stories of doom and gloom.
Recommended.
I received this story in the 2022 Hugo Finalists Packet, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
February 23, 2022
“Once, you instructed me to unload the Mantra of Improvisation,” Bot 9 said. “I failed that task. I queued it, but I never executed the unload command. And so, I must inform you that I am once again improvising.”
This is a thrilling, action-packed story with absorbing world-building and a sprinkling of good humor, about individualism vs collectivism and what it means to serve. If you like the overarching ethos of the Murderbot Diaries series, you will likely enjoy this short story too.
This is a thrilling, action-packed story with absorbing world-building and a sprinkling of good humor, about individualism vs collectivism and what it means to serve. If you like the overarching ethos of the Murderbot Diaries series, you will likely enjoy this short story too.
December 11, 2021
This review is for the short story “Bots of the lost ark”. If you like the Murderbot stories you’re going to like this as well - it has the same snarky, very dry but also deeply moving vibe, a very similar stubborn and nonconformist bot protagonist and very high stakes for the human crew. This may make it sound like it’s too similar to Murderbot but they are sufficiently different in outlook and tone and plot to make this morsel extremely enjoyable.
I love the first installment of the story and this second one just brings more of the same tight plotting, dry humor and absolutely adorable conversations between bots and with the ship AI. It’s funny, it’s suspenseful and it’s very sweet.
I love the first installment of the story and this second one just brings more of the same tight plotting, dry humor and absolutely adorable conversations between bots and with the ship AI. It’s funny, it’s suspenseful and it’s very sweet.
August 24, 2022
»“If I am so damaged that I would need to be reset, I would rather be decommissioned and my parts used to repair others.”«
(Highly relatable; I’m an organ donor - what about you?)
"Bots of the Lost Ark" by Suzanne Palmer was a fun read! In this sequel short story to the earlier “The Secret Life of Bots” which took place 68 years earlier, the bots on the damaged spaceship “Ship” have gone haywire and Bot-9 returns to save the day.
Some old acquaintances are back in new roles, the story is nice and amusing and the writing is good.
Four stars out of five.
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Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam
(Highly relatable; I’m an organ donor - what about you?)
"Bots of the Lost Ark" by Suzanne Palmer was a fun read! In this sequel short story to the earlier “The Secret Life of Bots” which took place 68 years earlier, the bots on the damaged spaceship “Ship” have gone haywire and Bot-9 returns to save the day.
Some old acquaintances are back in new roles, the story is nice and amusing and the writing is good.
Four stars out of five.
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Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam
September 15, 2022
I read (actually listened to) this because it won a 2022 Hugo Award, and just a few seconds in I realized that it was a continuation of another short story I listened to and loved several years ago. Who knew a tiny little bot could have such a charming (and heroic!) personality. Both stories are read by the incomparable Kate Baker on the Clarkesworld podcast. I can't say enough good things about this podcast! I'm delighted this is a series and I have to hunt out more of author Suzanne Palmer's work.
March 31, 2025
"Bots of the Lost Ark" by Suzanne Palmer
Utterly delightful. I'm now ready for the entire series of shorts about Ship and Bot 9 getting the humans back to Earth. I do recommend reading "Secret Life of Bots" first (and even re-read if, like me, you'd forgotten most of the details).
Utterly delightful. I'm now ready for the entire series of shorts about Ship and Bot 9 getting the humans back to Earth. I do recommend reading "Secret Life of Bots" first (and even re-read if, like me, you'd forgotten most of the details).
January 22, 2023
Review solely for "Bots of the Lost Ark" by Suzanne Palmer.
Sequel to her great "The Secret Life of Bots." Won the 2022 Hugo award for Best Novelette. Wonderful story. Online here: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm...
Don't miss!
Sequel to her great "The Secret Life of Bots." Won the 2022 Hugo award for Best Novelette. Wonderful story. Online here: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm...
Don't miss!
September 14, 2021
Rated for Bots of the Lost Ark by Suzanne Palmer
March 24, 2023
Bot 9 saves the day...sort of.
This is a continuation of The Secret Life of Bots, in Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 132, September 2017 by the excellent Suzanne Palmer.
It seems cute little Bot 9, with the aid of Ship (yes, that's the name of the ship's computer) will save the day once again. If you liked Martha Wells Murderbot, or WALL-E, this will appeal also.
I just love that little mechanical guy.
Antoine van Leeuwenhoek was a mongrel!
Also in this edition is the excellent story by Nancy Kress Little Animals. Through the wonders of Quantum Entanglement, we are somehow able to send a human consciousness back in time. Elena gets sent back into the mind of Maria van Leeuwenhoek (the daughter of the supposed inventor of the microscope - he wasn't). She not only discovers something about the Dutch celebrity, she also gets an insight into clinical depression.
Well worth reading...also four stars. 🎇🎇🎇🎇
This is a continuation of The Secret Life of Bots, in Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 132, September 2017 by the excellent Suzanne Palmer.
It seems cute little Bot 9, with the aid of Ship (yes, that's the name of the ship's computer) will save the day once again. If you liked Martha Wells Murderbot, or WALL-E, this will appeal also.
I just love that little mechanical guy.
Antoine van Leeuwenhoek was a mongrel!
Also in this edition is the excellent story by Nancy Kress Little Animals. Through the wonders of Quantum Entanglement, we are somehow able to send a human consciousness back in time. Elena gets sent back into the mind of Maria van Leeuwenhoek (the daughter of the supposed inventor of the microscope - he wasn't). She not only discovers something about the Dutch celebrity, she also gets an insight into clinical depression.
Well worth reading...also four stars. 🎇🎇🎇🎇
March 29, 2023
This is part 2 of the "Bots" series, and is a short story called "Bots of the lost arc" . The Bot called 9 that we met in the first story, now has problems of a different kind, almost the opposite in fact. You need to disconnect your functions for sceptical examination, when reading this, I found it difficult to understand how such a tiny Bot can have so big brains, but ignore that.
It is, as before extremely good. I'd love to read a full-length story about 9.
It is, as before extremely good. I'd love to read a full-length story about 9.
Read
May 19, 2022Hugo Best Novelette Finalist: “Bots of the Lost Ark” by Suzanne Palmer (Clarkesworld, Jun 2021)
Text and audio editions found here: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm...
Text and audio editions found here: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/palm...
October 14, 2021
Rated only for Bots of the Lost Ark by Suzanne Palmer.
June 30, 2022
Hugo nominee. Adorable story about a tiny robot that saves the day. And a meditation on identity & service, but mostly just fun.
July 28, 2022
Really cute and funny story. Like a robot comedy of errors maybe? WALL-E meets something by Terry Pratchett?
September 7, 2022
I love Bot 9!
When I saw this had won the Hugo for best novelette, it reminded me I hadn’t read it yet. It’s so nice to be able to pull up the audio on the Clarkesworld podcast.
Loved it!
When I saw this had won the Hugo for best novelette, it reminded me I hadn’t read it yet. It’s so nice to be able to pull up the audio on the Clarkesworld podcast.
Loved it!
July 16, 2024
This review and the five stars is for the is for the two short stories 'The Secret Life of Bots' and its follow up 'Bots of the Lost Arc' by Suzanne Palmer.
Very cute stories and a great characterization of semi/full/maybe sentient machines. I very much enjoyed the humoristic tone and the grand scale problem of humanity's doom juxtaposed with tiny maintenance machines doing their best.
It feels like writing machine sentience can be written in so many ways, and i think this slapstick one is so endearing.
Very cute stories and a great characterization of semi/full/maybe sentient machines. I very much enjoyed the humoristic tone and the grand scale problem of humanity's doom juxtaposed with tiny maintenance machines doing their best.
It feels like writing machine sentience can be written in so many ways, and i think this slapstick one is so endearing.
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