The King in Binary

by Madison Kilian

Julia is a care robot. A technological marvel created in a world not so different from our own. Designed to function with the utmost care and precision, she is charged with looking after an eccentric old professor. Things seem normal at first, but when she starts losing time, her suspicions turn to the old man. And then things really get weird.

Madison Kilian’s beautifully crafted tale brings the horrors of the 20th century face-to-face with the particular threats made possible only by modern technology. In The King in Binary, clever prose and a tightly crafted plot knit together a tale worthy of the old masters themselves!

30 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 29, 2021

Reviews

[Mitch Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was a goddam pleasant surprise in many ways. The originality of the plot, the growing horror of the narrator’s voice as her machine mind is tampered with by the patient assigned to her care. Fantastic ending, and to encounter the yellow king once again, to feel the absurd dread Bierce only hinted at in his work, and that it somehow emerges subtly in literature still. That’s pretty fuckin neat. Great ending, great tribute to Bierce. Fun read.

[Kelly L.K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

My friend recommended this one to me! It's a lovely story chronicling the decline of Julia, and the added touch of the King in Yellow had my jaw on the floor. It reminded me of something you'd find in a Twilight Zone episode.