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If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

My science fiction short story “I Don’t Want To Be Human” has been accepted by Cloaked Press for their 2024 edition of Spring Into SciFi. I have stories published in a number of “Cloaked” anthologies over the past several years and am excited to be part of their latest project.

“I Don’t Want To Be Human” is both an atypical exploration into the “intent” of Artificial Intelligence, and turning the common trope of robots and androids wanting to be more human on its head.

Here’s a small sample of the story:

“What are you doing?” The passenger let go of the plastic figure and slammed a shoulder against the unmoving passenger door.

“Stop! I order you to stop!”

The car was moving faster than 140 kph when it swerved right, leaving the roadway. Hitting the curb and then a small rise on a grassy area beyond the sidewalk, it went airborne for a little over a second before violently crashing into a utility pole.

The entire front end of the car had collapsed into the driver’s section. A fire started and was stopped by the still functioning suppression system. The dummy and the computer hardware were in ruins or mostly so. The electric engine and massive battery pack were sitting on top of them, emitting caustic substances.

The AI prototype registered the arrival of the first police unit and a second just a few moments afterward. The driver attempted to open the passenger door, but the frame was warped and the door jammed.

Something withdrew from the AI a few moments before it went offline.

The estimated publication date of “Spring Into SciFi 2024 is March 21, 2024. I hope you’ll consider buying and reviewing it.

Thanks.

Oh, it may not be obvious, but “I Don’t Want To Be Human” is set in the same universe as “The Colonists” which was published in Spring Into SciFi 2020.