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Snrk.
This one's pretty great. A hook, clever slipstreaming for the world-building, likable and crisp characters, and a deftly-handled anti-climax that neatly suborns all the 'robot apocalypse' tropes?
I don't think I can suggest any improvements here. This is excellent work all around.
This one's pretty great. A hook, clever slipstreaming for the world-building, likable and crisp characters, and a deftly-handled anti-climax that neatly suborns all the 'robot apocalypse' tropes?
I don't think I can suggest any improvements here. This is excellent work all around.
I agree with Hat, though I resent you're desperately trying to tout Apple gizmos here. And to feel more realistic, you could've had your Samsung stove explode.
Other than that, I think you could've pushed further and make it a war 'tween Apple and Samsung appliances. Like an Apple fridge and a Samsung stove, router being on Samsung side because well, Apple ceased making routers so long ago, so it'd prolly be a D-Link one, Taiwanese.
But yeah, this is sharp. A nice little idea, a great execution.
Good to see so many comedies around this time.
Other than that, I think you could've pushed further and make it a war 'tween Apple and Samsung appliances. Like an Apple fridge and a Samsung stove, router being on Samsung side because well, Apple ceased making routers so long ago, so it'd prolly be a D-Link one, Taiwanese.
But yeah, this is sharp. A nice little idea, a great execution.
Good to see so many comedies around this time.
Ironic that — given recent news — it's not a Samsung device which ends up setting something on fire.
Nitpicks: I get that we're dealing with a sci-fi future of smart appliances with built-in AIs, but I can't envision any possible reason to give a freaking stove Dolby 5.1 surround-sound. Also, with multiple Samsung devices in the house, giving the name "Samsung" to the stove just seems like it's asking for trouble; it really needs a pet name. And the story title doesn't seem relevant unless Stovey was previously in charge of the house.
That aside, I have no suggestions that rise above the level of those nitpicks. This is the good kind of ridiculous, the characters and voicing are just fun, and I've got an early contender for first place on my slate. Well done, author.
Tier: Top Contender
Nitpicks: I get that we're dealing with a sci-fi future of smart appliances with built-in AIs, but I can't envision any possible reason to give a freaking stove Dolby 5.1 surround-sound. Also, with multiple Samsung devices in the house, giving the name "Samsung" to the stove just seems like it's asking for trouble; it really needs a pet name. And the story title doesn't seem relevant unless Stovey was previously in charge of the house.
That aside, I have no suggestions that rise above the level of those nitpicks. This is the good kind of ridiculous, the characters and voicing are just fun, and I've got an early contender for first place on my slate. Well done, author.
Tier: Top Contender
The Great
Funny. I mean, it's a simple thing to say, but actually being funny is a challenge. While this story didn't have me guffawing, I smiled the whole way though. The tone is great.
The Rough
Mostly just some small technical issues, but nothing major.
Funny. I mean, it's a simple thing to say, but actually being funny is a challenge. While this story didn't have me guffawing, I smiled the whole way though. The tone is great.
The Rough
Mostly just some small technical issues, but nothing major.
>>horizon
This already exists: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sectorqube/maid-oven-make-all-incredible-dishes
Welcome to the future. It's here and it's shit.
So, what can I even say about this story? It's amazing!
I think that some people will dismiss its humor as just that, but it's closer to reality than you might suspect. We already have different "smart" devices fighting each other. One of the more high-profile cases was when Phillips tried to DRM it's Hue system, forbidding use of "3rd party light bulbs." It made the news in 2015, and now they seem to have "accidentally" done it again. A firm tried to DRM the coffee pods for its "smart" espresso machine. And that's on the heels of the largest DDOS attack ever - it happened not 2 weeks ago, and used hacked Internet of Things devices as a botnet.
To that end, I found the portrayal of AI to be a spot-on punditry of the actual policies of these companies. The escalation was handled great and I couldn't help but grin throughout the whole thing.
I last read a Cold in Gardez story literally 2 years ago (which reminds me I must read Salvation redux now it's complete), but am gonna make a bet he's the author behind this one.
PS Everyone should follow @internetofshit.
but I can't envision any possible reason to give a freaking stove Dolby 5.1 surround-sound.
This already exists: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sectorqube/maid-oven-make-all-incredible-dishes
Welcome to the future. It's here and it's shit.
So, what can I even say about this story? It's amazing!
I think that some people will dismiss its humor as just that, but it's closer to reality than you might suspect. We already have different "smart" devices fighting each other. One of the more high-profile cases was when Phillips tried to DRM it's Hue system, forbidding use of "3rd party light bulbs." It made the news in 2015, and now they seem to have "accidentally" done it again. A firm tried to DRM the coffee pods for its "smart" espresso machine. And that's on the heels of the largest DDOS attack ever - it happened not 2 weeks ago, and used hacked Internet of Things devices as a botnet.
To that end, I found the portrayal of AI to be a spot-on punditry of the actual policies of these companies. The escalation was handled great and I couldn't help but grin throughout the whole thing.
I last read a Cold in Gardez story literally 2 years ago (which reminds me I must read Salvation redux now it's complete), but am gonna make a bet he's the author behind this one.
PS Everyone should follow @internetofshit.
I always enjoy stories like this, where objects suddenly start living and bickering with one another. The whole idea that appliances have AI that will turn against one another for petty reasons is actually a really funny idea, and I feel this story got quite a few good laughs out of it (the comparison to WW1 alliances was particularly grand). I also liked how the entire affair was both funny and somewhat disturbing. After all, the fridge cuts off her phone call to the police and seems to almost demand she take out the squash. If this was a darker story, that fridge would definitely become the next Skynet.
I guess if I had to complain about anything, it’d be that the story’s mostly just an experience instead of a firm plot. The appliances just kind of do their shenanigans and the owner throws her arms up. But then again, the experience is very entertaining, so I was perfectly willing to forgo any dense plotting.
A fun tale about the pettiness of appliances. Definitely one of my favorites in this round.
I guess if I had to complain about anything, it’d be that the story’s mostly just an experience instead of a firm plot. The appliances just kind of do their shenanigans and the owner throws her arms up. But then again, the experience is very entertaining, so I was perfectly willing to forgo any dense plotting.
A fun tale about the pettiness of appliances. Definitely one of my favorites in this round.