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Category Archives: Flash fiction
The genie is out of the bottle
There’s a phrase that’s been on my mind a lot lately, as I’ve watched the progress of technology bring us closer and closer to the Singularity – the hypothetical point at which artificial intelligence (‘AI’) surpasses human intelligence, leading to … Continue reading
Posted in ... wait, what?, Computers and Internet, Flash fiction, Phlyarology, Science Fiction
Tagged ChatGPT, collaboration, Flash fiction
5 Comments
Does absolute power corrupt absolutely?
It began with the forging of the Great Rings.Three were given to the elves; immortal, wisest and fairest of all beings.Seven to the dwarf lords; great miners and craftsmen of the mountain halls.And nine: nine rings were gifted to the … Continue reading
The yarn that got away
Back in 1982, or perhaps it was ’83, I was working on a short story; it was my first real attempt in my quest to ‘become a writer’. I wrote the story on my first computer (an Amstrad PCW), which … Continue reading
Posted in ... wait, what?, art, Fantasy, Flash fiction, Tech tips
Tagged backups, By His Bootstraps, Kriston Masters, Robert Heinlein, Takahiro Miki, The Door into Summer, time travel
20 Comments
The Encroaching Dark (be warned: this is pretty bleak)
It’s perfectly natural – it’s built into our genes – to act to protect, as best we can, our progeny. But all creatures are related, interdependent; and cousins should be more kind to each other. The super-rich were the first … Continue reading
The implausible green star hunter
None of us will ever forget the day we saw it. Though we may live to regret having done so. We weren’t looking for it, as such – naturally not: why would one deliberately try to find something that can’t … Continue reading
Posted in ... wait, what?, Fantasy, Flash fiction, People, Science, Science Fiction
Tagged aliens, astronomy, David Kipping, green, green star, Kermit, little green men, technosignature, transcription
10 Comments
Pursue excellence – but accept that you’re only human
Perfection is an unrealistic goal; but if all we ever strive to achieve is just what’s good enough, and sit back on our laurels once we’ve accomplished that, not only is perfection out of reach, excellence is, too. Continue reading
Posted in ... wait, what?, balance, Communication, Computers and Internet, Core thought, Flash fiction, memetics, Strategy
Tagged excellence, good enough, interview, only human, perfect, recursion
18 Comments
A warning from the future
We sleep during the day, because anywhere but under the second skin it’s too hot to do anything else. At night we rise, to continue construction of The Project. Some talk of redefining the words ‘night’ and ‘day’ to reduce … Continue reading
Squad action
“We’re going to need more men on this!” “Sir! Yes, sir!” The one that had spoken peeled away from the column and headed back to base, double time. The rest of them continued to reconnoitre. That boy will go far, … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Flash fiction
Tagged Flash fiction, Friday Fictioneers, squad, Wind the frog!
32 Comments
Heister
I’d been tracking this elusive character all over the world for two years now. Everywhere he hit, he left a photograph bearing the legend “always smile! PONY BROWN” as a calling card. After banging my head against the wall as … Continue reading
Posted in Drama, Flash fiction
Tagged #Whatdoyousee, always smile!, Flash fiction, Pony Brown
12 Comments
The centrepiece
“No, it’s not the colour, the colour’s just fine.” “Is it the lights? I could add more lights.” “No, no… there are just the right number of lights.” “Too many fountains? Too few?” “That’s not it.” By this time, I … Continue reading
Posted in ... wait, what?, art, balance, Flash fiction, Just for laughs, Phlyarology
Tagged Flash fiction, Fountains, Friday Fictioneers, Symmetry
30 Comments
Wibble 