Virtual Futures: Near-Future Fictions Vol. 1

By Dan O'Hara, Tom Ward, Stephen Oram

When tomorrow has become a question mark -- filled with as much malice as promise -- can science fiction be a means of exploring the answer?

Virtual Futures presents eighteen bursts of speculative fiction that explore the landscape of the near future: short stories that depict a world populated by killer voice-controlled speakers, AIs with mental health disorders, narcotic nanobots, and much, much more.

With previous appearances from Pat Cadigan, M. John Harrison, and Alan Moore, discover what this generation of authors think will be awaiting us when we step into the future...

An anthology of eighteen speculative science-fiction stories from established and emerging authors. Focusing on the human and social consequences of artificial intelligence, biohacking, and automated surveillance, these stories are compiled from the Virtual Futures 'Near-Future Fictions' events on the immediate futures of humanity and technology.

Contents

Foreword: On the Origins of Near Future Fictions Helen Marshall Introduction Nicola Fawcett There's Gold in Them Thar Hills, Boys, You Just Need to Know Where to Find It Vaughan Stanger Bee Futures Allen Ashley Inside, Outside Jule Owen Young Blood A. Umbra Cries and Bionic Eyes L.P Lee Truth and What Comes After Jackie Kingon Gourmet Hunger Jane Norris The Department of Re-pairing Stephen Oram The Never-Ending Nanobot Nectar Very Very Far Away 'Very Very Far Away' Episode 01 -- Dead Ian Steadman Looking Glass Britta F. Schulte The Secret Jamie Watt Sequence Daniel Sainty If you know what's good for you C.R Dudley Undefined Variable John Houlihan Carers Christine Aicardi The Tablet Stroker Christopher Butera Independent, Superior

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0995788200
• ISBN13: 9780995788206
• Release Date: March 2019
• Publisher: Virtual Futures (Est. 1994) C.I.C.
• Length: 126 Pages
• Weight: 0.32 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.0" x 8.0"