★★★☆☆ Average
(Military SF) In the midst of a nuclear war, two computers chat with each other about how serious it really is. (906 words; Time: 03m)
"Reboot," by Robert Reed [bio] (edited by Trevor Quachri), appeared in Analog Science Fiction and Fact issue 01-02|19, published on December 15, 2018 by Penny Publications.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Review: 2019.016 (A Word for Authors)
Pro: The argument between the computers about the nature of reality is very entertaining. The “logic” that the world can’t end because “you aren’t special enough to witness the final day” was particularly funny.
By the end of the story, I’m convinced they’re AIs who run a video game of some kind. That’s the only way you could have so much nuclear exchange and yet still have the world keep on going.
Con: There’s no actual plot and no relatable characters. It’s a cute gimmick, but it’s just a gimmick.
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Robert Reed Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
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Pro: The argument between the computers about the nature of reality is very entertaining. The “logic” that the world can’t end because “you aren’t special enough to witness the final day” was particularly funny.
By the end of the story, I’m convinced they’re AIs who run a video game of some kind. That’s the only way you could have so much nuclear exchange and yet still have the world keep on going.
Con: There’s no actual plot and no relatable characters. It’s a cute gimmick, but it’s just a gimmick.
Other Reviews: Search Web
Robert Reed Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
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