Machine Learning
New and Collected Stories
-
-
4.3 • 20 Ratings
-
-
- $13.99
Publisher Description
A collection of shockingly prescient stories covering topics from aliens to AI, including some that have never before been seen, from the New York Times best-selling author of the Silo trilogy
Hugh Howey is known for crafting riveting and immersive page-turners of boundless imagination, spawning millions of fans worldwide, first with his best-selling novel Wool, and then with other enthralling works such as Sand and Beacon 23.
Now comes Machine Learning, an impressive collection of Howey’s science fiction and fantasy short fiction, including three stories set in the world of Wool, two never-before-published tales written exclusively for this volume, and fifteen additional stories collected here for the first time. "Glitch" asks what happens when a battle bot refuses to fight. “The Automated Ones” introduces ideas of discrimination in a world populated by both humans and AI, and its sequel “WHILE (u > i) i –;” explores the challenges a human woman and an android face after falling in love. In "Select Character" a new mother who is bored with being stuck at home starts playing her husbands' video game according to her own rules-- and makes a surprising discovery. These stories explore everything from artificial intelligence to parallel universes to video games, and each story is accompanied by an author’s note exploring the background and genesis of each story.
Howey’s incisive mind makes Machine Learning: New and Collected Stories a compulsively readable and thought-provoking selection of short works—from a modern master at the top of his game.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Bestseller Howey (the Silo trilogy) assembles 21 thoughtful science fiction and fantasy stories (two previously unpublished) that explore real and virtual worlds through human, alien, and artificial senses. Many of Howey's tales, such as the title story, "The Box," "Glitch," and "Second Suicide," are told from the points of view of nonhuman characters. "The Walk Up Nameless Ridge" and "Deep Blood Kettle" question human arrogance in alien circumstances. Unusual love affairs a failed romance in "Promises of London" and a relationship between a human and an android in "The Automated Ones" deliver old-fashioned emotional punches. Characters exploit virtual worlds in "The Plagiarist" and "Select Character." Fans of Howey's novel Wool will enjoy "In the Air," "In the Mountain," and "In the Woods," set in the same universe.
Customer Reviews
Wide Ranging Collection by a Versatile Writer
“Machine Learning: New and Collected Stories” is a 2017 collection of short fiction by Hugh Howey. In addition to the stories, it contains a fair bit of biographical information, as well as information on the inspiration and writing of each story. It turns out Mr. Howey has had an interesting life!
He is probably best known for his Silo Series, and this volume contains three short stories set in the Silo world. Interestingly, it also contains three fantasy stories. The most ambitious story is probably the novelette “Peace in Amber” which is set in the world of “Slaughterhouse Five” by Kurt Vonnegut. It’s also a semi-autobiographical story of Mr. Howey’s experiences in New York on September 11, 2001. That’s really a lot! There are stories of alien invaders told from their viewpoint, and others told from the viewpoint of artificial intelligences.
It’s a pretty far ranging and varied collection of stories, and I’m certain I have learned much more about the author by having read it. I recommend it to anyone who likes his work.