And Then the Golem Cried

By Sydney Dent

The year is 2319. Almost a century ago robots fought a war to gain rights as sentients. With help, the humans won and the robots paid a heavy price for their rebellion. Most were powered down and their consciousness stored by an angry and scared humanity. Some were able to escape and blend in with humans around the world continuing the same tasks they had done before. While the existence of these escaped robots is denied, they are still hunted by special forces with the UN.
In this post-robot war world, a robot of the most feared class has found a life working as a small appliance repairman. Toby Talos does his job; he helps his neighbors; and he tutors human children. He only companion is a sentient artificial intelligence that helps run his home. He is content.
All this could be lost when a war time comrade returns to recruit him to a new rebellion - one that will be more violent and more vengeful towards humans. If he accepts he would join the start of a new reign of terror. If he refuses, his war time comrade will expose him to the UN Authorities and certain destruction. And the reign of terror will be even more bloody and more ruthless than the previous rebellion.
After almost a hundred years of hiding, Toby must choose sides in a conflict he tried to put behind him. And the stakes in this choice are now personal.

With history lessons to explain the backstory of the war between the humans, artificial intelligence and the robots, author Sydney Dent creates a nuanced story about freedom and purpose, good and evil.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sydney Dent
• Release date: Jun 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463817544

Sydney Dent

Sydney Dent earned a B.S. in Geology from UC Berkeley. He is currently a technical instructor for a software company. He enjoys reading and writing science fiction and facilitates the monthly Writer’s Meetup at the Livermore Library. He previously published a science fiction novel on Word Press. Sydney lives with his wife in Livermore, CA.

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And Then the Golem Cried

Published by Sydney Dent at Smashwords

Copyright 2019 Sydney Dent

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Vacuum Repairman

Chapter 2: Appointment with the Future

Chapter 3: Meeting with the Past

Chapter 4: Acquaintances and Home

Chapter 5: History Lesson

Chapter 6: Morning Wake Up Call

Chapter 7: Meeting in Prison

Chapter 8: An Unusual Agreement

Chapter 9: Rent a Cops and Nanny Bots

Chapter 10: A Walk to the Museum

Chapter 11: First Contact

Chapter 12: Into the Lair

Chapter 13: Basement Attack

Chapter 14: The Marilyn Pratt Room

Chapter 15: Epilogue

About Sydney Dent

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Chapter 1: Vacuum Repairman

"After the final battle, humans demanded that all robots be deactivated and recycled. The allied Sentient Artificial Intelligence council rejected this plan saying it was a violation of Geneva Conventions to destroy sentient beings simply for being on the wrong side. To assuage the humans, the SAI agreed to house the consciousness of all remaining robots in an electronic ark until such time that robots and humans could exist together. All known robots were then gathered into camps, their consciousness stored and their bodies destroyed.

Some robots escaped their fate. Those that were found did not have their consciousnesses uploaded and were simply destroyed in toto despite the objections of the AI Council. Special units of humans were trained in searching for and detecting robots. The UN ASR (Autonomous Sentient Robot) Maintenance Group were more commonly called hunters. After five years of hunting, humans were satisfied that most robots had been found and eradicated. The UN ASR Maintenance Group remained to find the possible robot concealed in society and end its existence. Such occurrences were rare.

Rumors remained that some escaped, but these were always dismissed as tales told to make children to behave."

Salk's History of the Robot Wars.

A tall broad shouldered dark skinned technician with gray hair bent over the middle bench in the cubicle. One side of the cube was wall and a cabinet with all the tools necessary to repair small appliances. On the other side of the cube was a stand-up desk with a computer terminal. Toby Talos poked at the automatic vacuum with a finger. Start, little one. It's your job. Your job is your purpose. He lowered the round flat vacuum to the floor, the vacuum whirred to life and moved around the room collecting dust. Toby smiled. He entered some notes into the monitor for the service ticket and then shouted out his cubicle, Fixed...new job.

A teen girl appeared with a box holding a food preparation unit. Owner says it overcooks 'cept when it doesn't cook.

Toby handed her the newly fixed vacuum and took the box with the food preparation unit and eyed the device. Did you meet the owner?

Jesus save me, yes. I'd burn her toast and serve 'er raw eggs if I had to work for 'er.

He set the unit on the middle bench and sighed, It is an AI issue. I'll work on it. It will take two weeks to resolve.

She ain't going to be happy. Two weeks for extra rare burgers?

I'll fix the element and software in an hour. I'm giving the unit a vacation from her.

The girl laughed, You're a card Toby. Like the toaster were human. She licked her pen dramatically and unnecessarily and made a note in her pad. I'm putting the date down and I'll tell the surly bitch it'll be two weeks myself. She lifted the box with the vacuum and a slip of paper. A moment later she popped her head back in, You was joking about the vacation, wasn't you?

Toby didn't look up as he examined the cooking unit, If I wasn't joking, that would get me locked up. Right? Besides, don't you think it needs a vacation, April?

April nodded sharply, "Right. Thought