Stories of the Weird

By Oliver Rifkind

A collection of 3 short science fiction stories covering topics about artificial intelligence, space travel, and other dimensions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Feb 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9781387595068

Book preview

Stories of the Weird

Stories of the Weird

By Oliver Rifkind

This book is dedicated to a man that I never knew or met, but his actions and choices in life inadvertently inspired mine.  Therefore, I have to dedicate this book to his daughter, Rebeca, as well.  You have helped me more than you can ever imagine.  I wish you could peer into my soul for a moment to see what words could never explain.

I would also like to thank the numerous people who have read my stories and offered advice.  I would like to thank my family and the people who have surrounded me with love through my darkest times.   If I had to write all your names I would need 100 pages.  You know who you are.

Copyright

Copyright 2018 Oliver Rifkind

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ISBN: 978-1-387-59506-8

Planet No Name

He loved his Jeep.  Every new nick and scratch was a mark of pride and he refused to wash it.  The charcoal gray color soon was mixed with various colors of soil that had dried.  Gaby loved to tease him every chance she got about it.  You know that your Jeep would be manlier if it was a stick shift, she taunted.  He continued to drive unfazed.  Bigger concerns were on the horizon.  Jobs were becoming nonexistent and A.I. was replacing the last few left.  Universal Basic Income had forced people to live in large groups in an attempt to have some sort of affordable life.  He continued driving on while letting the warm rays of sun peak through the forested road.

Edison put his hand on Gaby's leg.  This is why I don't drive stick, he said.  Edison knew he was one of the last people to live and enjoy the old ways.  He still preferred to drive himself, roll up his own windows, but he settled for the automatic transmission which was about the most technological thing he had.  His house was shared with 149 other people, where he had his own bedroom and not much more than a bed in it.  Walls concealed little noise and roommates became forced family if there was a need for conversation.  Walls were made from a pre-made 3d printed material that was grown from bacteria.  It was cheap and mass produced, and entire buildings could be raised in less than 24 hours.  The downside was that everything looked so similar.  It only fortified the fact everyone dreaded.

Earth was dying.  Humans had little value and often just ended up in the way.  The streets were filled with various little machines each serving their various little tasks that they could perform with great accuracy.  They didn't need breaks or need to use the bathroom.  They didn't get hurt or call in sick.  People were becoming parts of the environment and no longer were the movers and the shakers.  Sure if you could afford CyberTech then maybe one could compete in the job market.  Unfortunately, that was only for the rich.  There was one thing the rich didn't account for:  Earth's damage was irreversible even with technology.  Some resources were depleted and their substitutes weren't going to last much longer.  Even with conservation methods and population control, it was inevitable.  The rich would lose their enjoyable standard of living regardless of their finances.  Decades of robotic work produced untrained and unmotivated masses that were content with a minimal standard of living.  The age of robots brought on a blandness that covered the land.  A.I. was praised for its originality and creative ideas, but soon every market of art was flooded with billions of paintings, songs, and even stories.  Earth was dying and boring.

Edison sped on, winding throughout Midwest backroads that seemed untouched by the modern world.  These places were