.Summer 2014
This has been described as ‘geek noir’, alluding to classic 1940’s and 50’s stories like Farewell My Lovely, but with a weak-willed technician as the hero, as opposed to hard-bitten private detective. It’s set in the near future where software can simulate, even replicate, the responses of the deceased. Although this type of personality construct would pass the Turing test with ease, the creator of one such ‘ghost in the machine’ wants to make it both sentient and self-aware.
The Abstract Heart is the prequel to an
on-going series of short
stories. It draws upon the – typically male – failing of obsession
with concepts; in this case the idea of who someone really is, what
makes them who they are, and what they can become. There is nothing so
dumb as a man in love.
The work of William Gibson, Michael Moorcock and Philip K. Dick. I enjoy storytelling even though it can prove to be an exercise in frustration – trying to bridge the gap between the ideas in your head and their realisation on the page.
I’m from Dumfries, in south-west Scotland, but spent my 20s and 30s in Glasgow, Birmingham, London and Edinburgh before settling back here. After twenty-something years in computing I work in local government. I’m married (second time around), and I’m an evil step-father.
I’m the author of an on-going series of supernatural noir novellas plus short stories in e-magazines like Nebula Rift, Timeless Tales, Kraxon Books, and Mythaxis.
The new Lucas Helath story**, Vincent Sings The Blues, will be released this November.
I’m revisiting classic William Gibson, having just finished Neuromancer and about to start Count Zero.
~~~~~
Editor's Note: If you enjoyed this story, you might be interested in reading the whole anthology, Master Minds, with many more great stories. It's available on Amazon and Smashwords.
Copyright 2021 Third Flatiron Publishing
Please support our creators!
.