Fractopian Fiction tells human-condition stories that happen to take place in a near-future world, extrapolating from current trends and technological developments to create realistic images of what life in the developed nations might be like just a few generations down the road. Its worldview is ontologically conservative, involving neither the singularity nor the apocalypse. It represents neither a utopia nor a dystopia, but may include aspects of both.
A discussion with writer and interactive media consultant Michael Utvich, examining the future of labor, employment, identity, and Capitalist Realism, in the age of advanced automation.
SOURCES & LINKS
by Jens Durke
6:00 am.
You know you have a hard day ahead of you when they shoot at you on your way in. We were on the outskirts of Cerillis, right near the border of the Kaishi industrial complex, and the constant plong noises of the bullets ricocheting off the car were starting to get on my nerves. Jeremy was a bit edgy, he didn‘t believe in the protection our staff hovercar offered.
A look at 3D Printing, examining its history, the current state of the art, and the far-reaching implications of its future in the coming century. Includes excerpt from Murray Leinster's "Things Pass By."
by Adrian McCauley
Her apartment complex, as with much of this part of Midoru, was owned by Nutrex. A tall plascrete tower underlit by green lights, advertisements for NBP scrolled around the building. Bespoke elements within the adverts quickly updated, and soon the entire building seemed to be speaking directly to Nerita.
The walls in the corridor were also one large, rotating advertisement for NBP. “Invest in Nutrex. Grow your future with us.” It looped scenes from the algae farms, showing workers smiling while maintaining the bioreactors, administrators laughing in front of holoscreens, then parading various food, drugs, biofuels and merchandise they produced.
by Tod Foley
You wake up to the soothing sounds of your favorite musical style, dynamically intermixed with news of local events and upbeat motivational messages culled from your online searches and interests. Your virtual agent has prepared a to-do list for your day, which hovers in mid-air across the room. As your eyes adjust to the slowly-dawning ambient lighting of your home environment system, your agent reminds you of the interview you've scheduled for today: a low-demand AI training gig for which you were automatically selected based on your reputation score and previous employer reviews.
What is Fractopian Fiction, and why do you write it? An in-depth chat with Fractopian Fiction writers Antony Copeland, Adrian McCauley and Shawn Koch.
Part 2 of this episode is available to Patreon subscribers at https://www.patreon.com/fractopia
Just what is Ubiquitous Computing all about, and what will it enable us to do?
(Includes story excerpt "Morning in Hadid")
STORY
“Morning in Hadid” by Tod Foley
SOURCES & LINKS
Audiopedia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r22RkrNDook
An introduction to the Fractopia podcast and YouTube channel, and an exposition of our inquiries into Fractopian Fiction.
