The Future of Work
December 18, 2018 10:50 AM Subscribe
8 Sci-Fi Writers Imagine the Bold and New Future of Work. "[C]harts and white papers only capture so much. Facts need feelings, and for that we turn to science fiction. Its authors are our most humane, necessary futurists, imagining not just what the future holds but how it might look, feel, even smell. In the following pages are stories from eight sci-fi specialists. Some are set in the near term; others, a bit farther out. All remind us that, no matter the inevitable upheavals, we don’t struggle alone—but with and for other people. And robots."
- Real Girls by Laurie Penny
- The Trustless by Ken Liu
- Placebo by Charles Yu
- The Farm by Charlie Jane Anders
- The Third Petal by Nisi Shawl
- The Branch by Eugene Lim
- Maximum Outflow by Adam Rogers
- Compulsory by Martha Wells
Cory Doctorow has a couple of recent short stories too:
posted by homunculus at 11:00 AM on December 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
Recent Laurie Penny thread: Trapped at Sea With Crypto’s Nouveau Riche
posted by homunculus at 11:17 AM on December 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 11:17 AM on December 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
I LOVE YOU MURDERBOT. I'M NOT CRYING YOU'RE CRYING.
posted by ivan ivanych samovar at 11:18 AM on December 18, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by ivan ivanych samovar at 11:18 AM on December 18, 2018 [7 favorites]
On a related note, companies that imagine sci-fi futures for corporate hire.
posted by gusottertrout at 11:23 AM on December 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by gusottertrout at 11:23 AM on December 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
Oh, Murderbot! I hope someone saved the solicitor's bodyguard.
posted by suelac at 11:23 AM on December 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by suelac at 11:23 AM on December 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
Sometimes they imagine communications satellites and sometimes they imagine a galaxy spanning Grey Lensmen space force with FTL drives and psychic abilities, just guessing most optimistic ideas about future work will be in the wormhole time travel end of the spectrum.
posted by sammyo at 11:34 AM on December 18, 2018
posted by sammyo at 11:34 AM on December 18, 2018
Every year there's one of these, right? I particularly remember the one about the guy who had to hand deliver the 25 pound bag of dog food across town to a yuppie who berated him and didn't tip, and the girl who was getting text updates about cops on the metro because she couldn't afford a ticket. Both of those seem to be true now, so I'm not too thrilled about these new ones.
I am personally holding out for "go through a wormhole with a military and scientific expedition, become trapped in another galaxy and fight monsters" for my future job.
posted by Frowner at 11:47 AM on December 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
I am personally holding out for "go through a wormhole with a military and scientific expedition, become trapped in another galaxy and fight monsters" for my future job.
posted by Frowner at 11:47 AM on December 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
Sarah Gailey: An Augmented Reality: A short story explores the possible quandaries of future wearable computing.
posted by homunculus at 11:53 AM on December 18, 2018
posted by homunculus at 11:53 AM on December 18, 2018
Isn't the answer still "Office Space" but with, like, brain implants or the blockchain?
posted by Sangermaine at 12:09 PM on December 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Sangermaine at 12:09 PM on December 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
I just jumped in here to be validated in my joy that we all get a little extra Murderbot out of this! You never let me down, MetaFilter!
posted by shelbaroo at 1:07 PM on December 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by shelbaroo at 1:07 PM on December 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
The FFP kinda buried the Murderbot lede.
posted by Quasirandom at 1:14 PM on December 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Quasirandom at 1:14 PM on December 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
Isn't the answer still "Office Space" but with, like, brain implants or the blockchain?
"Looks like SOMEbody's got a case of the ERROR MONDAYS.EXE NOT FOUND..."
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:17 PM on December 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
"Looks like SOMEbody's got a case of the ERROR MONDAYS.EXE NOT FOUND..."
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:17 PM on December 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
Requirements for Supernova Barista:
10 years of experience with last years newly introduced software.
2 PhD's in related disciplines.
Full blockchain implant in at least one hemisphere.
Ability to lift 75 kilograms
Willing to work multiple 20+ hour shifts sequentially
Apply online with full documentation within the 30msec window.
posted by sammyo at 1:17 PM on December 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
10 years of experience with last years newly introduced software.
2 PhD's in related disciplines.
Full blockchain implant in at least one hemisphere.
Ability to lift 75 kilograms
Willing to work multiple 20+ hour shifts sequentially
Apply online with full documentation within the 30msec window.
posted by sammyo at 1:17 PM on December 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
Murderbot is the fictional character from the past few years that I've most been able to relate to. Not sure what that says about me but - sounds like I'm not the only one? Oh Murderbot
posted by the cat's pyjamas at 2:56 PM on December 18, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by the cat's pyjamas at 2:56 PM on December 18, 2018 [4 favorites]
The FFP kinda buried the Murderbot lede.
I hadn't read that one yet, and I'm not familiar with Murderbot so I had no idea how important it clearly is. I have added a Muderbot tag, fwiw.
posted by homunculus at 3:12 PM on December 18, 2018 [4 favorites]
I hadn't read that one yet, and I'm not familiar with Murderbot so I had no idea how important it clearly is. I have added a Muderbot tag, fwiw.
posted by homunculus at 3:12 PM on December 18, 2018 [4 favorites]
What the hell is Murderbot?
Apparently I am dumber or more disconnected than a sack of wet Trump hair.
posted by mephron at 3:31 PM on December 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
Apparently I am dumber or more disconnected than a sack of wet Trump hair.
posted by mephron at 3:31 PM on December 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
Murderbot is the narrator of The Murderbot Diaries, an exciting new sci-fi book series by Martha Wells.
posted by Phssthpok at 4:47 PM on December 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Phssthpok at 4:47 PM on December 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
What? No Player Piano?
posted by ahimsakid at 5:24 PM on December 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by ahimsakid at 5:24 PM on December 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
I'm a bit down, are any of these stories not depressing? I haven't read any, just assuming.
posted by TheophileEscargot at 9:53 PM on December 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by TheophileEscargot at 9:53 PM on December 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
I would not say the Murderbot story is depressing, haven't read the others.
posted by tavella at 5:45 AM on December 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by tavella at 5:45 AM on December 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
I read a SF story in the 80s wherein a character was working on their hobby building a wood canoe (or boat of some kind) when a work task notification arrived on their computer. They stopped and did the bit of work then returned to their hobby.
I think about it every day as I sit under fluorescent lights at a desk for 8 hours with no telecommuting and no leaving early if the work is finished. At least I know if I work hard and am efficient they'll find more work for me to do.
posted by Fleebnork at 5:47 AM on December 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
I think about it every day as I sit under fluorescent lights at a desk for 8 hours with no telecommuting and no leaving early if the work is finished. At least I know if I work hard and am efficient they'll find more work for me to do.
posted by Fleebnork at 5:47 AM on December 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
Cool, I liked the Murderbot story ("Compulsory" by Martha Wells), have ordered the first in the series.
posted by TheophileEscargot at 7:17 AM on December 19, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by TheophileEscargot at 7:17 AM on December 19, 2018 [4 favorites]
Who is Murderbot?
If you have ever needed to slack off at work you are Murderbot.
If you have ever felt alienated from other people you are Murderbot.
If you have ever just wanted to be left alone you are Murderbot.
If you have ever been a cyborg killing machine you are Murderbot.
I am Murderbot. You are Murderbot. We are all Murderbot.
posted by iamnotangry at 7:29 PM on December 19, 2018 [7 favorites]
If you have ever needed to slack off at work you are Murderbot.
If you have ever felt alienated from other people you are Murderbot.
If you have ever just wanted to be left alone you are Murderbot.
If you have ever been a cyborg killing machine you are Murderbot.
I am Murderbot. You are Murderbot. We are all Murderbot.
posted by iamnotangry at 7:29 PM on December 19, 2018 [7 favorites]
I am personally holding out for "go through a wormhole with a military and scientific expedition, become trapped in another galaxy and fight monsters" for my future job.">
Oh you wish.
"iRifle, switch to full automatic fire mode."
"Hi! I see you want to switch to full automatic fire mode. That is one of the many features available when you subscribe to the advanced blaster iRifle plan! With a two year subscription, the first two weeks are free of charge!"
"iRifle! Automatic fire NOW! PLEASE!"
"We will be happy to give you automatic fire, after you answer this brief survey. Question One..."
"iRifle! Call for evac! Dustoff!"
"Hi! All Orbit-Lyft units are offline until their software package is updated. Current estimated time to your location is: Three. Hundred. Twenty. Nine. Hours. And forty. Two. Minutes.
"I'm sorry, I didn't recognize that sound. Please enounciate more clearly."
"iRifle...medic...please..."
"Updating your insurance. I'm sorry, you have a previously undetected condition, severed leg and arteries, acquired two minutes, eighteen seconds ago. Would you like me to scan for an insurance company that will offer a policy?"
posted by happyroach at 11:09 PM on December 20, 2018 [5 favorites]
Oh you wish.
"iRifle, switch to full automatic fire mode."
"Hi! I see you want to switch to full automatic fire mode. That is one of the many features available when you subscribe to the advanced blaster iRifle plan! With a two year subscription, the first two weeks are free of charge!"
"iRifle! Automatic fire NOW! PLEASE!"
"We will be happy to give you automatic fire, after you answer this brief survey. Question One..."
"iRifle! Call for evac! Dustoff!"
"Hi! All Orbit-Lyft units are offline until their software package is updated. Current estimated time to your location is: Three. Hundred. Twenty. Nine. Hours. And forty. Two. Minutes.
"I'm sorry, I didn't recognize that sound. Please enounciate more clearly."
"iRifle...medic...please..."
"Updating your insurance. I'm sorry, you have a previously undetected condition, severed leg and arteries, acquired two minutes, eighteen seconds ago. Would you like me to scan for an insurance company that will offer a policy?"
posted by happyroach at 11:09 PM on December 20, 2018 [5 favorites]
Cool Futuristic Ideas From 1900 To Make Reality in 2019
posted by homunculus at 11:04 AM on December 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 11:04 AM on December 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
Annalee Newitz: When Robot and Crow Saved East St. Louis. "A new short story about a disease surveillance robot whose social programming gets put to the test."
posted by homunculus at 9:39 AM on December 29, 2018
posted by homunculus at 9:39 AM on December 29, 2018
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Full stop.
posted by Quasirandom at 10:55 AM on December 18, 2018 [13 favorites]