“Brief Candle” by Jason K. Chapman
This story is in the same vein as Ted Chiang’s “Exhalation,” but while Chiang’s story was told from the perspective of robots who thought they were no different than organic lifeforms, clueless to their origins, Chapman’s story explores the first steps of the evolution of artificial intelligence. What makes this story even more interesting is that is happens in the midst of a murder mystery and the endangerment of an entire space mission. It’s very well written and Charley Eighty-Three’s attempts to comprehend its surroundings and what’s happening to it are both entertaining and tragic.
“Brief Candle” by Jason K. Chapman in Clarkesworld Magazine.
