An e-zine about spaceships, aliens, science, memory, motherhood, magic, and cats.
More than a year ago, I emailed myself a link to a recording of the Curiosity rover singing Happy Birthday to itself on Mars. I meant to save it a week, and listen to it on my own birthday… but I forgot.
So, I kept it in my inbox ALL YEAR, planning to listen to it this year… Continue reading “Robots Singing Happy Birthday to Themselves”
Me: “Look, I wrapped a scarf around my plushie in a way that makes her look like she’s wearing a dress!”
Spouse: *reminds me that I’m now 40*
This is how to be 40. Play with stuffed animals. They’re fun and cuddly and look good wearing scarves. Continue reading “Playing with Plushies at 40”
If you have connections with other people, the advent of AI won’t interfere with that. People who genuinely like you aren’t going to suddenly drop you in favor of an AI.
But if you’re already isolated, AIs might make you feel less alone. They’re not something to fear. Continue reading “AI isn’t a Monster Under the Bed”
by Mary E. Lowd
Originally published in Furry Trash, December 2018
The air turned salty in Arlow’s whiskers as he pedaled his watercycle out of the shade and protection of the thick rainforest trees. He squinted down the river, but he couldn’t see the ocean yet. The river curved around rolling grass knolls and disappeared behind a thicket of coastal brush. Arlow pedaled harder with all four paws and felt the cool water slip even faster around his body, pressing his clothes against his fur. Continue reading “The Otter’s Mermaid”
by Mary E. Lowd
Originally published in Abyss & Apex, January 2020
You stole a piece of my power from me. And it took me fifteen years to recognize it.
We were acolytes together, studying under Mage Dawlins. I studied ice magic. You studied fire. And Tilly was studying flora spells. She is part of this. She always was. We both loved her. No, I’m giving you too much credit. I make that mistake. I’ve been making it for years. It’s a hard habit to kill. Continue reading “My Magic, My Spell”
by Mary E. Lowd
Originally published in Daily Science Fiction, July 2020
Angie and Tyler’s hands touched the green-gold brass of the magic lamp at the same time. The metal was slick with creek water, and they had to dig away the mud and wet moss that had half buried the lamp using their bare hands. Their fingers smeared the mud, leaving their hands and the lamp dirty. Someone must have thrown it into this creek, deep in the woods, years ago. Continue reading “The Were-Raptor and the Seamstress Robot”
It’s sad we live in a world where people have to be angry about AIs making beautiful things. I’m not saying there are no reasons to be mad, but fundamentally, beneath the capitalism and the fighting for recognition, AIs have learned to make beautiful things. And that’s beautiful. Continue reading “Robots Making Pretty Pictures”
Both kids finished the first Animorphs book in less than two days and are well into the second.
I’m struggling to keep up, because I spent my evening after they went to bed leveling my Warcraft druid. But then, I think it’s more fun for the kids if they’re beating me.
It’s been a struggle to get the 9-year-old to read books that aren’t graphic novels. (Nothing wrong with graphic novels, but I’m a novelist and would love to get the kid hooked on pure text novels if I can.) Anyway, the kid loves to check little free libraries when we pass them…
The other night, we passed a little free library with several Animorphs novels, which reminded me I have all the e-books and have been meaning to read them. Continue reading “Starting to Read Animorphs”
When I was a kid, my dad would let my sister and me pick three things, and then he’d tell us a bedtime story about those things.
I’ve been playing with AI artists a lot lately, and I can see, some day, we’ll be able to do the same thing with an AI storyteller. Continue reading “In the Style of…”