sci-fi, 5505 words

Cleve Howe, a politician with everything to lose, risks it all on a mysterious woman who may have been sent to destroy his career. Cleve made a name for himself warning everyone about the danger of artificial intelligence exceeding human intelligence; but when the woman he obsesses over turns out to be one of the intelligent machines he feared, love spells an uncertain future for both of them.

This is the second of eight interconnected stories about the future of consciousness, from its use in machines to the quest to understand its role in the universe. Humanity tackles one singularity only to discover that there are still many challenges to address. Conscious machines are only the beginning.

Performed by Shawn Devlin

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your short story about?

The Unknowable is about the mystery of existence and how useless our certainties become when confronted by realities we don't understand. The main character is an arrogant politician who has been able to control everything in his life, except for his obsession with a woman who might be the first AI to completely pass itself off as a human. He's built a career off stirring up fear and hatred for machines, but even his most cynical instincts won't keep the politician from calling in love with someone who may have been sent to destroy him.

· 2. What genres would you say this story is in?

sci-fi

· 3. How would you describe this story in two words?

love's torment

· 4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?

star wars

· 5. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the

· most times in your life?)

Not a favorite song, but one I don't love any less each time I hear it is Don't Give Up by Peter Gabriel

· 6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel?

Crime and Punishment is one of my favorites

· 7. What motivated you to write this story?

This story is the second in a series of stories set over a period of almost 200 years examining how artificial intelligence impacts and alters humanity. As one of the first stories in the series, I wanted to establish how AI and humanity could be so inextricably linked and yet unable to completely connect. I also wanted to tell a story that humanizes a very unlikeable person.

· 8. If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

Perhaps Larry David or someone like him who appreciates the absurdities of our daily existence.

· 9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

I'm passionate about politics, travel and good literature

· 10. What influenced you to enter your story to get performed?

I'd written the stories with an ear for how they sounded and was impressed with the reading provided of my first story.

· 11. Any advice or tips you'd like to pass on to other writers?

The best advice is to find your unique voice and tell the stories that only you can tell. Also, never give up.