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"[Science fiction is ] That branch of literature which is concerned with the impact of scientific advance upon human beings."
- Isaac Asimov
 |
| Autonomous Lifeboat | ||
| A water-going craft whose AI is devoted to the safety of its passengers. |
The boat communicates with passengers using telepathy (esp).
| “I am Lifeboat 324-A,” the boat esped again. “My primary purpose is to preserve those within me from peril, and to maintain them in good health. At present, I am only partially activated.”
“Could anything be safer?” Joe cried. “This is no senseless hunk of metal. This boat will look after you. This boat cares! ...“She must control telepathically,” Gregor said hopefully. In a stern voice he said, “Go ahead slowly.” The little boat forged ahead. “Now right a little.” The boat responded perfectly to Gregor’s clear, although unnautical command. The partners exchanged smiles. “Straighten out,” Gregor said, “and full speed ahead!” |
| Technovelgy from The Lifeboat Mutiny,
by Robert Sheckley. Published by Galaxy Science Fiction in 1955 Additional resources -
|
Unfortunately, this particular craft was a used model, and Lifeboat 324-A was severely delusional from previous traumas:
“Gives you quite a feeling of confidence, doesn’t it?” Arnold said.
“I suppose so,” Gregor said. “But. where is Drome?”
“Gentlemen,” the lifeboat continued, “try to think of me, not as an unfeeling mechanism, but as your friend and comrade-in-arms. I understand how you feel. You have seen your ship go down, cruelly riddled by the implacable H’gen. You have—”
“What ship?” Gregor asked. “What’s it talking about?...”
“All right, that’s enough,” Gregor was sick of arguing with a verbose and egoistic machine. “Go directly to that island. That’s an order.”
“I cannot obey that order,” the boat said. “You are unbalanced from your harrowing escape from death — ”
Arnold reached for the cutout switch, and withdrew his hand with a howl of pain.
“Come to your senses, gentlemen,” the boat said sternly. “Only the decommissioning officer is empowered to turn me off. For your own safety, I must warn you not to touch any of my controls.
Thanks to SFFaudio for pointing this item out.
"I am Lifeboat 324-A,” the boat stated telepathically. “I am now fully activated, and able to protect my occupants from danger. Have faith in me. My action-response tapes, both psychological and physical, have been prepared by the best scientific minds in all Drome.”
('The Lifeboat Mutiny' (1955) by Robert Sheckley)
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