Author Description

The cumulative effect of these stories is a many-shaded collection of tales that explores the idea of how a more automated world would affect actual humans, as well as the automatons, themselves. On a deeper level, one might be inspired to consider the way humans treat one another, particularly when a helper is considered of a lower station. If one is predisposed to condescend to “lesser” folk, how, then, will that same person treat a non-person? It’s possible that a person would take greater care with an automaton for which they paid a great deal of money, rather than a mere human servant who might be instantly dismissed for no particular reason. Possibly the best idea of “Uncanny Valet” is to consider how we treat the other people and objects (like cars) in our day-to-day lives. But more than anything, we hope you will enjoy these flights of fancy. While one may be tempted to think with apprehension of a future of increased reliance on frightening automation and automatons, it’s important to consider that heart-warming and humorous outcomes are equally possible. Come what may, we can’t wait to see what happens. —Rita Beeman (from the Introduction)