marylowd – Page 122 – Deep Sky Anchor

The Were-Raptor and the Seamstress Robot

by Mary E. Lowd

Originally published in Daily Science Fiction, July 2020

“”You only get one wish,” the genie said. “You touched my lamp at the exact same time, so you have to share it.””

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”

Robots Making Pretty Pictures

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”

Animorphs Update

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.

Starting to Read Animorphs

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”

In the Style of…

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…”

Comparing Three AI Art Programs

I decided to run a comparison of the different AI artists using the title of my first book, “Otters In Space.”

So, organized by number of otters in them: Continue reading “Comparing Three AI Art Programs”

The Crowds on Crossroads Station

by Mary E. Lowd

Originally published in Daily Science Fiction, July 2017

“He knew he’d out-stepped his place, but he was suddenly very excited about seeing the insides of Crossroads Station.”

Roscoe’s velvety nose twitched, but his long ears stood tall in spite of his jittery nerves. The view of Crossroads Station on the viewscreen was intimidating: three concentric wheels, rotating in alternating directions, each one lined with row after row of glowing windows. Shuttle pods and star cruisers of all designs were docked on the outer ring. Continue reading “The Crowds on Crossroads Station”

Galaxy Shaker and the Celestial Rainbow Dragon

by Mary E. Lowd

Originally published in Every Day Fiction, June 2017

“…she looked like a mythical creature — a celestial rainbow dragon — not merely a pop-star reptilian alien with a good stage crew.”

Star Shaker’s scales glittered and shone with rainbow colors under the spotlights. Her barbed tail swayed, and she flapped her tiny vestigial wings as she sang into the mic. With the backdrop of stars behind her, she looked like a mythical creature — a celestial rainbow dragon — not merely a pop-star reptilian alien with a good stage crew. Continue reading “Galaxy Shaker and the Celestial Rainbow Dragon”

Midjourney Illustrates Feelings

My kid was trying to get up the courage to ask their teacher for help with something, so I asked Midjourney to “imagine courage,” so I could send them some courage. This is what I got:

The kid’s teacher was busy with another student, so I asked Midjourney to “imagine patience,” so I could send some patience along to them as well. Continue reading “Midjourney Illustrates Feelings”

Inalienable Rights

by Mary E. Lowd

Originally published in Daily Science Fiction, August 2017

Roscoe’s long ears would not stand tall, no matter how he strained to hold them up. His reflection in the empty viewscreen looked haggard and scared, but he’d stared at it for long enough trying to compose himself. He would never be composed. He had to proceed anyway.

With a nervous twitch of his nose, Roscoe opened a communication channel to the planet below, and moments later, a familiar face filled the viewscreen: his cousin Chilchi. Her ears stood tall. Continue reading “Inalienable Rights”