As my optimism over the survival of our species has dwindled during these perilous times, I’ve found it difficult to write fiction which includes hopeful ends for human beings. And so I’ve found myself writing stories about how robots and artificial intelligences go on without us. That way my tales can reach a happy ending … if one doesn’t pause to think about whatever happened to all the people, that is.
The point of view characters of my novella “The Touch of an Old Friend’s Hand” published in the anthology You, Human 2, edited by Michael Bailey, are the robotic pets humans built, and illustrate how much they miss us after we’re gone, and the lives they go on to live without us.
While working my way through multiple possible titles for this piece, I happened upon the great Iris DeMent singing Guy Drollinger’s “The Touch of an Old Friend’s Hand,” and it clicked. When you read my story, I hope you’ll agree.