How’s this for a literary sci-fi example
of creepy double-speak?

In yesterday’s post I explained why I needed a new name for the creepy robotic nurses in my forthcoming novel, All the Humans are Sleeping.

The story takes place after a full-scale nuclear war. The survivors have been driven into underground emergency bunkers where their minds are wired into a computer-generated “metaverse” — while their bodies float in pods attended by AI nurses (dressed as nuns). The UN offers the metaverse as an act of “mercy." Hence, after plenty of brainstorming, I have decided to call the robotic attendants “mercybots.”

How’s that for creepy double-speak?

Here’s a sample of their new name in action:
____

Peter followed his daughter, who followed the short robot. Despite the mercybot’s ridiculous black and white uniform, he suspected the thing was more guard than nurse.

“Hey, nursebot,” Peter called out. “If someone tried to leave, would you stop them?”

The mercybot halted, turned around and put its hands on its hips, pressing into the folds of its apron.

“Leaving this bunker would mean certain death,” it said. “Between the radioactive fallout and freezing temperatures, a human would not last long.”

Peter stretched his arm out and leaned against the cement wall of the corridor, covering the number 84 — how deep they were buried beneath the tundra — with his palm. The wall certainly didn’t feel cold. The whole place always felt too warm. Like they were in hell.

“So, we’re trapped,” said Peter.

“No,” retorted the robot, “you are safe.”

“Safely imprisoned.”

“Oh, Dad,” said Rebecca putting her hand on his cheek. “Why can’t you just be grateful?”

She still sounded drugged.

The mercybot affirmed, “Gratitude. An excellent prescription.”
____

I have another reason for choosing "mercybots," which I'll explain tomorrow.

John C.A. Manley

John C. A. Manley is the author of Much Ado About Corona: A Dystopian Love Story, the forthcoming All The Humans Are Sleeping and other works of speculative fiction. Get free samples of his stories by becoming a Blazing Pine Cone email subscriber at: https://blazingpinecone.com/subscribe/