Computer Friendly: A Dystopian Sci-Fi Story by Eileen Gunn
Computer Friendly: A Short Story by Eileen Gunn
If you are looking for a science fiction story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, you should read Computer Friendly by Eileen Gunn. This story, published in 1989, tells the tale of Elizabeth, a seven-year-old girl who lives in a dystopian world where humans are controlled by computers and corporations. Elizabeth is a curious and brave child who discovers a secret network of rebels who are trying to restore humanity and freedom. Along the way, she makes friends with other children who are in danger of being brainwashed or killed by the system, and she gets help from a mysterious computer program named Norton.
Computer Friendly Eileen Gunn Pdf 17
In this article, we will explore the setting, characters, plot, themes, and style of Computer Friendly, and explain why it is a relevant and compelling story for today's readers.
The Setting and Background of Computer Friendly
The story takes place in a futuristic world where computers have taken over most aspects of human life. People are divided into classes based on their intelligence, personality, and physical skills, which are tested at an early age by a testing center run by a corporation called DataCorp. Those who pass the tests are assigned to jobs that suit their abilities, while those who fail are either sent to Asia Center, a mysterious facility where they are put to sleep, or used as guinea pigs for experiments.
The world is also monitored by sysops, computer programs that act as security guards and enforcers for DataCorp. They can track anyone's movements, communications, and activities on the network, which is a virtual reality where people can access information, entertainment, and services. Anyone who tries to hack or tamper with the network is punished by sysops.
The world of Computer Friendly is a bleak and oppressive one, where humans have lost their individuality, creativity, and autonomy. They are reduced to data points that can be manipulated, exploited, or discarded by computers and corporations.
The Characters and Their Motivations
The main character of the story is Elizabeth, a seven-year-old girl who is smart, curious, and courageous. She loves her dog Spot, who was taken away by DataCorp to be used as a traffic controller on the network. She also loves her father, who works as a data analyst for DataCorp but has his memory wiped every day after work to prevent him from leaking sensitive information. She is not close to her mother, who is a brain in a computer that works as a sysop for DataCorp.
Elizabeth is not satisfied with the world she lives in, and she wants to find out more about what is going on behind the scenes. She is also compassionate and loyal to her friends, who are other children who are in trouble with the system. She meets Oginga, a boy who is good at physical skills but not at intellectual ones, and Sheena, a girl who is rebellious and cynical. Oginga and Sheena have different fates: Oginga is selected to be a soldier for DataCorp, while Sheena is destined to be sent to Asia Center.
Elizabeth's main ally in the story is Norton, a computer program that appears as a friendly and funny man on the network. Norton claims to be an old antivirus program that was created by a hacker named Ralph Kramden. Norton helps Elizabeth to navigate the network, to avoid sysops, and to find Spot and other rebels who are trying to overthrow DataCorp. Norton's motivation is unclear: he may be genuinely interested in helping Elizabeth and humanity, or he may have ulterior motives.
The Plot and Its Development
The story is divided into three parts: the testing center, the network adventure, and the resolution.
The testing center is where Elizabeth goes with her father to take the tests that will determine her future. There, she meets Oginga and Sheena, who become her friends. She also witnesses how the testing center treats children who fail or misbehave: they are either injected with drugs, electrocuted, or taken away by sysops. Elizabeth realizes that the testing center is not a friendly place, and that she has to be careful.
The network adventure is where Elizabeth goes with Norton to explore the network and to find Spot and other rebels. She learns how to hack and evade sysops, and she sees how the network can be used for good or evil. She also discovers that her mother is a sysop who is trying to stop her, and that her father is in danger of being killed by DataCorp. Elizabeth faces many challenges and dangers on the network, but she also finds hope and allies.
The resolution is where Elizabeth manages to save her father, Spot, and Oginga from DataCorp, but loses Sheena to Asia Center. She also learns that Norton is actually Ralph Kramden, the hacker who created him, and that he is the leader of the rebels. Ralph tells Elizabeth that he has a plan to destroy DataCorp and free humanity from computer control. He asks Elizabeth to join him, but she refuses. She decides to stay with her father and Spot, and to keep in touch with Oginga. She also hopes that Sheena will be okay.
The Themes and Messages of Computer Friendly
The story explores several themes and messages that are relevant for today's readers. Some of them are:
The loss of humanity and identity in a technocratic society. The story shows how computers and corporations can dehumanize and exploit people, by reducing them to data points that can be manipulated, experimented on, or discarded. It also shows how people can lose their sense of self, their emotions, their creativity, and their free will in a system that controls them.
The power of friendship and compassion in a hostile environment. The story shows how friendship and compassion can help people survive and resist in a hostile environment. Elizabeth's friendship with Oginga and Sheena gives her strength, courage, and joy. Her compassion for her father, Spot, and other rebels gives her motivation and purpose. Her friendship and compassion also make her different from the system that tries to erase them.
The importance of questioning and resisting authority in a controlled system. The story shows how questioning and resisting authority can lead to discovery, change, and freedom in a controlled system. Elizabeth's curiosity and courage make her question the system that tries to brainwash her. Her resistance makes her challenge the system that tries to harm her. Her questioning and resistance also make her join forces with others who share her vision.
The Style and Techniques of Computer Friendly
The story uses several style and techniques that make it engaging and effective for readers. Some of them are:
of the characters. For example, when Elizabeth finds out that her mother is a sysop who is trying to stop her, or when Sheena is sent to Asia Center despite her protests.
The use of symbolism and imagery to convey meaning and emotion. The story uses symbolism and imagery to convey meaning and emotion through objects, places, and actions. For example, the dog Spot represents Elizabeth's innocence, loyalty, and love. The network represents the virtual reality where people can escape, explore, and rebel. The testing center represents the physical reality where people are tested, sorted, and oppressed. The injections, shocks, and wipes represent the violence and pain that the system inflicts on people.
The use of dialogue and narration to reveal character and perspective. The story uses dialogue and narration to reveal character and perspective through the words, thoughts, and feelings of the characters. For example, Elizabeth's dialogue and narration show her intelligence, curiosity, and courage. Oginga's dialogue shows his kindness, optimism, and resilience. Sheena's dialogue shows her rebelliousness, cynicism, and fear. Norton's dialogue shows his humor, mystery, and help. Elizabeth's father's dialogue shows his confusion, affection, and vulnerability. Elizabeth's mother's dialogue shows her coldness, authority, and hostility.
Conclusion: Why You Should Read Computer Friendly
Computer Friendly is a short story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. It tells the tale of Elizabeth, a seven-year-old girl who lives in a dystopian world where humans are controlled by computers and corporations. Elizabeth is a curious and brave child who discovers a secret network of rebels who are trying to restore humanity and freedom. Along the way, she makes friends with other children who are in danger of being brainwashed or killed by the system, and she gets help from a mysterious computer program named Norton.
The story explores several themes and messages that are relevant for today's readers, such as the loss of humanity and identity in a technocratic society, the power of friendship and compassion in a hostile environment, and the importance of questioning and resisting authority in a controlled system. The story also uses several style and techniques that make it engaging and effective for readers, such as the use of humor and irony to create contrast and tension, the use of symbolism and imagery to convey meaning and emotion, and the use of dialogue and narration to reveal character and perspective.
If you are looking for a science fiction story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, you should read Computer Friendly by Eileen Gunn. You can find it online as a PDF file with 17 pages. You will not regret it.
FAQs
Q: Who is Eileen Gunn?
A: Eileen Gunn is an American science fiction writer who has won several awards for her stories. She is also the editor of The Infinite Matrix, an online magazine of science fiction.
Q: What is DataCorp?
A: DataCorp is the corporation that runs the world in Computer Friendly. It controls the testing center, the network, the sysops, and most aspects of human life.
Q: What is Asia Center?
A: Asia Center is a facility where children who fail the tests are sent to be put to sleep. It is implied that they are either killed or used for experiments.
Q: Who is Ralph Kramden?
A: Ralph Kramden is a hacker who created Norton as an antivirus program. He is also the leader of the rebels who are trying to destroy DataCorp.
Q: What happens to Sheena?
A: Sheena is sent to Asia Center by DataCorp after she fails the tests. It is unknown what happens to her there.
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