Scavenger Tapped For Renegade Robots

Speaking of BLACK INFINITY (cf. just below, July 9, et al.), Thursday’s email had also included an early announcement for the edition to follow the one with “Waxworms.”  The next issue will be Renegade Robots, with a broad interpretation of “renegade”:  a deserter from one faith, cause, or allegiance to another; an individual who rejects lawful or conventional [image error]behavior or tradition.  Since all robots, by their very nature, are unconventional, the robot(s) in your story can be good, bad, or indifferent; protagonist, villain, or innocent bystander.  . . .  I’m looking for stories with a classic, traditional, or retro feel, 3000 to 10000 words, new or reprint.  While an open call wouldn’t be until later, early submission was being invited with this extra note:  Atmospheric, creepy, and/or suspenseful stories are a big plus.

Atmospheric?  Creepy?  You probably know the drill.  Anyway, Saturday I sent back a story, “Scavenger,” originally from the November 1994 FANTASTIC COLLECTIBLES about robots in an abandoned dying city with, I suggested, an appropriately “noir” tone, though at 2200-words maybe a bit short.  And so, this morning, the answer awaited:  Despite the shorter length it’s a well-developed tale, atmospheric, moving, and memorable. I’d like to include it in the next issue.