The Turing Test Will Be Televised

by Robert J. McCarter

Walter is an old man, one of the oldest. He just wants to live a quiet, simple life with his wife Camille and watch his favorite reality show, “The Big Hookup.” It is being broadcast live from the Moon this season with a new one of the gentleman suitors isn’t human--he’s an artificial--but the female contestant doesn’t know.It’s a test. Can she tell which one is the artificial? Can Walter tell?Walter knows artificials, and is sure he can spot it, but things aren’t going to go quite as planned.This is a novelette (approximately 10,000 words or 40 pages long).

Genres: Science Fiction

73 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 18, 2012

About the author

Robert J. McCarter is the author of seven novels, three novellas, and dozens of short stories. He is a finalist for the Writers of the Future Contest and his stories have appeared or are forthcoming in The Saturday Evening Post, Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Fiction River, Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, and numerous anthologies.
 
His latest effort is a serialized novel called Woody and June Versus the Apocalypse, a story of adventure and love and taking things (even the apocalypse) in stride. Of his novel, Seeing Forever, Kirkus Reviews says, “Sci-fi as it should be: engaging, moving, and grand in scope.”

He lives in the mountains of Arizona with his amazing wife and his ridiculously adorable dog.

Find out more at RobertJMcCarter.com

Reviews

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Artificial life, what makes real real and where is that line in the sand. Entertaining, not taxing play on the issues and ethics in an easy to grasp and friendly format.

Favorite quote:

“Just because you help create the future, doesn’t mean that it’s for you."

[Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll admit I'm a sucker for a story that explores the "what makes us human" question, so I'm biased, but I enjoyed this story nevertheless. Not only did it suck me into the investigation of that theme, it also slyly asked this: can you predict what your loved one wants for their life? And if so, should you act on your belief, knowing you can't tell your loved one?