Elizabeth Bear - Future Visions - Original Science Fiction Inspired by Microsoft

“We know, Delegate,” Ashiban said. “We were just talking about it, before the townspeople got here. But they could be better.”

“Well,” said Delegate Garas. “You may be right, at that. And if any of this were my concern in the least, I’d be getting a headache about now. Fortunately, it’s not my problem. I’ll see you ladies on your way home and…”

“Translation unavailable,” exclaimed the Sovereign, before he could finish. Got out of the groundcar, set her empty cup on the roof with a smack, opened the driver’s door, and slid in. Closed the door behind her.

“Young lady,” Delegate Garas began.

“I am the Voice of Iss!” the Sovereign declared. She did something with the controls and the groundcar started up with a low hum. Delegate Garas frowned, looked back at Ashiban.

Ashiban wanted to go home. She wanted to rest, and go back to her regular, everyday life, doing nothing much.

There had never been much point to doing anything much, not with a mother like Ciwril Xidyla. Anyone’s wildest ambitions would pale into nothing beside Ashiban’s mother’s accomplishments. And Ashiban had never been a terribly ambitious person. Had always wished for an ordinary life. Had mostly had it, at least the past few decades. Until now.

Those Raksamat farmers wanted an ordinary life, too, and the Gidanta townspeople. The Sovereign herself had been taken from an ordinary girlhood—or as ordinary as your life could be when your grandmother and your aunt were the voice of the planet—and thrown into the middle of this.

Delegate Garas was still watching her, still frowning. Ashiban sighed. “I don’t recommend arguing, Delegate. Assassins and a flier crash in the High Mires couldn’t stop us. I doubt you can do more than slow us down, and it’s really better if you don’t. Sovereign, I think first we should have a bath and clean clothes and something to eat. And get checked out by a doctor. And maybe get some sleep.”

The Sovereign was silent for a few seconds, and then said, “All right. I agree to that. But we should start on the language lessons as soon as possible.”

“Yes, child,” said Ashiban, closing her eyes. “But not this very moment.”

Delegate Garas laughed at that, short and sharp. But he made no protest at all as the Sovereign started the groundcar moving toward town.

Ann Leckie enjoyed immediate success and critical acclaim for her debut novel, Ancillary Justice , in 2013. Leckie was already a successful short story writer; her first published work, “Hesperia and Glory,” was included in Science Fiction: The Best of the Year, 2007 Edition , and her subsequent stories “The God of Au” and “The Endangered Camp” were featured in later editions of the same anthology. But it was Ancillary Justice , the first book in Leckie’s Imperial Radch trilogy, that swept the major science fiction awards, garnering Hugo, Nebula, Locus, British Science Fiction Association, and Arthur C. Clarke Awards for best novel—alongside widespread acclaim for the book’s deft balance of suspense, character development, and world-building. Its sequels, 2014’s Ancillary Sword and 2015’s Ancillary Mercy , garnered similar awards attention and closed out the trilogy.

Credits

MICROSOFT

EditorsJennifer Henshaw and Allison Linn

Chief StorytellerSteve Clayton

Corporate VP, CommunicationsFrank X. Shaw

A special thanks to all the Microsoft researchers who spent time with the authors and generously shared their work and ideas.

MELCHER MEDIA

President, CEOCharles Melcher

VP, COOBonnie Eldon

Senior ProducerJohn Morgan

Production ManagerSusan Lynch

Editorial AssistantsAdrian Rapazzini, Luisa Lizoain, and Karl Daum

“A Cop’s Eye” was produced in collaboration with Lion Forge Comics, with special thanks to Adam Staffaroni.

Illustrations & DesignJoey Camacho / Raw & Rendered

An experienced 3-D motion and graphic designer based in Vancouver, Canada, Raw & Rendered (a.k.a. Joey Camacho) has created conceptual and innovative work for major global brands as well as passionate local companies. Since graduating from the Alberta College of Art + Design, Camacho has developed unique and innovative 3-D graphics, both still images and motion work. He established a strong presence with his Progress Before Perfection series—creating an abstract Cinema 4-D render every day for a year. After finishing off 365 images, Camacho continues producing new work in the acclaimed series.

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