Comment from Mary Vigasin

Excellent

This is a perfect story with all the talk of AI taking on human qualities. Here, loneliness "kills" the Mars Rover.
It's a clever and interesting story. I enjoyed reading.
Good luck in the contest.
Best wishes,
Mary

 Comment Written 15-Sep-2023

---

reply by the author on 15-Sep-2023

Thanks, Mary. Hurricane is coming.

Comment from JSD

Excellent

Did you write the other one about the Mars Rover. This is a short form of that I think and still really interesting. I like the loneliness and the despair you convey in the emptiness of space.

 Comment Written 15-Sep-2023

---

reply by the author on 15-Sep-2023

Thanks, John. This is my first Mars rover story.

Comment from Gloria ....

Excellent

You managed to make me feel sorry for this poor little rover, so you have done a great job with your flash fiction.

I'm not sure if it has happened before, but I expect it will happen again.

Wishing you much luck with the Contest Committee. :)

Gloria

 Comment Written 15-Sep-2023

---

reply by the author on 15-Sep-2023

Thanks, Gloria. I wouldn't be surprised if this has really happened.

Comment from Wendy G

Excellent

Good one Paul!
My only suggestion is to change the title, so that the ending can't be even hinted at. Even something bland like "There are no words ..." Or "I'm lost without you ..."
But of course it's your writing, and I think it's clever. I actually felt quite sad for the rover! Lol. Best wishes for the contest.
Wendy

 Comment Written 14-Sep-2023

---

reply by the author on 15-Sep-2023

Thanks, Wendy. You are right about the title. I scratched my head on it for awhile, and then came up with that one. No imagination.

Comment from Dolly'sPoems

Excellent

This is a clever post and a great post for the contest. This story touching me even though you were talking about a machine! Isolation and loneliness is a killer. I watched a program about people who live for a long time and the fourth components included: 1. Food, 2. Exercise, 3. Having a purpose in life, ie growing things, making things, and 4. Having a good circle of friends and family as companions. If any one of these components is missing then it shortens our life, a fine post for the contest and I hope you win Paul, wish I had a six left, love Christine x

 Comment Written 14-Sep-2023

---

reply by the author on 15-Sep-2023

Thanks, Christine. No sixes necessary. I always appreciate your reviews.

Comment from kahpot

Exceptional

Wow! I really like the way you have connected AI and Human emotions here, the more we teach it the more they will (suffer) "loneliness can be deadly" (so very true) we must improve on ourselves first, an excellent read, very well written, best wishes for your contest****kahpot

 Comment Written 14-Sep-2023

---

reply by the author on 15-Sep-2023

Thanks, kahpot. AI could very well contribute to the downfall of mankind.

Comment from Alexandra Trovato

Excellent

This is very interesting and well written. It's very creative and causes me, as a reader, to wonder the same. You use very compelling words and readers will be drawn to your story.

Best wishes!

Alexandra

 Comment Written 14-Sep-2023

---

reply by the author on 15-Sep-2023

Thanks Alexandra. Will AI have a soul?

Comment from lyenochka

Excellent

I like your imagination! I suppose if AI was so humanlike, there might be a need to have a meaningful reason for existence, it is possible even a robot might want to commit suicide. A great post of Suicide Awareness Week.
Best wishes in the contest!
Suggestion:
It's solar batteries enabled it to function (Its)

This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.

 Comment Written 14-Sep-2023

---

reply by the author on 14-Sep-2023

Thanks for the review, Helen, and thanks for the catch on the mistake. I know better than that. Getting old I guess.

reply by lyenochka on 14-Sep-2023

I think Autocorrect was programmed with the wrong apostrophe rules so I wouldn't blame yourself. You had it right a few sentences later. I suspect it was "technology."

Comment from barbara.wilkey

Excellent

Thank you for sharing this contest entry with us. I found this entry very interesting to read. I enjoyed reading and want to wish you the best of luck with this contest.

This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.

 Comment Written 14-Sep-2023

---

reply by the author on 14-Sep-2023

Thanks, Barb. Always good to hear from you..