fact or fiction
Is it fact or merely fiction? Fact or Fiction explores the myths and beliefs we hold about cyber safety, artificial intelligence, dystopian futures and our everyday gadgets.
Dear Robert
Dear Robert. It is exactly ten years since professor arrived at Brisbane international airport. He now lives above a coffee shop in the middle of the city.
Isaya SikwattaPublished 3 years ago in 01Little black book
I received an email whose subject read “Congratulations! You won the grand prize.” I opened the email and read the content. It was about a story writing contest and I had just won the grand prize of $20,000. The email had all details on how to deposit the prize. there was a link that led to a secured website, with a one-way authentication form: whatever I put as banking information could not be used from the other end. This means it was legit. The problem was, I never wrote any contest. I did not know anything about writing but the occasional emails and text messages. How could I have written a story? I proceeded with filling the form.
Nina LapnetPublished 3 years ago in 01Awaken
The life she knew was not her own. It was like the kiss that broke Sleeping Beauty’s curse, except Caitlyn wasn’t awakening in awe. She was living a nightmare. Her emotions ran the gamut since she found out. She was raw and had moved into a state of seething pain and rage.
Liss WilliamsPublished 3 years ago in 01Angel Earns Her Wigs
The early morning sun beamed directly on the single dime, causing it to shine brightly from it’s watery resting place in the pot-holed alleyway. Angel bent over and quickly plucked it up, dropping it in with the growing collection in her pocket. It had been a wet, cold night in the abandoned, burned out building she called home, and she was eager for a hot cup of coffee. As she walked toward the ZipNGo convenience store where the coffee was always on, she calculated how much more she’d need to buy the 16-ouncer. She wasn’t terribly concerned, though, because if she remembered correctly, Hal would be working the counter this morning. More often than not, he waved her on when she began pulling coins out of her pocket. She appreciated his generosity, and often stood around awhile to keep him company and shoot the breeze.
Starla KlevenbergPublished 3 years ago in 01The Beholder
Frank peaked through the chink in the curtains at the busy street, trying to get as panoramic a view as possible without twitching the cloth. He'd give it another few minutes to be safe then he'd have to run to Chadwick's and hope Harry was still there.
Colin KongPublished 3 years ago in 01Number 5
So, hi there. You could be anybody - anybody that found this on a bench in a park. Six months ago, I was the same curious ‘anybody’ you are now.
Gulmira ZhalgasbayevaPublished 3 years ago in 01Crime Pays
If she had to call someone, Elodie would not have been her first choice. But God, oh God, what else could she do? In the world of modern technology, she had no one’s phone number memorized. No one except Elodie. And there was an unconscious man lying at her feet and what appeared to be twenty thousand dollars in her hands—God oh God—so someone had to be called.
Cassidy KeenanPublished 3 years ago in 01What Happened to Andre?
“There are rose petals everywhere and I’m covered in baby oil.” I could hear the stifled laughing of the lady at the front desk as she held the phone away from her mouth. If this had happened to anyone else, I would have joined her. This was a bizarre situation.
Jeffrey L. Cheatham IIPublished 3 years ago in 01TEN PERCENT
It was twenty past two on a Tuesday, but time seemingly stood still. I checked my phone again—no messages. I peeked out my window—no visitors. Something urgently needed to happen to make this office worth showing up to. I adjusted my tie—its unfamiliar tautness impelled me to rip it off, freeing my neck. Two weeks and counting in these new digs and not a single client. Perhaps a different advertisement strategy was in order. Or maybe I should never have signed the lease, keeping my operations firmly within the confines of my parents’ basement instead. I would have, too, if they hadn’t given me the ultimatum: no more stray pussycats. But what could I do? I had a soft spot for those solipsistic little creatures.
Anya MigdalPublished 3 years ago in 01Straps
She ran her finger along the frayed leather edge, wondering where it had come from. "What a strange thing for someone to have left and how did it get here?" she thought. The black notebook was in Cindi's office drawer, but she was certain she had not left it there before she left for vacation. Even more strange was that the drawer had been locked before she left. She distinctly remembered turning the key, of which Cindi had the only copy, and dropping her keyring in her purse, which had been with her the entire week.
Leon MateoPublished 3 years ago in 01All the little Dots
One year ago, today I lost my grandpa Jack. He was an awesome guy. Probably the only person in this world to understand me. I still remember his funeral repass. It was so quiet. You could hear the tick of the sprinklers on his perfectly manicured lawn. Pawpaw as I liked to call him was always trimming or mowing his lawn. It’s the best in the neighborhood he would laugh and say. But that day all I could think of was the way he fell as he was trimming the hedges. Just like in the movies it seemed as if he was moving in slow motion. Down, down, down he went first dropping his shears, then landing on his elbow followed by the shaking and rippling of his blue and white striped shirt. His hat followed its wide tan brim buckled under the pressure. I ran to him as quickly as I could, but it seemed as if it took me ages to get there.
Lakia MarshallPublished 3 years ago in 01The Auction
Auction day! I have thumbed through the catalogue so many times. I had identified a couple of lots I planned to bid on. One that took my fancy was a suitcase with stamps and templates, advertised 'as seen'. The case looked good too. I didn't go to the viewing so it will be a surprise.
Maggie McAndrewsPublished 3 years ago in 01