Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Kyle Kirkland's "True to Form" (novelette, androids)

This is another of those "aliens/androids posing as humans, mixing with us, & quietly taking over our society" stories. Told as an action story.

This is a society populated by humans & "mechs". Later are biological entities very similar to humans but with subtle differences in certain genes that manifest in behaviors that are easy to recognize. Of course, humans are masters & mechs are slaves.

Now, someone (presumably human) seems to have figured out a way to enhance mechs where they're nearly impossible to distinguish from humans. And seems to be breeding them fast.

If I recollect correctly (I'd read it a few days back), the story is about a recognition by someone that such a thing is happening. And a test to recognize one specific specimen of the kind. It's not really about bursting the conspiracy.

See also.

  1. Henry Kuttner & C L Moore's "Android": Very similar plot.

Fact sheet.

First published: Analog, January/February 2013.
Rating: B.
Related: Stories of Kyle Kirkland.

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