| "What's Expected of Us" | |
|---|---|
| Short story by Ted Chiang | |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Science fiction |
| Publication | |
| Published in | Nature |
| Publication type | Magazine |
| Publication date | 6 July 2005 |
"What's Expected of Us" is a science fiction short story by American writer Ted Chiang, initially published on 6 July 2005 by Nature. The story was also included in the 2006 anthology Year's Best SF 11 and in the 2019 collection Exhalation: Stories.
Plot summary
A small device, the Predictor, looks like a remote control. It consists of a button and a green display. When you press the button, the screen flashes. However, it flashes a second before you click on the button—by receiving a signal a second from the future. Millions of these devices have been sold. The Predictors create a dystopic world by providing evidence that free will is actually a myth—the future is predetermined and fixed. As a result, people become lethargic and just stop eating entirely.
See also
References
- Chiang, Ted (July 2005). "What's expected of us". Nature. 436 (7047): 150. Bibcode:2005Natur.436..150C. doi:10.1038/436150a.
- Crichton, Danny (February 16, 2020). "Can we debate free will versus destiny in four pages?". TechCrunch. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- Oates, Joyce Carol (May 6, 2019). "Science Fiction Doesn't Have to Be Dystopian". The New Yorker. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- Martinez-Conde, Susana (December 16, 2016). "What Choice Do We Have?". Scientific American. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- Sheehan, Jason (May 10, 2019). "Take A Breath And Dive Into 'Exhalation'". NPR. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
External links
- What's Expected of Us title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- Expected of Us audiobook in the Internet Archive
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