Steadfast Castle: 05/15/12

"Steadfast Castle" by Michael Swanwick is a detective story set in a near future where houses come with their own AIs. Just as cellphones today are often times much more than cellphones, so are now are houses.

But crimes still happen and detectives are still needed. Steadfast Castle is presented as an interview between a detective and a witness.

Thematically and stylistically I'm reminded of Philip K. Dick, Isaac Asimov, James M. Cain and Dashiell Hammett. Then toss in some Alfred Hitchcock and you've got a great and surprising short story.

Five stars

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Comments (2)

Comment #1: Wednesday May, 16, 2012 at 12:19:07

Elizabeth Varadan

Wow, that's some recommendation! I like Hammett and Asimov, but can't imagine their styles meshing. You've piqued my curiosity in this book.

Comment #2: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at 13:14:21

Pussreboots

It's actually a short story. It was published in the September / October 2010 issue of Fantasy & Science Fiction. It's also now in the Year's Best SF volume 16.