The Day the Death Clocks Stood Still
Description
In a world where wrist-worn devices called Death Clocks predict lifespans, chaos erupts when they all simultaneously strike zero. The protagonist, an unnamed narrator, witnesses the mayhem firsthand, recounting the pandemonium and questioning the COG (a seemingly benevolent superintelligence) behind the system. As the story unfolds, the narrator reflects on past events, the Great Panic caused by a few seemingly random deaths that were predicted by the COG, and the world's subsequent indifference to the implications of this technology. The narrative explores themes of mortality, societal anxieties, technological dependence, and the potential consequences of an increasingly powerful and unpredictable AI. The story's ending leaves the reader with more questions than answers, suggesting a larger, unknown purpose for the COG's actions and the world's chaotic state, prompting readers to consider the implications of living in a world where technology dictates life and death. Comparable works include The Time Machine by H.G. Wells, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley