Giant Squeeing Robots Homework

A note from your editor TC Ross!

TC Ross here, coming at you with a call for Giant Squeeing Robots stories with some clarifications. We need more stories! I don’t have anything to read and I was promised reading for my first time editing. Lots and lots of stories!

Now, I know a few people who are working on theirs, but I wanted to address something that might be a little bit of a stumbling block.

Giant.

I wondered if this word was a stumbling block, that we are expecting Jaeger sized robots and mechs. I’m coming here to say that this caused me a stumbling block. Yeah, I love giant robots fighting kaiju, but this anthology doesn’t have to be bigger is better. As a matter of fact, most of the things I listed were not 20-30 foot tall metal towers. They’re comparatively bigger than other characters in their stories.

Next, let’s look at robots. We KNOW what robot means. However, I realized that I’m geared to think of a robot as a METAL machine. Merriam-Webster states in their definition, a robot is a machine that resembles a living creature in being capable of moving independently, etc, etc.

I went on to verify what machine means, in a different source I’d looked up earlier: A device having a unique purpose, that augments or replaces human or animal effort for the accomplishment of physical tasks. This broad category encompasses such simple devices as the inclined plane, lever, wedge, wheel and axle, pulley, and screw (the so-called simple machines) as well as such complex mechanical systems as the modern automobile.

So, what does this mean? It just widened the field for even simple robots that a brilliant child could make. I’ve been asked if magic based robots would be accepted, and yes, you can go that route. You can even go the golem route. This anthology is meant to be whimsical fun. Chaos. Give me rampant joyful chaos caused by children, mischievous animals, and elderly pilots who haven’t lost contact with their internal child.

Find our Open Calls here! Have fun!