Cover Artist: Tomislav Tikulin
“Old Paint” shows what happens in the future when cars become more computerized. Everything works well until a group infects them with a virus that gives the cars sentience.
Megan Lindholm is another author I have not tried before. Based on this story, I will be looking for more of her work. It is reminiscent of Roger Zelazny’s “Auto-da-Fe” and “Devil Car” stories. Lindholm had my attention as I started to see how she approached this material. “Old Paint” is a car that belongs to a single mother and her family. When the cars rebel, the government develops a “cure” to remove their free will. The mother then has to decide whether or not to turn “Old Paint” in or let it go free. It is a touching, well written exploration of family and memories of the past.
Highly recommended.