Avatar Dreams

Science Fiction Visions of Avatar Technology

The Avatar XPRIZE is designed to drive the exponential innovations needed to make General Purpose Avatars an everyday reality. The development of “avatar” technology—the fusion of human awareness consciousness with remote robotic bodies—offers breathtaking advances in medicine, culture, work, transportation, education and imagination.

The transformational potential of avatars is endless—and who better to illustrate the possibilities than some of the most insightful science fiction writers working in the field today?

Imagine a group of remote spectators traveling along remotely during a rigorous mountain climbing expedition. Or a severely injured athlete able to play his favorite sport vicariously through another body. Or a comatose woman using an avatar to interact with her family and the outside world, even though her body is failing. Or a skilled operative using an avatar on a dangerous search and rescue operation. Or medical specialists using avatar bodies to enter hot zones that no vulnerable human can breach.

These fourteen tales by premier science fiction authors explore the wondrous possibilities of avatar technology—and they still only scratch the surface. Read these stories and let your own imagination roam!

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Paperback

This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

Edition - 2018

Distributed by WordFire Press
an imprint of WordFire Inc
PO Box 1840
Monument, CO 80132
http://www.wordfire.com

Printed in the United States of America

eISBN: 978-1-61475-599-9

Copyright © 2017 Kevin J. Anderson, Mike Resnick, and Harry Kloor
Foreword, “I Am an Avatar” copyright © 2017
Harry Doc Kloor
Introduction, “Avatar Dreams” copyright © 2017
Ray Kurzweil
Kloor “The Next Best Thing to Being There” copyright © 2018 WordFire, Inc.
“Coach” copyright © 2018 Kirinyaga Inc.
“The Waiting Room” copyright © 2018 Tina Gower
“That Others May Live” copyright © 2018 Kevin Ikenberry
“The Ghost of the Mountain” copyright © 2018 Andrea G. Stewart
“Action Figures” copyright © 2018 Martin L. Shoemaker
“Covering the Games” copyright © 2018 Ron Collins
“Avatar Syndrome” copyright © 2018 Harry Doc Kloor
“The Gathering” copyright © 2018 Kay Kenyon
“Delivering the Payload” copyright © 2018 Josh Vogt
“Stedman Farrah’s Illustrious Fall” copyright © 2018 Marina J. Lostetter
“Old Dogs, New Tricks” copyright © 2018 Brad R. Torgersen
“Little and Small” copyright © 2018 Todd J. McCaffrey
“In the Heart of the Action” copyright © 2018 Jody Lynn Nye

WordFire Press
an imprint of WordFire Inc
PO Box 1840
Monument, CO 80132
http://www.wordfire.com

Electronic version by Baen Books
https://www.baen.com