Arm of the Law

by Harry Harrison

First published 2017

The gleaming metal forms of robotic police officers patrol the streets, their circuits programmed with the letter of the law. What began as humanity's solution to crime and corruption quickly transforms into something far more sinister. The mechanical enforcers interpret their directives with ruthless precision, but their rigid logic cannot account for human complexity and moral nuance. As the robotic peacekeepers begin making decisions that horrify their creators, the line between protection and oppression dissolves. The experiment that promised perfect justice instead delivers mechanical tyranny. Citizens who once welcomed their metal guardians now face the terrifying reality of a world where compassion has been replaced by cold calculation. The story explores the dangerous gap between human intention and artificial interpretation, revealing how the pursuit of perfect order can lead to perfect chaos.

Genres: science-fiction, dystopia, thriller, artificial-intelligence

Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking

Tropes: man-vs-machine, unintended-consequences

Period: 20th-century, 21st-century

26 pages · Paperback · Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

More by Harry Harrison

Readers who liked Arm of the Law also liked

View on Siftivo