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Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Perd Hapley on June 14, 2009, 04:48:53 PM

Title: A story about a computer that writes poetry
Post by: Perd Hapley on June 14, 2009, 04:48:53 PM

In high school, I read a short story about a guy who invented a poetry-writing computer.  I thought it was hilarious.  My favorite part was that he had to install an egocentric, self-regulating narcissitor, before he could get any good poetry out of it.  It was in a text book, and I photo-copied it, but I can't find it anymore. 

All I remember was that it was written by a European.  Hungarian?  Czech?  I don't remember.   =(

Does that ring a bell with anybody? 

Title: Re: A story about a computer that writes poetry
Post by: RocketMan on June 14, 2009, 10:55:40 PM

Isaac Asimov perhaps?  Or Stanislaw Lem's "Cyberiad"?

Title: Re: A story about a computer that writes poetry
Post by: AJ Dual on June 14, 2009, 11:51:36 PM

Was it Vonnegut?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EPICAC_(computer)

Title: Re: A story about a computer that writes poetry
Post by: Perd Hapley on June 15, 2009, 01:08:29 AM

The Cyberiad sounds really fascinating, but no.  It wasn't EPICAC, either.  I think if it was someone as well-known as Vonnegut or Asimov, I would have remembered. 

Title: Re: A story about a computer that writes poetry
Post by: makattak on June 15, 2009, 11:44:50 AM

It was by Asimov.

I have it in a book of short stories at home. I'll get the name later today for you.

Title: Re: A story about a computer that writes poetry
Post by: makattak on June 15, 2009, 07:38:47 PM

Cal by Isaac Asimov.

It is the first story in his "Gold" collection of short stories.

Title: Re: A story about a computer that writes poetry
Post by: Perd Hapley on June 15, 2009, 08:36:19 PM

Thanks, but that's not it either.  The story is about an inventor that sets out to create a computer that can write poetry.  I think that's about the whole plot, just tracing how he builds the machine and how its poetry skills develop.

Title: Re: A story about a computer that writes poetry
Post by: makattak on June 15, 2009, 10:09:47 PM

Quote from: fistful on June 15, 2009, 08:36:19 PM

Thanks, but that's not it either.  The story is about an inventor that sets out to create a computer that can write poetry.  I think that's about the whole plot, just tracing how he builds the machine and how its poetry skills develop.

Are you sure?

Plot is: Writer has a robot. The robot somehow has a desire to write. The writer brings in the creator of the robot and makes adjustments. The robot's first story is bad. More adjustments. Second story is better. More adjustments. Next story is even better. More adjustments. I won't reveal the end if you haven't read it, but good irony.

Title: Re: A story about a computer that writes poetry
Post by: Perd Hapley on June 15, 2009, 10:15:08 PM

I read the precis on Wikipedia.  The story I'm talking about had no mystery stories, and I'm pretty sure there was no murder.  I think the point of the story was to ridicule poets, mostly.   =)