Petopia by Benjamin Crowell

The story of two poor African kids struggling to help their family get by. Mina is sorting through a pile of high tech garbage when a child's toy starts speaking to her.

It's a toy dog with an AI built in. She eventually takes it home where her older brother begins to use it for his own reasons.

This has the same feel as the street scenes from Blade Runner; crushing poverty surrounded by wealth, technology, corruption and the hope of youth.

I especially liked the action packed and open-ended conclusion

Well done.

The author's website is HERE


The story can be read for free HERE