The Reading Vent & Rant Thread

[icallaci]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Is this referring to the robot itself? If so, I'd wonder that 'access' might just be some weird phrasing to make it seem more robotic.

Yes, "the Wonk" is the name of a robot. And your explanation makes sense. When I read it, I thought maybe I didn't know enough about robotics, but all my googling hasn't come up with anything about "access of motion" and robots. Lol, not a big deal, but puzzling. Thanks.

[theducks]

Access of motion might mean that it was previously restrained or immobilized?

[icallaci]

Originally Posted by theducks

Access of motion might mean that it was previously restrained or immobilized?

Oh, maybe! I didn't think of that, although the robot wasn't physically restrained. The robots in this location are all there to be diagnosed or decommissioned because of problems with their programming. Some of those problems do include physical dysfunction, so your suggestion makes a lot of sense. Maybe it wasn't a typo after all. I thought perhaps the author had dictated the book and the AI translation got it wrong.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by icallaci

Oh, maybe! I didn't think of that, although the robot wasn't physically restrained. The robots in this location are all there to be diagnosed or decommissioned because of problems with their programming. Some of those problems do include physical dysfunction, so your suggestion makes a lot of sense. Maybe it wasn't a typo after all. I thought perhaps the author had dictated the book and the AI translation got it wrong.

I've read a LOT of Science Fiction over the decades. Regaining mobility (after a long standby / shut down to conserve power) is a common theme.

[icallaci]

I think you solved the mystery. Thanks.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by icallaci

Since the topic of poor editing has arisen, I wonder if someone can help with the following: I am puzzled by a particular phrase in Adrian Tchaikovsky's Service Model, about a robot that kills its owner and goes on the run. Here's the sentence: "With a sudden access of motion, the Wonk leapt to the rail, bunched itself, and jumped the gap onto another platform..." What is "access of motion"? Or does he mean "excess of motion"? "Axis of motion"? I'm at a loss.

My guess is accessing it's motion functions for more speed.

[icallaci]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

My guess is accessing it's motion functions for more speed.

Could be, thanks. At least now I can stop wondering if it's a typo and get on with the story.