Exhalation

“The Lifecycle of Software Objects” is a novella that takes place over 20 years in 10 sections.

Part 1 Summary

The story centers on Ana Alvarado, a former zookeeper, who shifts her career focus to software testing after the zoo she works at closes down. In this near future, everyone spends most of their time in digital worlds, one of the most popular being Data Earth. Ana receives a job offer from her friend Robyn’s company, Blue Gamma. The company is developing advanced forms of “digients, digital organisms” using software called “Neuroblast” (64-65). The digients vary in appearance, from animal-like to more robotic, but always with appealing features. The Neuroblast digients learn over time and require training, making Ana a strong candidate to help them. Ana hesitates to take the job at first, as she always dreamed of working with real animals. She ultimately decides to take the position, reasoning it’s closer aligned with her interests than most software jobs.

The other central character is Derek Brooks, a designer at Blue Gamma with an animation background. Derek enjoys his job, and “feels that helping a new life-form express itself is the most exciting work an animator could be doing” (67).