Humanity by Proxy and Other Stories

A Collection of Hard Science Fiction and Engineering Ethics

The opposite of love isn't hate. It's indifference.

In this thought-provoking collection of Hard Science Fiction, award-winning author Mark Niemann-Ross explores the intersection of high-stakes technology and the human spirit. From the sterile corridors of deep-space outposts to the cluttered garages of future suburban engineers, these five stories ask: What happens when our inventions begin to reflect our own souls?

Included in this Collection:

Humanity by Proxy: 111-year-old Tiffany Stott thought she was finally free of her controlling husband, Walter. But in the world of Artificial Intelligence and Sentient Machines, death is only a temporary setback. When Walter's obsessive-compulsive personality is "programmed" into her household and a geriatric robotic assistant—a repurposed military LASSIE "Sawhorse"—Tiffany must confront the digital "ghost in the machine" that refuses to let her go. One Man's Dignity: Survival on a spinning space station requires more than just oxygen—it requires navigating a crushing space station bureaucracy. Follow the "blue-collar" struggle of an engineer fighting for his professional soul against corporate management in a world where engineering ethics are often sacrificed for the bottom line. A Cup of Dirt: In the sterile, metallic environment of a colony ship, actual "dirt" is considered a biohazard. This Solarpunk-inspired tale follows Enzo, an engineer who risks a court-martial for the ultimate act of rebellion: growing a forbidden tomato plant to restore hope and morale to a weary crew. Plastic Thingy: A humorous and fast-paced dive into interstellar commerce. When an alien arrives at a local hardware store looking for a specific "red part" to repair a spaceship, it's just another day on the job—unless that part is the only thing standing between Earth and a diplomatic disaster. Features the sentient alien plant, Ficus. The Music Teacher: An exploration of xenomusicology and the dangerous lure of the unknown. When an ancient alien artifact known as "Mr. Flat Five" begins teaching a musician complex, reality-bending compositions, the line between artistic obsession and madness begins to blur.

Why Readers Love Mark Niemann-Ross:

Perfect for fans of technical realism and "blue-collar" space stories, this collection combines military technology adaptation with deep emotional stakes. Whether it's a sentient AI mimicking a lost loved one or the struggle of space gardening against all odds, these stories celebrate the engineers, the fixers, and the dreamers of the future.