Clarkesworld Magazine Imperfect Simulations by Michelle Z. Jin (audio)
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Dec 17, 2025 In a gripping tale, Killian uses his skills in probability to navigate a world of simulations and political unrest. Miss Zadie's warnings about winning lead him to abandon games for predictive modeling. As tensions rise with the discovery of a new habitable planet, Killian grapples with the consequences of his choices. Jules, advocating for the future, challenges him to reconsider his inaction. The story intertwines fate and free will as Killian weighs the risks while facing escalating chaos around him.
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The Seashell And A Child's Victory
- Killian wins a children's non-perfect strategy game and briefly holds Robin's seashell prize.
- Robin reclaims the shell and later attacks Killian after losing, showing social consequences of competition.
Modeling People As Probabilities
- Killian trains himself to run probabilistic simulations of people's choices and narrows uncertainties with observation.
- He turns social interactions into quantifiable outcomes and uses them to manipulate relationships and status.
Confrontation In The Schoolyard
- Jules confronts Killian at school, demanding he stop 'running her like a computer program.'
- Their tense exchange reveals he has been modeling her choices but still cannot fully predict her.