Special Prometheus Award for “Alex + Ada”

The Libertarian Futurist Society has given a Special Award to Alex + Ada, a graphic novel by Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn.

Alex + Ada was published by Image Comics. The collected edition appeared in three volumes from July 29, 2014 to August 25, 2015.

The LFS’ award citation explains —

Set in a near future United States, Alex + Ada explores the social and political impact of the creation of artificial intelligences through the personal story of a young man, Alex, who receives an android companion as a gift from his wealthy grandmother. He faces a series of increasingly challenging moral choices about his relationship with the android, which he names Ada. As the story progresses, Alex, Ada, and other characters are caught up in a moral panic over androids that inspires repressive legislation and outbreaks of mob violence—and are tested by how they respond.

Luna and Vaughn’s treatment of artificial intelligence and virtual reality is sophisticated and technologically plausible. They tie the ethical question of which beings have rights to deeper philosophical issues of the nature of conscious experience and selfhood. And in the end, they hold up personal integrity in the face of a repressive society as an example worth following. Their story gives us a look at issues that a future world might have to address.

The award ceremony will take place at MidAmeriCon II in Kansas City, at a time to be announced. The award includes a gold coin and plaque for the winners. Also to be presented are the annual Best Novel and Hall of Fame Awards, finalists for which were previously announced.

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7 thoughts on “Special Prometheus Award for “Alex + Ada”

  1. I really don’t read graphic novels unless it’s in association with recommendations or voting for Hugo awards. But these look really interesting (I love that the example images do not include the typical near-naked, big-breasted women in anatomically-impossible poses), and my library has all 3 volumes, so I’ve requested them.

  2. It’s an unusually thoughtful take on the idea, for comics. I was bracing myself to cringe at sex-bot shenanigans, but it was much better than that.

  3. So many so-called libertarians are misogynist; it’s nice to see something that really talks about individual freedom and doesn’t go sex-bot. Probably helps having a female artist who knows how breasts actually work.

    (Can you imagine the horror if this was Frank Miller?)

  4. I’ve only read the first volume (but was planning to read more) and am glad that it’s winning awards – this is a really interesting story, although I’m surprised to see it ended so quickly. I suppose I’m too used to comics going on for years.

  5. lurkertype: I believe that Sarah Vaughn was the writer, not the artist.

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