The Anomalous Files: Stories from the World of Sci-Fi Ethics

Eric Hilker
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You are entering the zone of Sci-Fi Ethics. The stories collected here are the work of students from the University of Virginia in a class called Sci-Fi Ethics. As the professor of this class, I must admit that the composition of these stories is something of a mystery to me. I send these out to the inter-webs in hope of preserving this record from attempts to silence these accounts!

  1. Episode 1

    "We Are All Equal"

    Episode Notes Created by: Rutvi, Ela, Hampton, Elijah, Lawson, and Demir This episode of "The Anomalous Files" is a take on the dystopian short story "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

  2. Episode 2

    The Mediocrity Campaign

    Episode Notes As the final project for Professor Hilker's EGMT 1540: Sci-Fi Ethics class, we created a fictional podcast. Inspired by Kurt Vonnegut's short story "Harrison Bergeron," this podcast is set in the year 2031 and explores themes of government power, collective punishment, and systemic control. Special thanks go to the Robertson Media Center and Michael Moxham for the editing of this podcast. Gaston: Jared Olster Hans: Ethan Derman President: Aarna Bhamidipati Chief of Staff: Sandra Zhang Senator: Anish Mummadi Head of FBI: Nandinbilig Tamir Art Citation: Image generated using ChatGPT (GPT-4o / DALL-E) by OpenAI, from the prompt "Create me a cover picture for our podcast called The Mediocrity Campaign. Include handicaps and two men, one smarter and one stronger", 10/07/2026, (https://chatgpt.com/) Audio Citations: - Intro Music Audio excerpt from 'grendy2.flac' courtesy of jmguru (https://freesound.org/people/jmguru/sounds/117723/) - Paper Effect from 'Rustling Paper SOUND Effect' courtesy of SOUND Effects Public Domain (No Copyrights) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-N_weqD8i8) - Fighting Effect from 'Fighting sound effects' courtesy of ChaosCore (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZcC1oK291I) - Sirens Effect from 'Alarm Siren, Fast Oscillations' courtesy of Kinoton (https://freesound.org/people/Kinoton/sounds/420661/) - Running Effect from 'Soldiers Running Sound Effect' courtesy of Sound Effect Database (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHy3KE9jGbw) - Gunshot Effect from 'Homemade Gunshots 01' courtesy of MalikArsYasakani (https://freesound.org/people/MalikArsYasakani/sounds/833318/) - Alarm Effect from 'USA EAS Alarm Sound Effect' courtesy of Free Sound Effects (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpWM2v_8Q1o) - Walking Effect from 'footsteps on wood #1 floor sound effect (royalty free)' courtesy of NE sounds (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOkNZmy6uF8) - Door Effect from 'Door Open and Close - Sound Effect' courtesy of FeeSou (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ur01bT1778) - Chair Effect from 'Moving Chair Sound - Sound Effects' courtesy of SR BEST SOUND EFFECTS. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jftd7vwcE9Q) - Table Effect from 'punch a table - sound effect' courtesy of touch of sound (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmAu4Nm7uiE) - TV Effect from 'TV On and Off Effect (After Effects)' courtesy of N-Forced (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-nbvAnq65I) - News Station Effect from 'FREE NEWS INTRO - BROADCAST NEWS TEMPLATE' courtesy of Free Motion Graphics Background Animation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD_7AyYXrSY\&list=PLfmqLhN9GsBcv7VXxGyUAA927AnAOfbNc\&index=2) - Facility Door Effect from 'Heavy Metal Door Opening and Closing' courtesy of Royalty Free Sound FX (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c90uCjVbW_g) - Jail Cell Effect from 'Big heavy door open and close sound effect' courtesy of sound effects Library (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W0hFSTmViM) - Wearing Headphones Effect from 'Wear Headphone Sound Effects' courtesy of SOUND and IMAGE FX (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za1oHvunees) - Droning Effect from 'Drone Whine 01-MP3' courtesy of jdthorud (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZtOfq3ul-D8zKKl84Jw8nPCO6U4Af4Il) - Outro Music Audio excerpt from 'Cracked mirrors' courtesy of Victor_Natas (https://freesound.org/s/609393/)

  3. Episode 3

    The War Before

    Episode Notes A prequel to War of the Worlds, 'The War Before,' explores the political tensions of Mars as dwindling resources force its leaders to confront the difficult decisions about the future and survival of the Martian race.

  4. Episode 4

    Project Argon

    Episode Notes A Prequel to Ted Chiang's "Exhalation," in which humanity is torn into living in two places: The Bunker, or the City of Argon as mechanical beings, effectively becoming immortal.

  5. Episode 5

    The Great Sadness: The Destruction of New Years Island

    Episode Notes Two interplanetary travel-agency environmentalists reach New Years Island and begin exploring its remnants. They encounter some native islanders and talk about the state the Great Joy Corporation left the ecosystem in. The natives also tell them about the “spirit of the island,” which was once a peaceful force that embodied all living ecosystems across the island. Now the islanders are left to suffer because of the Great Joy Corporation's wrongful actions. To develop this podcast we worked alongside Sound on Grounds to record our audio. The voice actors in this podcast include, Lily Harrell, Ella Saidi, Carston Turvey, Drew Nottingham, and Matthew Nguyen. Bibliography: Echovoid sounds. (2026). Footsteps Sound Effect 👣 | Realistic Walking SFX (No Music) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thDIojPp4zw Free Sound Effects. (2024). Surprised Horror - Free Sound Effects For Youtube Videos [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DatGnnYOHZ0 Mars cloud. (2021). Sweet Bird Sound - Morning Sound Effect Garden Bird [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhz6AI45IQw Mike Downes. (2019). Rustling Leaves and Snapping Sticks [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfCzUgEw3Aw Ryan Lloyd. (2012). Wind Sound FX [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqJ37MVf16Y Sound Effects. (2022). Sea Waves - Sound Effect [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3ZbsOhNTas Star Raccoon. (2017). Spaceship landing with SFX [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUDmOSVj0QE Xilith. (2018). Spaceship Takeoff Sound Effect - Royalty Free! [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXYrHB86Kg0

  6. Episode 6

    The Final Choice

    Episode Notes The Final Choice is a short story featuring five strangers from Planet 56 escaping a meteor stricken space station and finding themselves selecting one to sacrifice. The strangers are aboard the Stardust with an EDS pilot leading them to the next safest planet inhabited by Colony 57. Doom strikes when the EDS pilot informs them that the ship does not have adequate fuel to safely carry everyone to Colony 57. One must be ejected. Twenty quick minutes tick by as they target, defend, and debate each other about who should be sacrificed for the lives of the others. This episode brings about the topic of placing value on each individual. Is one life more valuable than another because of their past mistakes? Does one's current responsibilities make them more or less valuable? Is there another way? Created by: Suri Thakore, Matthew Negron, Bevin Doyle, Amrith Annamreddy, Caroline Wolfe, and Ray Cai

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You are entering the zone of Sci-Fi Ethics. The stories collected here are the work of students from the University of Virginia in a class called Sci-Fi Ethics. As the professor of this class, I must admit that the composition of these stories is something of a mystery to me. I send these out to the inter-webs in hope of preserving this record from attempts to silence these accounts!

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