Best of 2013 - The Traditional Taste
The thing that's so enjoyable about The Traditional Taste, by Jon Arthur Kitson, is that it feels powerful and yet slightly whimsical all at the same time. That's a pretty surprising combo, but then again, so is a story about a robot that learns to be a professional coffee taster. It's okay if you need to go back and read that sentence again.
There's something so Asimovian about The Traditional Taste. It feels like a good Golden Age sci-fi story, but with a modern feel. And the conflict is one that always accompanies new technology. It's modern, but also timeless.
Stay tuned as we revisit our favorite stories from 2013, and get ready to cast your vote in the biggest Reader’s Choice poll this side of whatever convenient landmark you are near.