Reference · Book 2, Carl's Doomsday Scenario
Of Mice and Men
Steinbeck's 1937 novella, which Carl read three times in school and kept in his bunk as comfort food; the fictional System AI quotes Lennie's words to the puppy he has killed as Carl is knocked unconscious by an Elite — 'a fucked-up scene for the AI to quote, but it almost felt like it was supposed to be soothing.'
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The AI's choice of last words for Carl (ch. 8); he read it three times at school 'as a result of constantly moving around', kept a copy in his bunk, and found it familiar, 'like comfort food'.