Super Toys Last All Summer Long By Brian Aldiss

The short story, “Super toys last all summer long,” written by Brian Aldiss takes place in the modern world. “Artificial Intelligence,” directed by Steven Spielberg, is the film based on the short story. The short story and the film are two different works. The difference of chronology and characters of both pieces influence the plot of each. In addition, both have abrupt moods in the film and the story.

Similarities both works display is the translation of moods to each scene of the composition. In “ Artifical Intelligence,” the movie’s mood alters brusquely

(Scott). Throughout the film Monica Swinton struggles to love her child, David. The ability of loving an artificial boy is in habitual for her. Although in particular scenes Monica would

In the film “Artificial Intelligence,” it begins with the press meeting introducing the innovative project, however Henry doesn’t own the company like, he did in the short story. In the film, the company grants a newly synthetic boy due to a family misfortune Henry and Monica experienced. The Swinton’s son had an incident in which both his legs were surgically removed and kept incubated for monitoring. David became the “solution” for Monica to cope with the grief of loneliness without her son Martin. In the short story, Aldiss did not incorporate Martin becauase he wanted to emphasize on the conflict of Monica’s inability to love her son. Aldiss, also utilized splitting of narrative lines to emphasize two events at the same time. In the beginning, it took place at the Swinton’s household and then translates into a press meeting where Mr. Swinton is introducing his new innovative artificial human. Aldiss goes back and forth between the characters until Henry arrives at the Swinton’s house. Henry is welcomed back home to discover the news of having their own child. The concept of David being a robot is confirmed when Monica and Henry react ecstatic to having their own child. Instead of receiving their own child, in the film the family receives Martin back. However, once Martin is welcomed back home he becomes manipulative, disruptive, and devious (Scott).