Valerie Tobruk’s job as a toll collector on the Golden Gate Bridge was made redundant when toll collection was automated in 2013. Since then, she’s failed to find a job which AI can’t do better than her. She feels useless and lost.
To escape from her life, Valerie travels to the Westfjords, a remote part of Iceland where people go to disappear and nature reigns supreme. Once there, she discovers an abandoned herring factory where she decides to reside as the founder of a new independent nation called Tobruk where people are valued for their humanness.
Valerie doesn’t remain alone for long. A cast of lost souls descend upon Tobruk, as do a series of perplexing challenges presented by the outside world. But there’s worse to come. When the darkness of winter descends, the citizens of Tobruk must face up to their deepest fears if they are to survive.
"A combination of Lord of the Flies meets Life of Pi meets the Simpsons episode where Lisa creates an entire civilization in a petri dish, this is a riveting, modern take on the classic hero’s journey ... a true page-turner.” — To Make Much of Time
Valerie Tobruk’s job as a toll collector on the Golden Gate Bridge was made redundant when toll collection was automated in 2013. Since then, she’s failed to find a job which AI can’t do better than her. She feels useless and lost.
To escape from her life, Valerie travels to the Westfjords, a remote part of Iceland where people go to disappear and nature reigns supreme. Once there, she discovers an abandoned herring factory where she decides to reside as the founder of a new independent nation called Tobruk where people are valued for their humanness.
Valerie doesn’t remain alone for long. A cast of lost souls descend upon Tobruk, as do a series of perplexing challenges presented by the outside world. But there’s worse to come. When the darkness of winter descends, the citizens of Tobruk must face up to their deepest fears if they are to survive.
"A combination of Lord of the Flies meets Life of Pi meets the Simpsons episode where Lisa creates an entire civilization in a petri dish, this is a riveting, modern take on the classic hero’s journey ... a true page-turner.” — To Make Much of Time
Not again, Valerie Tobruk thought, as the realization sank in: she was not in a safe place. The bespeckled, gray-suited job interviewer sitting across the table fiddled with her CV as though it possessed the answers she didn’t. His vibe was that of an asshole: a distinctly human trait, but he also possessed the cold-eyed, claustrophobia-inspiring functionality of AI. It was a lose-lose situation. Either way, she knew he was there to expose her as unworthy of the job—and so much more. The test was coming. It was always fucking coming. She searched around for an escape route from the interviewer’s constrictive world, but the door was closed. All that remained were white walls that hurt Valerie’s eyes with their brightness and the smell of disinfectant—lots of disinfectant. With a sigh, she made herself appear smaller and more compliant while taking shallow breaths, which didn’t upset the new world apple cart.
“So, Miss Tobruk,” the interviewer said as he looked up from the human avoidance opportunity Valerie’s CV was providing. “I see you used to be a toll collector on the Golden Gate Bridge?”
“That’s right,” Valerie replied. “I worked there until technology replaced all the human toll collectors in March 2013.”
“2013, eh?’ I’d have thought that would have happened well before then.” The interviewer’s glasses weren’t perpendicular. They hung diagonally off his sharp-angled nose in a futile act of rebellion.
“Some of our regular drivers opposed the change,” Valerie responded, trying to remain calm. “They enjoyed interacting with a fellow human first thing every morning. Over the years, I got to know a few of them as friends.”
“Back to business,” the interviewer stated, ignoring the concept of human interaction like the expert he was. “Tell me why you’d like to join our human resources team.”
“All those mornings working on the bridge taught me a thing or two about how to inspire the best in people,” Valerie said.
“That’s nice,” he replied. “But AI fulfils most of our HR functions these days.”
“Oh,” Valerie replied, as her heart sank. “I thought the H in HR implied this role was best suited to a human who could relate to other humans?”
“That would have been quaint,” he replied. “But it doesn’t make economic sense. The vast majority of the job description can be fulfilled by AI for a fraction of the cost of a human. We must keep our shareholders happy by maximizing our profits.”
“Am I missing something?” Valerie asked, as she moved to the edge of her seat. “You advertised for a human human resources manager.”
“We need a human to manage the HR department’s AI team,” he stated. “You know, a kind of care and maintenance person.”
“I can do that,” Valerie responded with plummeting enthusiasm.
“We need our HR Manager to add value,” he explained. “The new team member needs to be better than our AI systems in three key areas: quality assurance, creative solutions, and cultural sensitivity.”
“I’m confident I’m better than AI in those three areas,” Valerie replied, as her palms began to sweat.
“That’s sure comforting to hear,” he said without appearing comforted. “But we’re going to need evidence of your competence.”
“Evidence?” she asked, on edge.
“It won’t take long,” he explained as he tried to straighten out his crooked glasses without success. “One of our HR robots will join the interview shortly to compete with you in a brief test covering our targeted competencies. It’s standard interview procedure.”
“Surely we can discuss these competencies rather than turning this into a demeaning human versus AI competition?” Valerie pleaded, like a fool who believed her words mattered.
“Negative,” the interviewer replied as he gave up all pretence of sugar-coating the truth. “We require you to complete the tests.”
Valerie was screaming on the inside as she digested the indigestible reality being delivered to her like a B grade film stuck on repeat. What she wanted to say was, “I’m a valuable human who doesn’t need to prove my worth versus AI. Take me or leave me as I am.” But what she actually said was, “Alright then.”
On cue, there was a knock on the door.
“Enter,” the interviewer commanded like a king preparing to meet one of his subjects.
There it was. The HR robot. It swung the door open so efficiently that the room’s air remained as still as a cat in a gutter. When Valerie caught a full glimpse of its white plastic face and silver minimalist body, which didn’t even try to cover up its essential wires, her sense of unease morphed into panic. The robot closed the door, then sat beside the man who controlled its every move. Valerie dared not make eye contact with the robot for fear of revealing her weaknesses to its all-seeing eyes, or rather, cameras.
“Valerie, this is Thelma and she works in HR,” the interviewer stated as though it was normal to refer to AI with human female names.
Valerie nodded while she gazed at the ground.
“This part of the interview will be short and sweet,” the interviewer continued. “You’ll be asked three questions addressing each of the competencies we’re looking for. Thelma will respond after each of your answers. Ready?”
Valerie wasn’t ready.
“Question one:” he said, “please describe a standard quality assurance procedure.”
“Quality assurance is best achieved by learning from all mistakes and ensuring they don’t happen again,” Valerie replied.
The interviewer simultaneously itched his nose and raised an eyebrow. “Thelma, same question.”
Thelma didn’t need to think. “Quality assurance takes place over two phases: the reviewing phase and the testing phase. The reviewing phase involves analyzing a product’s design and code and creating a plan for testing. In the testing phase, units, systems, and their integration are tested, as is product function and user acceptance.”
Valerie could have sworn Thelma winked at her as she concluded her answer, despite her eyes being rigid and lifeless.
“Next question:” the interviewer continued, “where does the inspiration for creativity come from?”
Valerie breathed easier in the knowledge she had innate advantages over Thelma’s artificiality in the creative realm. “In my case, an activity as mundane as cutting an orange into quadrants and breathing in its mystical citrus aromas can inspire my creativity. Creativity is universal and beautifully indefinable.” She was tempted to add, “Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Thelma,” but she restrained herself.
“Thelma, same question,” the interviewer continued.
Thelma remained annoyingly upbeat. “Being around those who are more creative than I am inspires me to be more creative. For example, I was always in awe of a former colleague called Jemima who had a creative solution for every challenge, so I spent as much time with her as possible.”
Thelma didn’t even try to wipe the inane grin off her expressionless face as the prospect of a two-nil win over Valerie was emerging as a distinct possibility.
“Third and final question:” the interviewer continued, “how do you ensure your work is culturally sensitive and inclusive?”
Sweat patches were forming under Valerie’s arms. “I listen to and learn from every person I work with, always full of respect.”
“Is that your complete answer?” the interviewer asked, revealing to all it was inadequate.
Valerie nodded as Thelma sat a little taller.
“Thelma, same question,” he continued.
Thelma didn’t have sweat patches under her arms. “Cultural sensitivity derives from being conscious of differences to ensure inclusivity is promoted. I educate myself about different cultures to ensure I can incorporate all that knowledge into my daily work processes.”
Valerie stared at her lap to ensure Thelma couldn’t wink or grin at her during what was turning into yet another bad day on a day when she couldn’t tolerate yet another bad day. The interviewer cleared his throat, although Valerie knew he didn’t have a cold. She willed him to dismiss Thelma from the room before he told her the bleeding obvious. However, Thelma remained rooted to the spot with an apparent passion for watching salt being piled upon long-term wounds that refuse to heal. With a growing sense of urgency, Valerie tried to recall the interviewer’s name. She knew names mattered when the push came to a shove, as it was about to. “Mr Klonker,” she said. “It is Klonker isn’t it?”
“Klunker,” he replied with noteworthy pride.
What Valerie wanted to say was, “Mr Klunker, you can shove your unhuman human manager job up your AI-loving ass,” before marching out of that unhuman office. But she restrained herself and said, “Mr Klunker, I know Thelma beat me in the test. But remember that AI like Thelma has access to the sum-total of human knowledge available online, whereas I’ve only got access to what’s in my head. I promise I’ll learn to be as effective as Thelma on the job. If you just give me a chance …” It wasn’t the first time Valerie had begged in a job interview, but it was the first time she’d promised to be better than the AI that had just thrashed her in a test. Even as the words left her mouth, she doubted their veracity.
“We have systems and processes for a reason, Ms Tobruk,” Klunker stated. “If I were to hire you knowing you are substandard in each of our core competencies, I would be reneging on my responsibility to our management and shareholders. I must bid you a good day.”
Valerie nodded in pained silence, before she made a beeline for the closed door. When she opened it, the door creaked and moved the air into the room like a normal door would in the physical world. She stopped in her tracks. When Thelma had opened the door, there had been no creak or air flow. But that defied physics. Confused, she turned back around and stared at Thelma who remained anchored by Klunker’s side. Valerie may have been misinterpreting her static plasticity, but Thelma’s cockiness seemed to have dissipated into the ether by then. Maybe she was bored of beating substandard humans like Valerie. She forced a congratulatory smile in Thelma’s direction, although reciprocation was out of the question.
But then, just before Valerie walked away, Thelma suddenly reanimated—as did her voice. “If you want to survive, you need to understand that the game is misleading you: the test is rigged.”
For reasons Valerie couldn’t fathom, Klunker didn’t appear to have heard Thelma talking. Valerie’s exit from his world was a foregone conclusion that warranted no more attention. He was already busy reading another CV. Perplexed, Valerie nodded at Thelma to indicate she’d heard her covert communication. By then, Thelma was once again busy being rigid and functional and controlled. Her plastic face was inert and lifeless as Valerie turned to leave. As she walked out of that soulless office, all Valerie could think about was Thelma’s strange warning.
The Last Toll Collector is a science fiction tale of self-discovery. Valerie Tobruk is an unmarried forty-year-old woman without children and unemployed in an ever-changing world that is at a turning point. AI has taken all human jobs, causing Valarie’s toll-collecting job to be deemed redundant. This leaves her in a new world where she no longer knows her place, but a chance conversation with a customer from her toll-collecting days on the Golden Gate Bridge sets Valarie on the path to finding a unique way forward. Valarie thinks that in Iceland's wild and untamed regions, she will find peace from judgmental people and an overabundance of AI. Valarie finds a deserted village with an abandoned herring factory in the uttermost parts of Iceland. The isolation and beauty of the place leave Valerie with a feeling of contentment. Still, with the entrance of different people to her paradise, she soon discovers that people are indeed complex beings and prove challenging. Valarie learns lessons about the nature of humans and herself as she struggles with feeding, housing, and governing a group of people. Through his story, the author shows why communes have usually failed historically. The questions of “Who is the leader? Why are they the leader? Do they even need a leader? How do they decide how to change leaders? How do they feed themselves, especially during the winter?” can lead to strife within the commune causing members to create friction or choose to leave. The author's narrative also illustrates humans' desire to attribute events to a higher intelligence. This leads to a conflict between believers and Valerie, a non-believer. An ultimate showdown between “God” and Valarie leads her to let go of the past and gives her the strength to form a new life free of regrets. I highly recommend The Last Toll Collector as a worthwhile read.