"A masterful and highly accessible overview of exciting developments in computer-generated literature by two experts in the field."Arthur I. Miller, author of The Artist in the Machine: The World of AI-Powered Creativity "Story Machines is a lot of fun to read. It’s a fascinating cultural and technological history of the centuries-long attempt to automate creative writing. It is also an exploration of what makes writing good: interesting characters; intriguing relationships; surprising events and plots; and aesthetically pleasing prose. Ultimately, Story Machines is about human creativity."Keith Sawyer, author of Explaining Creativity: The Science of Human Innovation"Software that writes stories? A fascinating insight into how computers are learning to replicate the power of human imagination. Sharples and Pérez y Pérez are experts in the field of computational creativity. Their insights into language, story structure and the replication of human creativity map a journey in which computers could create future stories that change behaviours and beliefs. The ethics of how these are enabled, engaged and deployed will be a debated for years to come."Vikki Kirby, Chief Storyteller, Vibrato Consulting"Stories have been computer-generated for decades by a curious assortment of programmers, artists, and authors. Mike Sharples and Rafael Pérez y Pérez tell their stories, providing a rich, broad history that will interest and inform anyone interested in the future of literary art."Nick Montfort, author/programmer of Golem