The Writer's Attic

The Writer's Attic

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The Writer's Attic
The Writer's Attic
About That AI-Generated Book List In The Chicago Sun-Times

About That AI-Generated Book List In The Chicago Sun-Times

My devastating experience of finding my novel featured in a magazine

Parker Peevyhouse's avatar
Parker Peevyhouse
May 21, 2025
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The Writer's Attic
The Writer's Attic
About That AI-Generated Book List In The Chicago Sun-Times
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First, an announcement: From June through August, I’ll hold office hours here on The Writer’s Attic to discuss your suggested topics and answer your questions related to writing and publishing.

You can submit your questions or suggestions through this form, and I’ll address them in a post accessible only to paid subscribers.

Your question/topic can be general or it can be specific to your experience. Just remember that I’ll be replying in a post that all paid subscribers can read.

I can’t wait to talk it up with you in summer office hours!


About That AI-Generated Book List In The Chicago Sun-Times

You might have heard the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper recently published a “Summer reading list for 2025” that included recommendations for novels like Atonement by Ian McEwan, Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury—and The Last Algorithm by Andy Weir, a novel about “a programmer who discovers that an AI system has developed consciousness.”

Except the Weir novel doesn’t exist. Nor do nine other titles listed. It turns out the guy who “authored” the list used AI to generate the article.

I’m incredibly frustrated by this for all the reasons you might also feel frustrated:

People already have a hard time trusting newspapers, and finding AI hallucinations in print only makes the situation worse. Authors already have to contend with shrinking book coverage, and a list of titles no one can actually read has taken up what little space is left to promote real books.

But I’m also frustrated by the reminder that book lists are rarely what they seem. And do I have a devastating (hilarious?) story to prove it.

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