Automatic Noodle Audiobook By Annalee Newitz cover art

Automatic Noodle

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Automatic Noodle

By: Annalee Newitz
Narrated by: Em Grosland
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Buy for $13.49

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A cozy near-future novella about a crew of leftover robots opening their very own noodle shop, from acclaimed sci-fi author Annalee Newitz.

“Without ignoring the metallic constraints of their robotic bodies, [Narrator Em] Grosland…crafts a narration for each character that feels completely distinct and tenderly human. His vocal range has a place for each robot in this ragtag group…” — Booklist (Starred Review)

You don’t have to eat food to know the way to a city’s heart is through its stomach. So when a group of deactivated robots come back online in an abandoned ghost kitchen, they decide to make their own way doing what they know: making food—the tastiest hand-pulled noodles around—for the humans of San Francisco, who are recovering from a devastating war.

But when their robot-run business starts causing a stir, a targeted wave of one-star reviews threatens to boil over into a crisis. To keep their doors open, they’ll have to call on their customers, their community, and each other—and find a way to survive and thrive in a world that wasn’t built for them.

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor.com

Science Fiction Adventure Feel-Good Robotics Humorous Technology San Francisco Heartfelt

Critic reviews

Praise for Automatic Noodle:

"This is a story—about building community despite adversity, fighting for your rights and individuality, and creating art that you want to see in the world—that I didn't know I needed right now. And it was so much fun to read!”—Martha Wells, author of The Murderbot Diaries and Witch King

"This book will make you hungry. It will also keep you warm."—Becky Chambers, author of the Monk and Robot series

"Newitz packs this tale with simmering action, endearing characters, and political savvy, topping it all off with generous dollops of humor and imagination. It’s delicious."–Publisher's Weekly (starred review)

"This is a feel-good hopepunk story that will appeal to readers of both robot and AI-centered science fiction...highly recommended for those who loved novels such as Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Service Model and Aimee Ogden’s Emergent Properties."–Library Journal (starred review)

"This sweet, heart (and stomach) warming novella is a certified cozy read, rich with meaning for queer readers, enjoyably familiar to San Francisco lovers. Perfect for fans both of Becky Chambers' Monk & Robot series and Travis Baldree's Legends & Lattes.... Newitz has gifted sf readers with a hopeful, postapocalyptic found-family tale."–Booklist (starred review)

"A deceptively breezy, sneakily poignant, culinary dystopian redemption tale that blends the pleasures of a heist, a satirical romp, and The Bear. Smart, inventive, and fun."—Michael Chabon, author of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay and Moonglow

"A love letter to community, identity, San Francisco, and noodles, Automatic Noodle also is a searing commentary on capitalism and our algorithm-driven culture. In other words, it's like the perfect bowl of noodles: delicious and comforting with just enough spice to kick your senses and clear your sinuses."—Mike Chen, bestselling author of Star Wars: Brotherhood and A Quantum Love Story

“The characters and their dilemmas are so vivid and believable. I choked up more than once and I cheered. Lovely stuff! A cool, joyous post-apocalyptic fable for our divided times.”—M. R. Carey, USA Today bestselling author of The Girl with All the Gifts

“This heartwarming tale of found family, exquisite food, and loveable bots overcoming society's flawed codes will make readers say, 'Yes, chef!'”—Samit Basu, author of The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport

"No one writes robots better than Annalee Newitz."—Interzone Magazine

Found Family Theme • Cozy Storytelling • Excellent Narration • Well-researched Worldbuilding • Thought-provoking Themes

Highly rated for:

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The author paints a vivid world of what the struggle for community, belonging, and equity may look like in 50 years; Creating a lens through which we can address our challenges today. Bonus, it takes place in my favorite city in the world too!

An excellent mirror on today through a story of tomorrow.

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Very clever tale, tightly written. As a SF Bay Area person it was fun to hear all is landmarks. And I love the idea of California succeeding from the union.

Sweet fun story

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This was perfect for me, the novella was so warm and I loved every moment I spent here. Sweetie and Staybehind stood out to me with their stories of independence through self-expression and shared burdens. This was beautiful and now I want garlic noodles! Thanks for that, Hands and Cayenne (more amazing characters)!

Heartwarming Characters!

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As a San Fransican, I especially enjoyed this vision of future SF. Nice nod to problems in social media. BTW when CA declares independence we should take OR, WA and HI with us.

Timely and fabulous

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fabulously entertaining as it struggles through robot angst and aspirations. I enjoyed each of the characters interactions. not preachy! but very relevant to our times!

Bot I don't know

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