AUTOMATIC NOODLE

Em Grosland deftly juggles robotic voices and human emotions in this cozy postwar sci-fi. Four robots--Sweetie, Hands, Cayenne, and Staybehind--have survived a devastating war, only to be left alone in a flooded San Francisco burger joint. With no humans to interfere, the robots decide to turn the old restaurant into a sophisticated noodle bar, using their wartime skills to adapt to new challenges. When review bombs start rolling in, the crew must determine who's trying to thwart them and why--all while serving up delicious noodles. Grosland's narration is stilted at times, but he brings depth to the bots' backstories, which include war, oppression, sexualization, and more. The restaurant is fun, but Grosland's exploration of the robots' humanity makes this novella special. A, A.H. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2025]