Information

Published 2025 by Macmillan

Page Numbers: 176

ISBN: 978-1-250-35746-5

Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz balances balances moments of action with quieter, character-driven scenes, creating a steady pace. While there are bursts of tension and conflict, much of the narrative unfolds through relationships and everyday struggles.

Character development is central to the novel, with a diverse cast that includes both humans and robots. The characters are layered and evolve through their interactions, especially as they navigate questions of identity and autonomy.

The plot explores themes of labor, freedom, and what it means to be human in a technologically advanced society. Set in a near-future world, the story challenges assumptions about artificial intelligence and workers’ rights.

The setting is a vividly imagined near-future San Francisco where robots and humans coexist in everyday life. Detailed descriptions of the noodle shop and surrounding city create an immersive, lived-in world.