Automatic Noodle

by

First edition, 176 pages

English language

Published Aug. 5, 2025 by Tordotcom.

ISBN:
978-1-250-35746-5
Copied ISBN!
OCLC Number:
1452443961
(4 reviews)

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

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.

2 editions

reviewed Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz

Heartwarming but a little pat

A nice perspective on finding yourself suddenly dumped into adulthood and self-management, but as part of a group— so you all can build something together.

Fans of Murderbot and Becky Chambers (maybe more Wild-Built than Wayfarer) will likely find something to enjoy here, though the edges are very soft indeed. I found myself wishing for a little more depth on the antagonists, and a little less Moderator Ex Machina in the wrap up. Might’ve made a stronger argument for collectives and against authoritarianism if the ones they were fighting with and securing help from were more people-shaped.

A delightful read regardless.

reviewed Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz

Abrupt ending; left a LOT unexplained

It's extremely short and definitely in the "cozy" category. I liked the idea of the world they're living in, but honestly, the ending was so abrupt that I'm not sure it was worth the read or not. Grab it from the library if you can, maybe?

reviewed Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz

Comfy liberation

It’s about robots in San Francisco our newly liberated after a war that decide together to open bang bang noodle shop. They all have competing hopes and dreams and worries together they are able to find a way. It’s low stakes, comfy sci-fi with a heart.

Subjects

  • Fiction
  • Science Fiction
  • Robots
  • Food
  • Restaurants
  • San Francisco

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