I received an advance reader’s copy (ARC) of Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz. Since this version is just a proof and not the final version, I won’t quote directly and will keep my comments general.

In Automatic Noodle, it’s 2064, and a group of robots come online to find the restaurant where they’ve been working is flooded and abandoned by the owners. As they pick up the pieces, they decide to start up the restaurant again themselves, even though it’s not legal in California for a robot to own a business. But then again, after the war with America a few years back, the new country has bigger problems than a single shop. So they start a noodle business, which seems to be going well—until a group of anti-robot online activists bring in a wave of one star reviews, which threatens their business. So the friends have to combat these reviews and bring their community together to survive in their brave new world.

I didn’t know that the phrase “hopeful dystopia” could ever make sense, but this novella can’t really be described any other way. There’s a sense of comfort and coziness to this entire story, despite the pretty dire circumstances. And actually… I loved every minute of reading this.

Being a near-future setting, with robots as the main characters, this book is obviously leaning into the tech-dystopia that a lot of fiction has in the past (The Matrix, Neuromancer, Blade Runner, and so on). But the cast of characters is absolutely endearing, and the plot is so simple and relatable, that this book is set apart from those other stories. Because in the end, this is just a book about a group of friends who want to run a noodle restaurant, and we’re following along as they endeavor to do so. How charming is that?

I quite liked the characters, especially the eight-limbed octopus-style robot known as Cayenne, and the humanoid Sweetie. But all the robots were so fun, and their designs as unique as their personalities. Quirky is probably the most apt word to describe this cast. I also like how each had a little subplot, and we took time to get to know everyone, even within the constraints of this novella’s short page count.

Moreover, Newitz packs an impressive amount of backstory and worldbuilding into such a concise volume. This version of San Francisco feels lived in, and the trauma of the recent war feels palpable. Yet this book doesn’t get bogged down in despair; while it reflects the anxiety of our times (political strife, environmental instability, uncertainty around the continuing development of AI), it also posits a future where sentient beings help each other. Where they seek out, and spread, joy. There’s a line in here that likens downtown San Francisco to an area after a wildfire, with new undergrowth prepared to bloom. And honestly that metaphor fits the entire story, because the society in which this plot exists is full of potential and possibilities after devastating destruction.

In the end, Automatic Noodle was a marvelous read. It took me a couple chapters to figure out which character was which, but I ended up loving everyone. I just wish that this had been longer, to truly delve into character, to linger longer in the spice-scented kitchen. But even though it’s short, this is a realistic yet fantastical, post-apocalyptic yet optimistic story. It can and should be devoured in one sitting. And though its characters aren’t human, this says a lot about the human urge to seek out connection, comfort, and pleasurable experiences. It’s a lovely book, and an incredibly necessary one. If you’re a fan of Becky Chambers or even Legends & Lattes, read this.

Automatic Noodle will be published on August 5th, 2025!