The Automatic Detective
A. Lee Martinez
Tor Books
Even in Empire City, a town where weird science is the hope for tomorrow, it's hard for a robot to make his way. It's even harder for a robot named Mack Megaton, a hulking machine designed to bring mankind to its knees. But Mack's not interested in world domination. He's just a bot trying to get by, trying to demonstrate that he isn't just an automated smashing machine, and to earn his citizenship in the process. It should be as easy as crushing a tank for Mack, but some bots just can't catch a break.
When Mack's neighbors are kidnapped, Mack sets off on a journey through the dark alleys and gleaming skyscrapers of Empire City. Along the way, he runs afoul of a talking gorilla, a brainy dame, a mutant lowlife, a little green mob boss, and the secret conspiracy at the heart of Empire's founders---not to mention more trouble than he bargained for. What started out as one missing family becomes a battle for the future of Empire and every citizen that calls her home.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Chapter 1
The Learned Council had an official name for Empire City.
Technotopia.
Yeah, it wasn't a real word, but that was kind of the point. The Council loved to reinvent things, improve them, make them new and snazzy. Of course...
Praise for The Automatic Detective
“Martinez tickles the funny bone in this delightful, fast-paced mishmash of SF and hard-boiled detective story. . . . A smart, rocket-fast read with a clever, twisty plot that comes to a satisfying conclusion.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) on The Automatic Detective
“Martinez crafts a private eye in the best tradition of hard-boiled futuristic detection, with plenty of beautiful babes and evil geniuses, and written in classic wise-cracking first-person narrative.” —Booklist on The Automatic Detective
“Reformed warrior robot Mack Megaton searches for a missing family---and a moral purpose---in a city of exotic mutants. . . . Mack's smash-and-grab mission acquires some satisfying philosophical heft.” —Entertainment Weekly on The Automatic Detective
“A terrific debut. The fast-paced plot is full of memorable incidents and wonderful observations.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Gil's All Fright Diner