The Automatic Detective
The Automatic DetectiveEven 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.
11:21 pm on July 8th, 2009
One day I was trying to find a book to read at my local thrift store and came upon The Automatic Detective. I love reading books about robots/artificial intelligence and I also love reading pulp fiction crime books. So when I read the review on the back cover that said it was a “…fast-paced mishmash of SF and hard-boiled detective story” I was instantly sold.
I couldn’t put the book down once I started, and once I was done, I had to go out and buy more A. Lee Martinez books (Gil’s and Witch)
To the author: I was getting so tired of reading the same stuff over and over. Thank you for giving me something completely different. I have a feeling that’s a pretty good compliment in your book.
I’ve decided to limit myself to one A. Lee Martinez book per month until I finish all of them. The bookmark is a great way to track which ones I’ve read, and it does a lot better job than a ply of toilet paper. Now I’m just mumbling.
10:08 pm on July 10th, 2009
Jorge, glad to hear that you enjoyed the book so much. Even better to know that I may have earned you as a fan. Not counting my chickens. Let me know what you think after you read a few more.
And, yes, “completely different” is a fine compliment for this humble novelologist. Not that I quite believe it. It’s pretty much impossible to be completely different. But still, it’s wonderful to hear.
I hope you keep reading and enjoying my books, and I definitely look forward to more of your thoughts on the rest of my body of work. Wow. Body of work. Like I’m not just an artist, but an artist with more than one accomplishment under my belt. Ah, what the heck? I’m gonna just go with it.
9:35 pm on March 12th, 2010
I enjoyed Automatic Detective a great deal. I really enjoyed the world and characters you created. Have you considering ever making a sequel?