Automatic Noodle

By Annalee Newitz

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

An instant USA Today and indie bestseller

Indie Next pick Library Reads pick Most Anticipated at Electric Lit, Ms. Magazine, Gizmodo, Autostraddle, Book Riot, IGN, New Scientist, Reactor, and more

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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1250357462
• ISBN13: 9781250357465
• Release Date: August 2025
• Publisher: Tordotcom
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

So sweet!

This is a perfectly sweet little story about found family, sticking together no matter what, learning to let friends help and comfort and being able to move on from the past to a wonderful future. I love all the quirkiness of the different food service bots, even the sadness of Stay Behind because he will do anything to protect his friends. This was so much fun to listen to, a little slice of a future that seems pretty dark with all the previous fighting and California separating from the rest of the US and how sentient bots have some rights but still there is a lot of prejudice towards them but still with hope. Usually it is cozy fantasy but this fits perfectly into cozy sci-fi and will definitely lift your spirits as you cheer these fantastic bot on and root for them against the mysterious prejudiced online attacks against their wonderful little restaurant. I know I would want to go see it for myself and eat the wonderful noodles that Hands makes! I would recommend this book, both reading or listening to it on audiobook. The narrator, Em Grosland, does a wonderful job in bringing the bots and other characters to life in that little restaurant that brings everyone together. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to listen to this fantastic audiobook!