Even in Empire City, a town where weird science is the hope for tomorrow, it’s hard for a rob... read full description
reviews
Jun 03, 2008
Shivesh
rated it: 
What a well-written tale this was! Kept me turning pages.
This is the story of Mack Megaton, a sentient robot who was designed for mindless killing and destruction but decides on a much more peaceful way of life after developing "Freewill". So the novel opens with his occupation as a cabdriver. Like any sentient being, he wants to know where he came from, who is is and what he is meant to do: in essence he is the soul in the machine, seeking a purpose, like any human does More...
This is the story of Mack Megaton, a sentient robot who was designed for mindless killing and destruction but decides on a much more peaceful way of life after developing "Freewill". So the novel opens with his occupation as a cabdriver. Like any sentient being, he wants to know where he came from, who is is and what he is meant to do: in essence he is the soul in the machine, seeking a purpose, like any human does More...
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Jun 23, 2008
Hotspur
rated it:
Former evil wardroid Mack Megaton discovered he has "The Spark".. or the sense of self-awareness that turns a robot into an "automated citizen" with feelings, a sense of humor, curiosity and sense of self. This revelation causes him to turn on his creator, an evil genius.
It is now almost a year later, and Mack Megaton is trying to prove his worth as an "Automated Citizen" of Empire City-- a crazy hodgepodge burg of scientists, corporations, and tech More...
It is now almost a year later, and Mack Megaton is trying to prove his worth as an "Automated Citizen" of Empire City-- a crazy hodgepodge burg of scientists, corporations, and tech More...
May 02, 2008
Mike
rated it: 
I really liked the ending. The rest of the book was good, but I really liked the end.
And as I think about the writing of A. Lee Martinez I find that I have almost always really liked the ending. The ends of his novels are the best parts in my opinion, he does a great job of world building and a great exploration of the story and tells a good story, but undoubtedly I'd have to say that the best parts of all his books are usually the end.
This has a great pulpy feel to it, the title d More...
And as I think about the writing of A. Lee Martinez I find that I have almost always really liked the ending. The ends of his novels are the best parts in my opinion, he does a great job of world building and a great exploration of the story and tells a good story, but undoubtedly I'd have to say that the best parts of all his books are usually the end.
This has a great pulpy feel to it, the title d More...
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Dec 09, 2008
A solid story and an unforgettable protagonist are just two of the many reasons you will enjoy this clever and humorous homage to golden age sci-fi and hardboiled detective story.
Ryan
Ryan
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Mar 13, 2009
Perryville
rated it:
A. Lee Martinez has never taken his plot line too seriously. The result is a book that gets a kick out of being unabashedly cliché and ends up surprisingly original. A perfect example: The Automatic Detective, staring Mack Megaton, a one of a kind robot designed by an evil genius to lead a robotic uprising. But thanks to the development of free will within his programming, Mack has elected a more staid existence as a cab driver. His goal is keeping his head down and working towards citizensh
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Aug 18, 2011
Keith
rated it:
The Automatic Detective is exactly the kind of book I’ve been looking for. A real fun mix of Scifi and Sam Spade. Martinez has just the right amount of gritty detective banter and Scifi gadgetry to keep me hanging on every word. What a great ride through the future world that Mack Megaton lives in. A world where Bots and Autos live alongside of human beings, and by law, even apply to become citizens.
Mack becomes involved in a mystery that he just won’t let go of when his neighbors More...
Mack becomes involved in a mystery that he just won’t let go of when his neighbors More...
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Jan 05, 2010
Danielle
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Book Review: ‘The Automatic Detective’ by A. Lee Martinez
Tor, 2008
ISBN-10: 0-7653-5794-1
317 pages
What makes comic books one of the more addictive creations in existence? They stand somewhere between a book and a movie, those colorful pages with their little bubbles of dialog. I suspect most of us go through a stage of absolute comic book addiction, and some of us never get out of it.
In fact, it’s probably a good guess that Japan consumes more comics than bo More...
Tor, 2008
ISBN-10: 0-7653-5794-1
317 pages
What makes comic books one of the more addictive creations in existence? They stand somewhere between a book and a movie, those colorful pages with their little bubbles of dialog. I suspect most of us go through a stage of absolute comic book addiction, and some of us never get out of it.
In fact, it’s probably a good guess that Japan consumes more comics than bo More...
Oct 08, 2009
Tony
rated it:
I have a penchant for crime stories featuring unusual protagonists, and the faux-pulp period cover of the book, with its robot gumshoe, caught my eye. It's certainly not the first blend of the science-fiction and detective genres (I suppose Assimov's Caves of Steel takes that honor), but it's a fairly enjoyable example. The story takes place in the retro-future "Empire City" -- imagine a kind of sprawling Los Angeles meets Seattle by way of '50s pulp magazine covers. Lots of flying car
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Jun 05, 2009
Cyrano
rated it:
If Raymond Chandler and William Gibson had one drunken night, nine months later, this book would be born. And if you had to pick two genres to mash, Cyberpunk and Noir are very well suited to the task. Their gears mesh in darkly readable ways.
This is a coming of age story, really, about a tactical combat robot who starts as a self-focused isolated unit just getting by, and then develops a sense of concern not just for individuals as friends but for the city as a whole. The author makes an e More...
This is a coming of age story, really, about a tactical combat robot who starts as a self-focused isolated unit just getting by, and then develops a sense of concern not just for individuals as friends but for the city as a whole. The author makes an e More...
Feb 17, 2009
Lori
rated it:
My first novel where a robot was the main character.
Plenty of drones, autos, and bots to go around, not to mention biologicals, mutants, and a gorilla in a purple suit.
Mack was built for destruction. But Mack has The Glitch and is trying like heck to be an Empire Citizen. When he finds his nieghbors missing/kidnapped, he goes against his better judgement and attempts to track them down.
Madness and Mayhem ensues.
Not quite up to par with Gil's but a rio
Plenty of drones, autos, and bots to go around, not to mention biologicals, mutants, and a gorilla in a purple suit.
Mack was built for destruction. But Mack has The Glitch and is trying like heck to be an Empire Citizen. When he finds his nieghbors missing/kidnapped, he goes against his better judgement and attempts to track them down.
Madness and Mayhem ensues.
Not quite up to par with Gil's but a rio
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Sep 14, 2008
Lynn
rated it:
Raymond Chandler meets Isaac Asimov with more than a hint of Terry
Pratchett! This is a noir mystery with a cynical detective named Mack
who just happens to be a robot and the requisite beautiful blonde who
also happens to be a genius. Fabulous, clever and totally engaging!
Give this one to your sf loving high schoolers who like something a
little different.
Pratchett! This is a noir mystery with a cynical detective named Mack
who just happens to be a robot and the requisite beautiful blonde who
also happens to be a genius. Fabulous, clever and totally engaging!
Give this one to your sf loving high schoolers who like something a
little different.
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Oct 25, 2009
Jess
rated it:
Mack Megaton is a robot designed to bring mankind to its knees. Instead of following his intended directive, his ‘freewill glitch’ allows him to join the ranks and try to gain citizenship. His freewill gives him the personality of a typical street detective when he realizes his neighbors are missing and it is up to him to find them. Soon, Mack is deep in Empire City’s seedy, radioactive underbelly involved in something much bigger than just missing persons. Mostly science fiction, partly noi
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Apr 29, 2011
natercopia
rated it:
Normally I wouldn't hope for a book to turn into film but this, I will make an exception. Just because I really want to see how on earth a gorilla can be friends with a machine. A. Lee Martinez never fail to surprise me with his absurd combination of characters. Even though the main character in this book claims that he was not programmed with a personality template, I felt that he portrayed more personality than some of the real biologicals I encounter daily (sad huh). Martinez wrote this book
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Feb 01, 2009
Peter
rated it:
Fredric Brown meets Terry Pratchett.
Or, 1940s detective pulp noir fiction meets a wacky science fiction universe.
Either way, The Automatic Detective is a light, funny, well-written novel. It never goes awry. Considering the sorry state of modern genre publishing, that's an achievement in itself.
The adventures of Mack Megaton, an erstwhile killing machine burdened with free will and a conscience, make for a good read. A. Lee Martinez hits the right notes and no More...
Or, 1940s detective pulp noir fiction meets a wacky science fiction universe.
Either way, The Automatic Detective is a light, funny, well-written novel. It never goes awry. Considering the sorry state of modern genre publishing, that's an achievement in itself.
The adventures of Mack Megaton, an erstwhile killing machine burdened with free will and a conscience, make for a good read. A. Lee Martinez hits the right notes and no More...
Sep 03, 2011
Nicholas
rated it:
Probably would actually give this book three-and-a-half stars. I love books by A Lee Martinez. And it's probably that I love so many of this other books that this one didn't get as high of a rating. I'll try to separate my comments on it out to just the quality of this one book if it's your first by him to read.
The one thing I love about it is Martinez's firm grasp of the detective noir genre. It had all the right elements - reluctant hero in over his head but plunging forward anyw More...
The one thing I love about it is Martinez's firm grasp of the detective noir genre. It had all the right elements - reluctant hero in over his head but plunging forward anyw More...
Dec 14, 2010
This is the second book of A. Lee Martinez's that I read and I really enjoyed it. The mixture of science fiction and noir detective was a lot of fun to read. It was enjoyable from start to finish and had me laughing almost the whole way through. He is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, along with Brandon Sanderson.
If you're looking for some light reading (I say light only because it's a fairly small book..320 pages... compared to the normal 600-1000+ page fantasy epics that More...
If you're looking for some light reading (I say light only because it's a fairly small book..320 pages... compared to the normal 600-1000+ page fantasy epics that More...
Jan 23, 2009
Sharakael
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
May 03, 2008
Max
rated it:
Loved this book - I'm a sucker for retro-futurism, and the world of Empire City works so well along those lines, and further compliments Martinez's noir pastiche.
My only regret is that Martinez doesn't appear to be one for sequels, and I'd LOVE to read about the further adventures of newfound detective Mack Megaton.
My only regret is that Martinez doesn't appear to be one for sequels, and I'd LOVE to read about the further adventures of newfound detective Mack Megaton.
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Apr 29, 2010
Shannon
rated it:
What if Mike Hammer were a red, seven hundred pound robot designed to rule the world, but currently making a living driving a cab and attempting to make a normal life for himself? This book combines a futuristic setting with a late ninteen forties pulp detective novel, and to some sucess, despite the fact that it was published in 2008.
Martinez clearly tries to frame the book from a 1940's imagination of the future. For example, he makes a comment about a computer taking up most o More...
Martinez clearly tries to frame the book from a 1940's imagination of the future. For example, he makes a comment about a computer taking up most o More...
Nov 17, 2009
Dominic
rated it:
So, what can I say about this book? Much more well narrated than Martinez's other books, one of which I have read and reviewed, and others which I have skimmed. Overall, a very fun and, despite my original contrary judgment, actually quite original read. Fast paced and easy to get caught up in, as are all of Martinez's books.
My biggest problem with this book was the fact that the protagonist, Mack Megaton, as is with ALL of Martinez's protagonists, is pretty much invincible. Despite More...
My biggest problem with this book was the fact that the protagonist, Mack Megaton, as is with ALL of Martinez's protagonists, is pretty much invincible. Despite More...
Jul 19, 2011
Sam
rated it:
This book is both a 1940's hard-boiled detective novel and a sci-fi story about a robot in Empire City - a town so toxic that mutants are a common sight. Mack, the main character and narrator, is a robot designed for world conquest who has since reformed and become a lonely cab driver. When a family he cares about disappears, Mack commits himself to tracking them down.
It is a lot of fun to read because the book succeeds so thoroughly in both genres. It is impressive just how much M More...
It is a lot of fun to read because the book succeeds so thoroughly in both genres. It is impressive just how much M More...
Mar 25, 2009
Susan
rated it:
I LOVED this book. It's part sci-fi, part hard-boiled detective novel. A robot designed for world domination rebels against his programming, and becomes a cab driver. When the family next door is kidnapped, Mack Megaton realizes that he's the only one who cares enough to go looking for them.
Hilarity insues in the form of a sentient ape, aliens, and a classy dame who's warm for Megaton's form (even 'bots think technophiles are weird).
I really enjoyed Martinez's first nov More...
Hilarity insues in the form of a sentient ape, aliens, and a classy dame who's warm for Megaton's form (even 'bots think technophiles are weird).
I really enjoyed Martinez's first nov More...
Mar 24, 2009
Johne
rated it:
This is the book I never knew I was waiting for. Part retro-futurist SF, part noir, all original, this is a lightweight book that packs a surprising punch. Martinez manages to include all the standard cliches in such a clever fashion, that I didn't feel a one of them when he introduced them in the course of the story, however, as I looked back, they were all there.
I picked up this book on a whim the same night I picked up two other highly anticipated books, and yet a year later, this More...
I picked up this book on a whim the same night I picked up two other highly anticipated books, and yet a year later, this More...
Jan 25, 2012
Joel
rated it:
"Look, I wrote a detective novel!"
No one reads those anymore. People like more modern things nowadays. Robots and suchlike.
"Robots, eh?"
With just glance at her, I knew in a second that this dame was more trouble than she was worth, even if she did have the longest legs I had ever seen, right up to here.
"Just need to edit this a bit and..."
With just one scan, I knew in a microsecond that this biological was more troub More...
No one reads those anymore. People like more modern things nowadays. Robots and suchlike.
"Robots, eh?"
With just glance at her, I knew in a second that this dame was more trouble than she was worth, even if she did have the longest legs I had ever seen, right up to here.
"Just need to edit this a bit and..."
With just one scan, I knew in a microsecond that this biological was more troub More...
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Jan 04, 2011
Emily
rated it:
I'm a sucker for learning-to-be-human robot protagonists so this story appealed to me right from the first chapter, with its likable hero Mack Megaton (created by an evil genius mad scientist inventor to lead a robot army of doom, but now reformed and working as a cab driver trying to earn his citizenship in Technotopia).
The writing is light-hearted and highly readable, a pseudo pulp detective/gumshoe type novel with Mack playing the reluctant investigator. I hadn't read anything by t More...
The writing is light-hearted and highly readable, a pseudo pulp detective/gumshoe type novel with Mack playing the reluctant investigator. I hadn't read anything by t More...
Nov 16, 2011
Banner
rated it:
This is well written science fiction. This has a feel of an origin story, but it's satisfying complete in it's scope. I don't know if you would call this an alternate universe, or just way in the future where history is kind of repeating itself. But you have a Humphrey Bogart environment with robots, talking gorilla and mutants thrown in the mix.
There is an engaging mystery that leads our protagonist on a journey of self discovery followed by plenty of action and high tech. Just in More...
There is an engaging mystery that leads our protagonist on a journey of self discovery followed by plenty of action and high tech. Just in More...
Mar 02, 2010
Shel
rated it:
Having read two of A. Lee Martinez's books prior to this, I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of formulaic repetitiveness that authors with initial success tend to stick to. The humour was still there, but generally more dry, and the writing was considerably different that Martinez's previous books, and I enjoy an author who can be adaptable like that.
I completely devoured the book in less than a day, so that speaks highly to its engaging plot and interesting characters. I would b More...
I completely devoured the book in less than a day, so that speaks highly to its engaging plot and interesting characters. I would b More...
Oct 26, 2011
Pauline
rated it:
A fun book in the Sam Spade style morphed as an intelligent android moonshining as a detective. One of the aspects I like the most are the quaint references to technological developments as future events such as asking who'd want an overpriced computer in the home...after all, what would you do with one? Add up the checkbook? I remember those lines from pre-personal computer days, so I guess I "get" the humor. A fun read with lots of old fashioned Sam Spadish action and "dames"
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Aug 08, 2010
Timothy
rated it:
A great short book in the clasic pulp of both crime noir and sci-fi, complete with ray guns, a hardbitten detective, aliens, scumbag mobsters, and grumpy policemen.
the writing style is pure pulp, nothing too cerebral. but the plot keeps rolling and there's never really a point where you get bored. the book ends ripe for not just a sequel but a whole series of Mack Megaton, Private Eye...it's a real shame, therefore, that there aren't more books. but, hopefully Mr. Martinez will even More...
the writing style is pure pulp, nothing too cerebral. but the plot keeps rolling and there's never really a point where you get bored. the book ends ripe for not just a sequel but a whole series of Mack Megaton, Private Eye...it's a real shame, therefore, that there aren't more books. but, hopefully Mr. Martinez will even More...
Sep 03, 2011
Mike
rated it:
I have to admit that this book is a fabulous treat for me. It blends the genres of mystery, specifically noir or hard-boiled detective fiction, and science fiction. It's a smooth blend not the same as the recent out-pouring of "urban fiction" that has recently flooded the market. Oh, I'm not complaining I enjoy those works as well, but this novel is not the same as those. It's an almost seamless juxtaposition of the the two types of fiction.
A robot in the city of tomorrow is More...
A robot in the city of tomorrow is More...
