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Book Reviewed by:A cozy near-future novella about a crew of leftover robots opening their very own noodle shop, from acclaimed sci-fi author Annalee Newitz.
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.
TOILET POWER
Sweetie watched water rush down 24th Street in the dark. She was preoccupied by the question of power. Robles' batteries weren't enough to get the restaurant up and running again, but his tunnel toilet had given an idea.
Private chat: New business partners!
3 members: Sweetie, Cayenne, Hands
Hey team! It's going to be raining like this for at least another week, which means we could pull power from the sewers. They have hydro turbines at the hardware store on Castro. Can you help?
Cayenne curled every arm around their head and replied: Oh no, no, no—I'm not installing anything in the sewer. Just because I can swim does not mean I want to bob around in shit. I can't afford the software update for my sensors right now, so I taste EvErYtHiNg.
I can swim, you weirdo. But I need help "liberating" a generator. Sweetie used the half-serious word from the war, when stealing was the only way to survive.
Cayenne relaxed their legs...
The narrative is quirky and humorous, but beneath the banter lie deeply relevant themes: who gets to work high-demand, prestigious jobs; who gets to be a citizen; and who gets to define "authenticity." Robots here are obvious proxies for immigrants and other marginalized laborers who are legally precarious, socially suspect, and economically vulnerable; the parallels, while well-considered and highly relevant, can be a little on-the-nose...continued
Full Review
(752 words)
(Reviewed by Pei Chen).
M. R. Carey, USA Today bestselling author of The Girl with All the Gifts
The characters and their dilemmas are so vivid and believable. I choked up more than once and I cheered. Lovely stuff! A cool, joyous post-apocalyptic fable for our divided times. Mike Chen, bestselling author of Star Wars: Brotherhood and A Quantum Love Story
A love letter to community, identity, San Francisco, and noodles, Automatic Noodle also is a searing commentary on capitalism and our algorithm-driven culture. In other words, it's like the perfect bowl of noodles: delicious and comforting with just enough spice to kick your senses and clear your sinuses.
Shaanxi cuisine, also known as Qin cuisine, originates from Shaanxi province in north-central China, a region historically significant as the starting point of the ancient Silk Road and home to Xi'an, one of China's oldest capitals. Its geography, straddling the Loess Plateau and bordered by the Central Plains, has contributed to a cuisine that blends bold northern flavors with influences from western China and Central Asia.
Characterized by its hearty, robust flavors, Shaanxi cuisine features a prominent use of vinegar, garlic, chili oil, and spices such as cumin. Unlike the sweeter flavors of Jiangnan or the spicier Sichuan cuisine, Shaanxi dishes often emphasize sourness and umami, with a rich, oily mouthfeel and chewy textures, ...
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