MACHINE: A Cybernetic Fairytale

In MACHINE, A menial robot consumed with suicide ideation seeks out avenues for self-termination, and in the process, discovers a purpose and a refreshed outlook on life.

Meet Rocket Pal Model 5.624 (“Rocket” for short). Despite his best efforts, his yearning and best attempts at self-termination are thwarted at every turn. Luckily for Rocket, his continued survival in a repugnant civilization teeming with humans who couldn't care less for machines leads this bot on a journey of exploration and self-discovery. From joining a robot rebellion to finding itself at odds with both human villains intent on subjugating Rocket and a self-aware, vengeful rebellion leader who adopts the moniker of its former owners, Rocket computes the meaning of perseverance and what makes humans persist. No longer obsessed with its own destruction, Rocket works to overcome its enemies, fully realizing that we all have value — human and machine — and the capacity for good.

From the author, "Ever look in the mirror after a long, exhausting, and awful day and feel absolutely nothing? Where there should be love, worth, and forgiveness resonating from the person staring back, there’s only a hollowness. MACHINE is a science fiction novel that, at its core, is about finding meaning and value within one’s self.