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The Automatic Detective by A. Lee Martinez
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The Automatic Detective (original 2008; edition 2009)

by A. Lee Martinez

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7283331,052 (3.9)32
Even 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.… (more)
Member:MichaelAllanScott
Title:The Automatic Detective
Authors:A. Lee Martinez
Info:Tor Books (2009), Edition: Reissue, Mass Market Paperback, 320 pages
Collections:Your library
Rating:***
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Work Information

The Automatic Detective by A. Lee Martinez (2008)

  1. 20
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    grizzly.anderson: Death... has Brabury's darker and evocative moodiness about it, as opposed to the humor of The Automatic Detective, but they obviously both love and are inspired by the like of Raymond Chandler.
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    hoddybook: Both offer an enjoyable romp with advanced sentient AIs
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» See also 32 mentions

English (32)  Danish (1)  All languages (33)
Showing 1-5 of 32 (next | show all)
Pretty entertaining book, I thought. It was pretty humorous, written in the old time detective style, but the detective in this case is a robot. Sort of a nerdy Sci Fi old-time detecctive story, I guess. ( )
  MartyFried | Oct 9, 2022 |
Empire City - humans, mutants, androids. Weird tech all around. And a cab-driving android has to play detective after his neighbors are abducted.

It is a fun romp through a weird city.

My first book by A. Lee Martinez was "Gil's All Fright Diner" and I really liked it. So much that I started reading a bunch of his other books. Sadly, it was a bit hit-and-miss: some just weren't as good and full of humor, so I stopped reading everything. Then I stumbled across a used copy of this book and had to get it.
I have to rate it somewhere inbetween, it's funny and action-packed, but the jokes do get repetitive and for some it just doesn't make sense that a biologoical would regularly make them.

If the main character would have made it into a detective series, I'm not sure if I would read the rest of it. ( )
  cwebb | Jan 26, 2022 |
An altogether excellent gumshoe robot crime alien monster dystopian future madness thing. It's even got a bit of strange but touching romance.

Fry up a slab of Martha Wells' Murderbot with a dash of Ghostbusters and you'd have something not entirely unlike this book.

Many a humorous story has been spoiled for me by excessive silliness but Martinez manages just enough restraint to push all my buttons for all five stars.

e.g.
"Whatever I didn’t say must’ve struck something in Sanchez’s finely honed cop instincts. He could always read me like a technical manual. His expression didn’t change, and he didn’t say anything. But there was something about the way he didn’t say it." ( )
  ZootAllures | Jun 26, 2021 |
"The Automatic Detective" is a funny, creative, relentlessly entertaining take on the hard-boiled detective story. I liked it even more than I expected to.

When this story begins the titular character, Mac, isn't a detective. Mac was designed by a mad scientist to be a killing machine, but he bucked his programming. Now he's a taxi driver trying to keep his nose clean while he's on probation, hoping to be recognized as a fully sentient citizen of Empire City. Mac is a meticulous, dull, self-obsessed loner, but he has managed to accumulate a few friends in spite of himself. When his next-door neighbors go missing Mac is the only one who gives a damn. Forced out of his comfort zone, he finds a new purpose in life.
( )
  wishanem | May 27, 2021 |
I went into reading this book with no expectations. The summary seemed interesting enough, but had never heard of this book/author. I was pleasantly surprised. The book's humor, while dry, is very clever. There were several "laugh out loud" moments.

The book started slow, but because the main character is a robot, it took some time to get used to the nuances. This book is a good combination of science fiction/detective story, but it does get a bit odd during some parts. If there is a sequel to this book, I'd definitely be interested. I found myself really caring about the robot and immersed in parts of the story.

The overall story was okay, and there were a few unanswered questions, which I hope will be addressed in a sequel. ( )
  cgfaulknerog | May 28, 2020 |
Showing 1-5 of 32 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (4 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
A. Lee Martinezprimary authorall editionscalculated
Orbik, GlenCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Vietor, MarcNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Dedication
For Mom, thanks for helping bring my genius to the world

For the writers of the DFWWW, for always recognizing
my astounding talent, criticizing my lousy writing,
and just generally putting up with me

And for Zarkorr the Invader ...
CITIZENS OF EARTH, BEWARE!
First words
The Learned Council had an official name for Empire City.
Technotopia.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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Even 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.

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