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Author name: A. Lee Martinez

: The Automatic Detective
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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN num: 9780765318343
ISBN number: 0765318342
Label: Tor Books
Manufacturer: Tor Books
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 320
Printing Date: February 05, 2008
Publishing house: Tor Books
Release Date: February 05, 2008
Sale Popularity Level: 235743
Studio: Tor Books



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Editor's Notes and Comments:

Product Description:
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 purple 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.




Customer Reviews
User popularity level: out of 5 stars

Rated by buyers 5 out of 5 stars - Really Good Book!
Give this author a try! Very talented writer. I really enjoyed this book! The characters are so unusual and easy to relate to. Great way to lose yourself for an afternoon!


Rated by buyers 4 out of 5 stars - Great Bladerunner-esque detective story
This is the very first book by Martinez I've read and I really enjoyed it. Picked it up, sat down, read it beginning to end! The story is told from the point of view of a sentient robot named Mack Megaton working toward citizenship and driving a cab in a polluted, messed up, futuristic city where 'norms', mutants, robots, and sentient citizen-machines live together. He gets drawn into the action trying to help his missing neighbors. It is in the style of a noir detective tale and the setting is reminisicent of Bladerunner. Funny, original, well written, and a very good story.


Rated by buyers 4 out of 5 stars - Beats Driving a Cab
This fun and offbeat novel is not necessarily unique because of its mix of sci-fi and detective noir, which has been done before. It's unique because of Martinez's unconventional milieu and setting, as this book takes place in a world that could only be described as retro-sci-fi. The story is set in a near-future based on the 1940s or 50s and harkens back to the sci-fi pulps that were actually written in that era, when even the most adventurous authors could have never imagined our modern wired world and instead concocted clunky flying cars and huge fightin' robots. Thus Martinez has grounded the novel in the true era of detective noir and its weirdly outdated future. The story features a super-advanced robot named Mack Megaton who becomes a reluctant detective in order to find some human friends who have been kidnapped in a bizarre conspiracy, while hanging out with pulpy characters like criminal masterminds, streetwise molls, and grizzled cops.

The best parts of the story concern Mack's thoughts on moving from cold robot logic to slippery human sentimentality, and Martinez does a great job with this subtle philosophical theme. Meanwhile, the action is fun and fast-moving, and fits perfectly within the pulpy world that Martinez has created. But the novel is also a bit monochromatic as the retro-sci-fi backdrop can't quite hold together an ambitious conspiracy among aliens, mutants, norms, and robots; and there are a few plot holes here and there that do some damage to the storyline, particularly regarding Mack's run-ins with the cops. But readers who are willing to forgive a few lapses in focus will still find a fun and very unique story with cool characters and a lot of rip-roaring action. [~doomsdayer520~]


Rated by buyers 5 out of 5 stars - Superior mix of hardboiled detective and Dr. Doom
Probationary citizen and 'Bot' Mack Megaton was developed to allow a mad scientist to conquer the world--so it's not too surprising that he has some socialization problems. Still, Mack has learned to care for his neighbors and when he discovers a low-rent hoodlum terrorising the family, he breaks his non-interference pledge and butts in. Unfortunately, the family is still kidnapped and Mack has to make a choice--will he go on with his ordinary life, drive his cab, serve out his term and achieve citizenship, or will he risk everything to save the family? Logic tells him to ignore the problems and he's a robot, he's supposed to be driven by logic. But the free will bug won't let him walk away from the problem.

As far as detecting goes, being a multi-ton robot has distinct disadvantages. Sneaking around isn't very possible, for one thing. And then there's the whole issue of being a world-conquering robot. Still, with the help of a gorilla-buddy, Mack does his best facing down various other robots, mutants, and normal biologicals. What he uncovers is more than a simple kidnapping, however. There's an alien plot to disrupt the very being of Empire City--the one place on earth where the mad scientists, mutants, robots, and alien life forms run wild.

Author A. Lee Martinez draws for inspiration on a combination of hardboiled detective fiction from the 1930s and 1950s/60s comic-book futuristic earth (think of the mad scientists who confront Superman or Dr. Doom). The result works. Mack is an engaging protagonist--with an inpenetrable alloy finish, he's about as hardboiled as a detective can get. His gorilla sidekick is properly gorilla-like, and the love interest combines wealth, beauty, and high-tech savvy.

Rather than endeavor to resolve the internal contradictions of the future worlds postulated in the comic books, Martinez glories in them. Although robots can be fairly compact and highly intelligent, computers are still room-sized devices and Mack laughs at the idea that there'll ever be one in every home. This is very much the future as seen from the viewpoint of someone living in the 1940s, but our current viewpoint allows us to see this future differently than a contemporary would have.

I'm a fan of hardboiled mystery and have fond memories of the mad scientists and the Flash-Gordon style views of the future. THE AUTOMATIC DETECTIVE triggered my funny bone. I'm happy to recommend it.



Rated by buyers 3 out of 5 stars - Familiar but entertaining
Isaac Asimov's CAVES OF STEEL was the very first science fiction/detective story hybrid that I read, and that was well over 20 years ago. I've always liked this genre mix, so I was happy to find THE AUTOMATIC DETECTIVE.

This action-comedy is an entertaining read, but sf devotees will gripe about the shredding of "real" science. In fact, the "science" of the book seems to be lifted right out of Silver Age GREEN LANTERN and other comic books.

Though Mr. Martinez treats the ideas he borrows respectfully, he does rely upon them too much. After all, his plot is an over-used formula, so he should fill it with more fresh variables of his own.

If this had been trimmed by about 80 pages, the pacing and the humour would have made for a more enjoyable reading adventure. Too many of the action scenes seem repetitive, though the briefer ones are exciting the very first time through.

Despite its flaws, THE AUTOMATIC DETECTIVE manages to convincingly create a sentient robot, exploring with intelligent humour some of the themes only hinted at by STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION'S Data, who also strove to understand his own gift of free will.

Bring it to the beach or to an airport. Definitely an amusing way to fill some leisure time, planned or otherwise.


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