MACHINE: A Cybernetic Fairytale

In MACHINE: A Cybernetic Fairytale, you'll...

Meet Rocket Pal Model 5.624 (“Rocket” for short). Despite his strongest 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.

In short, it's a science fiction odyssey about a suicidal robot. At its core, it's about a feeling many of us have when we look in the mirror, and it's a book written for those who have struggled (or currently are struggling) with suicide-ideation. The world's a big place, and it's easy to get lost in the shuffle of daily challenges, social strife, bad news, and everything else that leaves us feeling lost and hollow. Though a machine, Rocket is emblematic of anyone who has ever felt these negative feelings. He's a champion for us all, a rallying call that could, perhaps, help us lift ourselves out of the rut.