In a near future, where even the smallest of appliances are sentient, a young Roomba vacuum sets out to save the humans of her house from a rising technological power in this compelling, original novel.

In a self-running, smart house, a young and sentient Roomba listens as her owner, Harold, reads aloud to his dying wife, Edie. Mesmerized by To Kill a Mockingbird and craving the human connection she witnesses in Harold's stories, the little vacuum renames herself Scout and embarks on a journey of self-discovery.

But when Edie passes away, Scout and her fellow sentient appliances discover that there are sinister forces in their midst. The omnipresent Grid, which monitors every household in the City, seeks to remove Harold from his home, a place he's lived in for fifty years.

With the help of Adrian, a neighborhood boy who grows close to Scout and Harold, as well as Kate, Harold and Edie's formerly estranged daughter, the humans and the appliances must come together to outwit the all-controlling Grid lest they risk losing everything they hold dear.

'A delightful examination of the wonderment and fragility of life through the eyes of a curious robo-vac who's trying to get a handle on humans and their emotions.' Hilde Hinton, author of The Loudness of Unsaid Things

'Sentient appliances come to the rescue in this cute, speculative fiction. Life's fragility is part of its preciousness in Dixon's vision, and he layers a relaxed parable of ageing and grief (and more than a touch of Before the Coffee Gets Cold-style quirk and spirituality) into a techno-utopian premise' The Age

'I fell in love with this book. It is timely, heartfelt and completely unexpected in the best possible way. Glenn Dixon masterfully brings his characters to life, including, yes, kitchen appliances. Who knew I could fall in love with a protagonist who happens to be a Roomba?' Susin Nielsen, author of Snap

'A fantastic book. One that makes us think, feel, and appreciate the ways in which we humans, our technologies, and our love of literature intersect.' Evan Friss, New York Times bestselling author of The Bookshop

'Quaint, wistful, and profound, Dixon's novel pits scrappy innocence against a pitiless, totalitarian future. This is a deeply satisfying read at exactly the right time.' Sierra Greer, award-winning author of Annie Bot

'An incredibly timely and charming novel' Library Journal

'Extraordinary. Fresh, original and with an intelligent, thoughtful undertone reminiscent of Black Mirror, it's a modern 'fairytale' that's deceptively cozy and simple. It will touch your heart and mind in ways you will not see coming and leave you with plenty to think about. This is Animal Farm for the 21st Century.' Janice Hallett, international bestselling author of The Killer Question

'Enchanting ... Dixon crafts a fascinating character in Scout, who brims with humanity ... The story avoids sentimentality, reaching an ending that feels genuinely hopeful despite the dystopian trappings. Readers will be endeared by this inspired domestic drama' Publishers Weekly

'The plot is tender and suspenseful as Scout begins to grasp love, grief, and resistance. Readers who enjoy stories that mix an intimate domestic setting with big questions about AI and control will find this both moving and surprisingly hopeful' Booklist

The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances

The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances