It’s out! It’s (finally) out on Amazon!

My robot novella, MACHINE: A Cybernetic Fairytale, is available as an ebook. For those of you who have been following me for a while, this is a long-time coming. For newcomers who are fans of my comic book reviews, short stories, Substack newsletter, or podcast interviews, I’ve been tinkering and shopping MACHINE around for years now, and I’d be thrilled if you would read it and share your thoughts.

What’s it about?

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.

That’s a serious topic. Is this book hard to read?

I chose to make my main character a robot in order to add some levity. Yes, at its core, this book attempts to tackle serious feelings many of us struggle with, but I also want to create a fun and entertaining experience as well. Along with the darkness, the world is goofy, and so, too, is Rocket’s world.

Will there be a print edition?

Long term? Yes, but that’s in the distant future. For now, MACHINE is only available as an ebook. Eventually, as I build out this series and share the story of Rocket with others, I’ll plan to create a unique, print edition that combines two or more books in my Space Opera Series into one volume.

Did You Say Space Opera Series?

Totally did. If you check out the Amazon page, you may note that it says MACHINE: A Cybernetic Fairytale is part of something called “Scott Waldyn’s Space Opera” series. Some of my favorite scifi and horror movies are labeled with the creator’s name. Think Tod Browning’s Freaks or Phil Tucker’s Robot Monster. This is my little homage to movies that mean a lot to me. While I plan to tackle different, serious issues with each book in this series, the tone will maintain a delicate balance between camp, kitschy fun and empathy for the human condition.

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