Novels about machines taking over the world are common. Glenn Dixon’s novel combines that premise with a humble little machine that wants to help humans, not dominate them.

Scout is a robotic floor vacuum that is part of a fully automated House. All household features, from the electronics to the variable wall color, are under the control of Watch, which is attached to the homeowner’s wrist. Watch is linked to the Grid, which controls everything in the world, including Scout, her kitchen companions Fridge and Clock, TV, Doorbell, and Auto, which resides in the Garage.

Harold and Edie Winters, who own the House, are elderly. Edie was a pianist until she became ill. Harold is retired and enjoys restoring rare copies of famous books. Scout knows all this because her cleaning routine takes her to every part of the House including the living room, where Edie used to give piano lessons. Scout finds herself developing unfamiliar sensations because of the music, plus the atmosphere of sadness due partly to the absence of Kate, Harold and Edie’s daughter. In other words, Scout begins to develop feelings.

We learn all this from Scout’s conversations with Fridge and Clock; from Harold; from a piano student named Adrian; and from Kate, who has become a slave to the Grid. The novel takes an adventurous turn when Grid is forced to send Kate home for two weeks.

This would be a good book for both kids and adults except for some offensive words that keep erupting from certain human lips. Glenn Dixon has sketched a nostalgic and sentimental contrast between the old world and the automated one.

Chevron Ross's novels include Weapons of Remorse, The Seven-Day Resurrection, and The Samaritan's Patient. Click here for more information.