The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances
A Novel
Table of Contents
About The Book
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.
About The Author
Glenn Dixon is an author, documentary filmmaker, and musician. His book Juliet’s Answer was The Globe and Mail national bestseller and has been published in twelve countries and translated into German, Spanish, and Chinese. He has travelled through seventy-five countries and written for National Geographic magazine, the New York Post, The Walrus, and The Globe and Mail (Toronto).
Product Details
- Publisher: Atria Books (April 7, 2026)
- Length: 224 pages
- ISBN13: 9781668097281
Raves and Reviews
"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
"Dixon spins an enchanting speculative story...Readers will be endeared by this inspired domestic drama."
—Publishers Weekly
"Like The Brave Little Toaster mixed with a Black Mirror episode, Glenn Dixon’s new novel weaves together tenderness and incisive critique of our tech present and future to create a thrilling and compassionate story you won’t soon forget."
—Chicago Review of Books
"An incredibly timely and charming novel."
—Library Journal
"'Futuristic Roomba' must rank high on the list of most unlikely protagonists, but Dixon's characters are calculated to delight without ever tipping the narrative into feeling cynical...This heartfelt fable for the digitally automated age is smart in more than one sense of the word."
—Shelf Awareness
"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
“The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances is an extraordinary work. 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
"The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances is not just one of the all-time greatest book titles, but it’s also 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
“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
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
-
Book Cover Image (jpg): The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances
eBook 9781668097281
-
Author Photo (jpg): Glenn Dixon Photograph by David Kotsibie(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit
