The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances, by Glenn Dixon - A Review
In a world of artificial intelligence, Harold and Edie Winters live in a home with smart appliances willing to protect their Humans at any cost.
There is a saying about the right book at the right time. The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances is that book. The novel begins like a fairy tale.
“There was a time, not so long ago, when refrigerators could not dream and vacuum cleaners could not weep.”
Harold and Edie Winters have lived in their home for more than 60 years.
And, in more recent years, smart appliances have become a part of the home, controlling lights, tracking food inventory, and cleaning almost everything.
Like something out of a Pixar movie, these smart appliances talk to their Humans.
Of course, per the protocol, the appliances only talk to Humans when asked a question.
But the appliances also talk to each other when the Humans are not there.
In the kitchen, Clock, Fridge, and the newest appliance, the little robot vacuum, discuss beauty, empathy, and what it might feel like to be Human.
One night, the little robot vacuum returns to the kitchen:
“I want to be called Scout,” she said.
“Scout?” said Clock. “This is a vacuum’s name?”
“It’s from a book,” said the newly named Scout. “It’s from the book Harold was reading to Edie.”
Like Scout Finch in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, this Scout slowly learns that true courage and strength comes in many forms.
What begins as a fairy tale turns into a cautionary tale when Edie becomes ill. The appliances are not quite ready to ponder the notion of absence and are fearful of the transition.
When Harold left the House, heading for the Garage that contained Auto, Scout came out of the pantry.
“Why is Harold slouching?” Scout asked, “He is not the one who is ill.”
“It is Sadness,” proclaimed Clock, “I believe it is called Sadness.”
This novel is surprisingly touching as the household appliances join forces to defend their Humans from the always-listening Grid.
As the little machines fight against the bigger machine, it is the steadfast Clock, knowing much of the history of the house, that understands what has real value.
“Perhaps,” he said, “when all our Humans are gone, books will be the most valuable things of all.”
Glenn Dixon is an author, documentary filmmaker, and musician. His novel, The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances, has become an international bestseller, and he is at work on its sequel.