A gently dystopian novel which explores what it is to be human in an increasingly automated society, this wonderful tale is set in the near-future and owes a debt to Thomas M Disch’s story ‘The Brave Little Toaster: A Bedtime Story for Small Appliances’ (set in 1976, published in 1980). There are some similarities between these simply told stories, most notably the resourceful and optimistic main character who sacrifices herself to save her humans. However, Disch’s story is a commentary on consumer society and a study in existential anxiety with its constant questioning of purpose and fear of obsolescence. Dixon’s story has the appliances considering what happiness is and whether they can rebel against the system, while the humans cling on to books, music and memories in the face of their eventual extinction.

The novel is told in the third person and follows Scout, a sentient vacuum cleaner who names herself after the character in To Kill A Mockingbird. Other appliances include the Fridge, Clock, Auto (self-driving car) and Watch (which controls the smart house). They serve a retired couple, Harold and Edie. When Edie passes away and Harold is plunged into grief, the controller of everything (‘the Grid’) is going to remove the most precious of his belongings and move him out of the house. His daughter Kate, a computer expert who is still paying the price for a rebellious action years ago, won’t let that happen. Kate, Scout and Adrian (a piano-playing boy who used to be Edie’s student) will do anything they can to keep Harold in his home with his valuable books.

I liked this story very much, even though it has many unanswered questions. When it’s on this small a scale, you can’t expect the complete downfall of the system, but there are people who live outside of the Grid. I would have liked more links between Harold’s books and the story. The Catcher in the Rye is mentioned frequently as one of his treasured books but there is no discussion of its content. I also thought that Harold was portrayed as very elderly at the age of sixty-eight. I know that people are longer-lived even in our time, but perhaps in the near-future controlled by the Grid, the reverse could be true and the automated boredom of life ages them!

In summary, a recommended read. It’s not that weird a book, I’ve read much stranger ones. It will definitely make you think.

Thank you to the publisher Faber and Faber for the review copy via NetGalley.

More discussion on ‘The Brave Little Toaster’ can be read in Mirrors, Movies and Magic: 1980s Children’s Films Based on Books.