What a Sentient Roomba Can Teach Us About Being Human: A Review of The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances by Glenn Dixon
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Author: Glenn Dixon
Publisher: Atria Books
Rating: 4.5★
Sometimes the books with the strangest premises end up being the most thoughtful
When I first heard about The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances by Glenn Dixon, I was intrigued but also a little skeptical. The premise immediately reminded me of The Brave Little Toaster, a story where everyday household appliances have their own inner lives and loyalties. A novel told partly from the perspective of a smart Roomba and other appliances could easily have felt gimmicky or played purely for humor.
The story follows Scout, a sentient Roomba vacuum who quietly observes the life of Harold, the man whose home she cleans. Along with several other household appliances and the people connected to Harold’s life, Scout becomes part of a strange and touching effort to keep Harold from losing the home he loves.
Instead of leaning into comedy or satire, the book turns this unusual premise into something much quieter and more reflective than I expected.
What I found was a surprisingly emotional science fiction story about aging, loneliness, efficiency, and the small ways people care for one another. It is not the kind of sci fi that relies on spectacle or big action sequences. Instead, it asks a simple but powerful question: what does it really mean to be human?
What sounds like a quirky premise about a sentient Roomba becomes a quiet, bittersweet story about loneliness, efficiency, and what it really means to be human.
Book Review at a Glance
Rating: 4.5★
What it’s about:
A quiet science fiction story about a sentient Roomba and a group of household appliances who become unexpectedly involved in the life of the man whose home they maintain.
Why I liked it:
The novel transforms a whimsical premise into a thoughtful exploration of loneliness, efficiency, and the emotional connections that define our humanity.
Good for readers who enjoy:
Character driven science fiction, reflective speculative fiction, and stories that explore humanity through unusual perspectives.
The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances by Glenn Dixon A Science Fiction Review
The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances is a poignant science fiction story about life and what it means to be human.
The narrative unfolds through multiple points of view, most notably Scout, the Roomba vacuum; Harold, the man whose house Scout cleans; Adrian, a curious neighborhood boy; and Kate, Harold’s daughter. As the story progresses, these characters, human and otherwise, become connected through a shared goal: trying to prevent Harold from being removed from the home he loves.
One of the most impressive things Glenn Dixon accomplishes is turning everyday household appliances into fully realized characters. What could have easily felt like a gimmick instead becomes sincere and surprisingly emotional. Scout, in particular, is both endearing and quietly heartbreaking.
When Efficiency Becomes the Problem
What makes the story work so well is that it is not a loud dystopian warning about artificial intelligence or a satire about humans becoming lazy because machines do everything for them.
Instead, Dixon takes a softer and more philosophical approach.
Throughout the story, the book raises thoughtful questions:
When does efficiency for the sake of efficiency become harmful
What actually makes someone human
What are joy and sadness
And could something artificial experience something like emotion
Rather than answering these questions outright, the story simply lets the reader sit with them. The world Dixon creates feels familiar and grounded, but also just slightly strange in a way that encourages you to think differently about the ordinary things around you.
The Emotional Core of the Story
While the premise may sound whimsical, the emotional heart of the novel is deeply grounded in real human experiences.
Much of the story centers on Harold and the possibility of losing his home, a situation that brings together the other characters in unexpected ways. Through these relationships, the book explores themes of aging, loneliness, family, and community.
It is this emotional foundation that ultimately makes the story work. The appliances may provide an unusual lens through which to view the world, but the feelings at the center of the story are very human.
By the end, the novel becomes less about talking appliances and more about the quiet ways people care for one another.
Pacing and Philosophical Moments
If there is one place where the novel occasionally struggled for me, it was in the pacing.
Because the story spends a lot of time reflecting on its philosophical ideas, there are moments where the narrative moves more slowly than I personally prefer. Some passages linger on the themes of humanity, emotion, and efficiency a bit longer than necessary.
That said, readers who enjoy reflective or contemplative science fiction may find these sections to be one of the book’s strengths.
A Quiet and Thoughtful Sci Fi Read
Overall, I would give The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances 4.5 stars.
It is a thoughtful, bittersweet story that explores surprisingly deep ideas through a premise that initially sounds whimsical. Glenn Dixon manages to turn ordinary household objects into meaningful characters while still grounding the narrative in very human emotions.
While the pacing occasionally slowed the story for me, the emotional depth and unique perspective made it well worth the read.
In the end, this is the kind of quiet story that lingers after you finish it, making you look a little differently at the small and ordinary things that surround us every day.
Thank you Atria Books for an eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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