Brass Shark Book Reviews

            What if a low-level android becomes self-aware and is plagued with blackouts? In Michael Cheney’s Confessions of a Trash Droid: Fatal Error: Book 1, we find Tedd, the trash droid, running for his life after it has been determined that he should be destroyed because of his “anomaly.”

            This quickly paced, humorous light read held my attention and was structured as a series of unfortunate events for Tedd.

            Set in a future where robots and androids are common and used as workers, one android can think for himself. Tedd is given one last chance to behave himself or he’ll be scrapped. Unfortunately, Tedd is not always in control of his actions, blacking out and waking to a scene of mayhem. After an unfortunate encounter with the mob, and another blackout, Tedd is on the run.

            Accidently teaming up with humans on a mission, luddites, and uncovering a nefarious plot, Tedd, the unwilling hero stumbles his way to the open-ended conclusion of the book and a job offer. Not a deep dive into character, the screwball plot makes sense, and Cheney charms us with shenanigans.

            I would like to see more character development in the side characters which at times seemed flat with forced empathy. (Her brother was a victim of the nefarious plot.) In addition, I felt cheated that the book didn’t really end. The conclusion morphed into a teaser for the next installment. However, for what it is, Cheney served up some smiles for me. (When Tedd disguised himself and hit on a girl in a bar.)

            I was reminded of the 2015 movie “Chappie” and the 1986 “Short Circuit.” I think that anyone looking for a light read and a fan of robot stories would enjoy Confessions of a Trash Droid.

Confessions of a Trash Droid on Goodreads.