Geeky Book Club: December Meeting - Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz

Geeky Book Club discusses Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz this month. The club is a group of readers who meet monthly to explore fantasy and sci-fi novels with a focus on actual discussion of the book itself. Guided questions help frame the conversation, and members are encouraged to share their own thoughts and takeaways.

This month's selection is Automatic Noodle, a cozy near-future novella by Annalee Newitz about a crew of abandoned food service bots opening their own restaurant. While San Francisco rebuilds from war, a group of food service bots in an abandoned ghost kitchen take over their delivery app account, rebranding as a neighborhood lunch spot and producing hand-pulled noodles. When someone or something begins review bombing the restaurant's feedback page with fake negative reports, the bots race to find the culprit before their ratings collapse.

The club generally alternates between fantasy and sci-fi each month. Once members attend their first meeting, they receive voting links to help choose future selections.

This is the last Geeky Book Club meeting of 2026. Members are invited to participate in a holiday book swap by bringing a wrapped book they've enjoyed; participation is optional, and everyone who brings a book leaves with one.

New members are welcome, whether lifelong readers, returning to books after a break, or just getting started.