The Hotchkiss by Pierre Lawrence

Whimsical, relatable, and more than a little surreal, The Hotchkiss by Pierre Lawrence is an off-kilter but witty novella that examines the petty troubles of married life, and the dark fantasies that inevitably arise.

When the laughably lost Charles and his nitpicking wife are told about a state-of-the-art GPS system to help them get around on their anniversary trip, little do they know just how cutting edge their new purchase will be. Not only does it have slick countermeasures, adults-only tricks, and clever features that would make James Bond jealous, it also has a mind of its own, a distinct dislike for Charles’ overbearing wife, and a deadly grudge against tailgaters.

Toying with the idea of artificial intelligence and self-aware technology, this story occasionally borders on the silly, but there is plenty of tongue-in-cheek commentary on our modern world. There is also an edge of impossibility in the unfurling of the plot, like many of Vonnegut’s longer stories – apparently straightforward, but not quite normal the further you dive in.

The prose is well-edited, but it could definitely be trimmed, particularly in the first half of the story, which is heavy with technical exposition. Spinning out of control from a harmless road trip to a hilariously elaborate murder plot, this whip-smart novella may ramble, but readers will appreciate the winking satire along every mile of this strange sci-fi trip.

Book Links