Auto

Auto Series #1-8

by David Wailing

In 2022, everyone uses an auto. This sophisticated ‘super-app’ is a digital personal assistant which acts on your behalf. It knows your personality and habits – and mimics them. It learns from your behaviour – and copies you.

Digital detective Joanna O’Donnell has heard stories about autos going wrong, twisting people's lives inside out. She doesn’t believe it. Until it happens to her.

Unable to trust her own agency, Joanna secretly investigates and discovers these incidents may be part of a bigger, more terrifying story.

Michael Walker – the man who invented the auto, and public enemy number one – is back...

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Fiction, Thriller, Thriller Suspense

355 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 19, 2013

About the author

I was born in Nineteen Davidey-Dave (all the best people were born that year) and live in London. I write contemporary fiction, a blend of mystery, thriller and humour.

My most recent novel is Under, a horror/mystery set on the London Underground. Both it and Signal Failure - a prelude short story available for free - are the result of a long-held fascination with the London Underground and its history.

As a native Londoner I have travelled on the Tube thousands of times, but it always feels like inhabiting a slightly different world to the city on the surface. The facts and figures of the Underground are just as fascinating as its mysteries and shadowy corners, and I hope my book does justice to both aspects.

I have five other novels available as Kindle ebooks: Auto, Auto 2, Bang, Duallists and Fake Kate.

Reviews

[Michael Brookes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a few of the short stories based in the near future where our online lives are run by autos, smart apps designed to make our lives easier. The author creates a plausible and sinister vision of the future which I'd enjoyed. Now all of the stories have been combined into a single book, along with some new stories so I was eager to read through them.

I'll admit that I was tempted to skip through the stories that I'd read previously, but I'm glad that I didn't. The short stories provided different snap shots of the world the author has created and while they were excellwent reads in their own right, they are so much better when re-read with the wider context this book provides.

The overall story is great, the different glimpses tantilise with what is going on before drawing together into a conclusion that both feels logical and satisfies. It's also open to allow further books in the series which I hope is the intent.

As well as providing a good story the author writes well, although in many ways this is a bleak world that he creates it is still full of life and humour. Overall this is a great read that I'm happy to recommend to anyone.

[Joo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Auto is the collection of David Wailing's Auto stories into one book but ties them together nicely.

The author has created a future a decade from now, whereby all the social media needs of society is tied into having an "auto" that screens out all the rubbish and automatically replies for you. The Smart phone has gotten a lot smarter.

I had read the individual stories when they were originally released, but they held up for a second read. I nearly skipped one to get to a new story, but soon went back to read them in order. Reading them a second time and in one sitting revealed connections that I'd not noticed when I read them separately.

I may have given some of the individual stories 4 stars previously, but as a whole I feel they are enhanced by being brought together.

In all, a wonderfully scarily potentially accurate future that I'm not sure I want to embrace.

[Rosen Trevithick · Rating 4 out of 5]

More than simply the sum of its parts

Set slightly in the future, `Auto' looks at a world in which digital media has been taken to extremes. Almost every aspect of people's lives is handled automatically and strict information handling laws have made it so difficult to lie online that most people trust digital representations implicitly. This means that on the rare occasions when technology goes array, it causes absolute havoc.

`Auto' is a novel that brings together David Wailing's five previously published Auto short stories and novellas. But it's much more than simply a collection of shorts. The three additional stories link the existing fiction in a way that adds depth and intrigue to the original stories.

I have to admit that this isn't really my kind of book but I love David Wailing's writing so much that I read it anyway. I loved the characterisation, social commentary and dialogue, but I felt it was a bit too technological for my personal taste.

It was refreshing to see sci fi covered without aliens and biological diseases that give rise to zombie attacks. Sci fi fans will no doubt see this as a welcome return to the principles.

I recommend this book for people who enjoy a good mystery thriller and are intrigued by emerging technologies.

[Kath Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wondered what I would be getting with this book, having already read all those short stories published individually. Three extra stories, yes, but what did they add to the mix but more of the same? Well, now I know. Strangely these three, one at the beginning, one somewhere in amongst, and one at the end, set the other stories in a context. Each story stood alone and gave considerable food for thought, but when connected, they make a whole which really asks some questions. It doesn't give all the answers though, and leaves us with the knowledge that there will be more. I do find myself thinking that this must read rather differently if you come to it all here for the first time. For me it both linked earlier stories and drew out a meaning from them which wasn’t obvious previously. I would urge people who think of skipping the stories they’ve already read, not to do so. Read this in its entirety.

David Wailing has shown us a future which some might find exciting, but he fills in the gaps and gives us the down-side of a society where it's no longer possible to be secretive. These stories and their characters connect to make an excellent whole.

[Marie (UK) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book collects all of the David Wailing Auto series into one starting with Timeline, friend request, Backup, Copy and into Share and Link,

Each tale could be read alone until you get to Copy but at this point all the threads start to pull together. The future is automated where all your online activity is run by an auto, you cannot lie or put up false info, friend requests are accepted automatically and technology has surpassed anything you thought possible

Of course one man is try to pull the system down, enraged by the laws governing what your auto can or cannot do he wants to go back to where you choose what you put online. This is evidenced as autos behaving strangely. And of course one person is trying to find out why such autos are behaving oddly who is doing it and why.

Part technology super tales and part detective story it is an incredibly easy read. I was hooked from the outset and when i realised that the stories are not entirely separate entities my enjoyment increased

[Dana Delamar · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent futuristic series involving the "autos" (or virtual assistants) that manage people's social lives a decade or so from now. What happens when the autos go haywire?

I'd read a number of these stories when they were released as single titles, but I got a whole new experience reading them in a collection and seeing the links between them and how they form a terrifying new whole.

As always, Wailing is adept at drawing unique characters in a short space and making you care about them in a way that sneaks up on you. His world-building is impeccable and precise; I can clearly picture everything he describes, and not a word or detail is wasted.

Although these are short stories, it's obvious Wailing has a much larger agenda here than it would first appear. The book ends on several huge question marks, and the plot took turns i wasn't expecting. I cannot wait to read the rest of this series!

[Aunty Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Auto is a series of stories set in 2022, which weave together into an unforgettable novel. The digital revolution has escalated to a whole new level, where everyone has their own 'Auto'. This personal assistant 'app', like Siri on steroids, organises everything and saves the need for irritating personal responses to mundane events: it never forgets to wish anyone 'happy birthday' or sympathise with an upsetting event such a relationship break-up!
But what could go wrong when 'things' spiral out of control and could Autos become truly autonomous?
I'm not a big fan of sci-fi but loved this novel. I found it chilling, funny and thrilling, sometimes all in the same paragraph.
I 'won' this novel at its virtual book launch, which was both thrilling and 'fits' with the themes of this book.
I highly recommend it!

[Daniel J. Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Science Fiction Thriller about you - on Automatic

Mature-content Rating: PG-13 (coarse language and sexual references)

Do you ever feel bogged down by technology? There have been so many advancements recently that make it easier to connect with people. Facebook and Twitter have taken a running leap off of the social networking ledge, hoping someone with catch them... and so many people have. Social networking has attracted everyone from the 10 year old kid looking to stay in touch with friends when they aren't together to the 80 year old lady reconnection with friends and family she hasn't seen in years, or decades. This is great, but sometimes it can get a bit much. Sometimes we see that list of 100+ emails, or scroll through pages of new posts on Facebook or Twitter and before you know it, the day is gone. David Wailing says, "Have no fear! Auto is here!" This is a near-future science fiction thriller that is so believable, it's scary. In the world of Auto everyone has a computer. No, not those old clunky laptops (gross! Those things have physical keyboards and are so heavy!) but computers embedded in sunglasses or hanging in the air as paper-thin machines. The most impressive thing is not the computers, but the people behind them. Everyone's profile is in "the cloud" and these personal computers work furiously to deal with internet traffic sent to you, automatically. No more wading through pages of junk mail, keeping your Facebook friend list up-to-date, or deciding which tweets are important enough to pay attention to. Your Auto will manage, categorize, and give you everything you need from the most important to the least. With so many things happening automatically, how much of your on-line identity are you really in control of, and how much is controlled by the internet itself? Will this new technology make your life easier, or change it completely? Find out in Auto.

The Good:

Right off the bat, I fell in love with the concepts that this book puts forth. Letting your "auto" compute your "compatibility index" with someone before going out with them, or being able to tell if someone is gay/straight, in a relationship/single before even talking to them is wonderful. It has been said that science fiction is meant to send messages of what is good/bad in our society today, and Auto definitely does this. Having someone's "paedophile index" go up because they happen to walk past an elementary school to and from work every day, or getting hate-mail automatically plastered all over the internet because you are in a relationship with a "foreigner" says a lot about some of the social profiling issues that we face in the world today. I will say no more regarding specifics (to prevent spoilers) but it must be said that the magic of tech, and how it relates to the near-future world portrayed, is magnificent.

Not all of the stories in this collection implement the same things, but many of them share similarities. Many of the stories use computer (auto) status updates speckled throughout to increase suspense. It is almost like watching a progress bar, which in itself isn't that thrilling, but when the needle reaches 90%, whether you're installing a program/OS or downloading a movie, there is a thrill that finally you will reach the end. A computer telling you that there is 25%... 32%... 45%... 66%... 83%... 91% that you are going to die will put anyone on the edge of their seat, watching the number climb higher and higher, the story unfolding in a pleasant climax. The waves are rising higher and higher in front of you, and there is no way out, but once they come crashing down, a settling calm washes over you. The suspense builds until you can't stand it any more, and then it breaks with such a glorious conclusion that you have to sigh, or smile, watching the rainbow revealed after the storm. This (for me) was the selling feature of Auto.

Each story has good pacing, one building on the the concepts of the last. Not only is each story paced well, but the collection as a whole is built in such a way that by the end you will be shaking your head in awe of the magic therein. At first, I was reading a bunch of little stories from different characters in the same universe, and it was wonderful... then something changed. I will not spoil the magic, but the best I can say is that the stories may be more connected that it initially seems. This surprised me, especially since each story was released individually to start out with. They are great on their own, but reading this collection as a cohesive whole is the only real way to give it justice.

With all of this, is there anything more to say? I usually like to talk about general concepts in my reviews, but certain elements of the auto universe were so beautifully implemented that they deserve specific attention. As I have mentioned, the tech in general is absolutely brilliant and makes the world come alive. Specific things that really sold it for me were people being able to "sim" certain things in their lives. Everything from going to a friend's party to having sex can be simulated, giving a whole new meaning to social networking. A particularly magical and often humorous implementation of this is that dead people do not die. No body? No problem. So many people are doing things online that dead people can still go to parties, make friends online, and talk to you. Wonder what your dead father would think about this new guy you are dating? No problem. Just ask his computer. It lives on, emulating him as perfectly as it did when he was alive.

The Bad:

A lot of the bad is a bi-product of the format choice of this collection. There was some magic in the individual stories holding their own, yet being knit together all at the same time. Despite this, certain elements of the collection could have been stronger if it was told as one long and flowing story. I do not necessarily suggest a format change to be the solution, because I enjoyed it the way it was formatted, but... well, let me try to explain. There is only so much room when telling a short story. Only a certain number of words can be dedicated to back-story and prose. Because of this, certain scenes were completely skipped over and talked about later as if they happened. This was surprisingly not as bad as it could have been and, though it was tell vs. show, it was not horrendous. I do, however, feel that certain scenes or back-story elements would have been stronger if they were fully fleshed out instead of skipped and skimmed over. In order to do this properly, a lot of words would need to be added to this collection, but since when is more of a good thing bad? ;-)

Conclusion:

I liked some of the stories more than other, but as a whole, the Auto collection is wonderful. It is a flavourful near-future science fiction short story collection that not only works as individual stories, but works even better as a packaged whole. The tech is fearfully realistic and the suspense will keep you turning the pages until there are none left. If you like science fiction, thrillers, wonderfully crafted plot, humorous dialogue, and an all around delightful page-turner, this book is for you.

[Philip Whiteland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed everything of David Wailing's that I've read so far and this is no exception. His writing reminds me of Asimov's in that he creates a fictional world bound by certain rules and then has great fun finding ways around those rules, like Asimov with the three laws of robotics. I have read a couple of these stories as standalone short stories but it was good to see them linked together with this overarching theme of automation taking things into its own hands (perhaps). I've said before, in a previous review, that David's nightmare must be the possibility of the real world overtaking his fictional version. Step inside David's world for an uncomfortable but entertaining view of what might be before too long.

[David Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The place - London.
The year - 2022.

It's just a few years away and David Wailing has created a world where your whole life is set to Auto. And so is your death.

We're taken on a journey through the lives and deaths of those who have bought in to this way of life. Wittingly or not. This provides a 'warp factor 10' paced techno-thriller with real class. On a smaller scale, some of the touches and detailing were so well told that I found myself wondering whether they were fiction or fact.

I was reminded of Blade Runner and some old school Noir on several occasions. Creating that sort of tension and atmosphere is a testament to the author's skill.

The characters were all individually developed and I didn't feel like I didn't know them. Some of them swim back into later stories then out again. Again it's done subtly and carefully but above all with purpose.

The last character in the book - DS Young makes a massive impact in a small amount of time. She's been left in a position which guarantees more and I'll be there to read it.

[George Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Auto gives a thrilling and fascinating insight into the gadget driven, networking world that we are building, where humans no longer communicate with each other, but to each other through their automated devices. This is a world where all our movements, purchases, and our most intimate secrets are stored online, to be shared with our friend Circles by automated software, so that there is a total removal of privacy. But someone is out to corrupt and destroy this autoed world.

There are various strands to the story which are excitingly and satisfyingly tied together by the end, and what an intriguing ending. I’m looking forward to the next instalment, especially to read more of Detective Sergeant Yvonne Young—ooh she makes my spine creep.

Loved the book, but I won’t be investing in an Auto. Frightening, intrusive bits of technology.
Original, witty, and entertaining, this is a book I highly recommend to all readers.

[Nav Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading short stories can be like looking out of your bedroom window at the snowy world outside. The view can be awesome, but sometimes you just want to go out and make snow angels and have a snowball fight. Having previously read Timeline by David Wailing, I looked forward to reading some more of his work. I was far from disappointed.
At first, it seemed that I was reading a compilation of short stories, based in the same time in the future, but David has cleverly woven these stories together and I found myself within the world of Auto and not just looking out of my bedroom window. He creates a well thought out and realistic world, filled with genuine everyday people that you can easily identify with and plot lines that are believable and readily acceptable. This could very easily be a window into our future.
For lovers of short stories, you will love this and for those who like a bit more in their reading; look no further..

[Sabina D'agliano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant! This latest book, by an author I am growing to love, is sheer brilliance. Set in a world where we rely so heavily on our technology, this novel will fascinate you, scare the hell out of you, and make you want MORE! It was so beyond what I was expecting! Originally a series of short stories, Wailing combines them and links them together for a mad roller coaster ride. I was unable to put it down, to be honest, and all I can say to the author is HURRY UP AND WRITE THE SEQUEL!

OMG, you MUST read it... then tell me the things we are finding out about our government and the internet don't scare the bejeezus out of you! This novel is set in the future but it's coming sooner than we think. Bravo to David Wailing and his brilliant writing... LOVE LOVE LOVE!

[Chris Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read. If you liked the 'Black Mirror' TV series (as I did), then this book will probably appeal to you. Some artistic licence is taken with the scope of the technology portrayed, but it makes for a terrific narrative – and that's what matters. The near-future society of this series of short stories and novellas is written in a way that feels chillingly believable.

Each piece was good on its own merits, and I liked the way they linked together as the book progressed. Good writing style and voice; it's distinctive and suits the stories without getting in the way. Before I'd even finished it I had ordered the second book – I knew I'd want to keep reading more about this world.

[A.K. Michaels · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a series of short stories that intertwine with each other, giving more insight and info into each of them. I have to say that what happens in this book - I can see it happening in the future! The way tech is going I don't think it will be too far away and that's one scary thought! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even if one part upset me a tad - I'm a hopeless romantic after all! The writing is excellent and the stories good - what more can you ask for in a book?!

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection of stories by David Wailing. Although I had already read some of them separately the extra ones included were also very well done. I loved how they were connected together in the end which was very clever indeed. I definitely recommend this collection and can't wait for the new stories to be available to read.

[✿Claire✿ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A scary look at what the future of the internet could hold for us, if it increases its grip on daily life, especially social media. Definitely worth a read, even if you've read some of the stories individually.

[Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is this a frightening glimpse into our future? Wailing seems to right in the know on some of the technology, so much so, I might not be first in the queue on the next latest new gadget ;o)

[Josef · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Series!!

[Michelle Tolmay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a bit of a slow burner, but once the story picked up it was thoroughly enjoyable. Makes you think twice about bring online.

[Dave Harler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant!

Very futuristic. Very thought-provoking too. A possible insight into the future? 10/10 for the storyline. Can't wait to start Auto 2!

[Miss Fluffykins · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
The start of the book was not great, but I'm glad I kept reading because the story improved and got quite interesting. Each chapter is like a short story, but at the same time the chapters have a running link and advance the story line. Kind of sucks it's not a stand alone as I'm not invested enough to read book 2.

[charlotte pedersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original

Nice to find a story that isn't predictable. Intetesting, engaging and as soon as I finished I bought the second book. Not done that with a "free first in series" for a while.
Well done.

[Agnieszka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel includes the first eight stories in the Auto Series. The stories Relationship Status, Timeline, Friend Request, Backup and Copy were previously published as Kindle eBooks and remain available to buy separately.
(c) page of the book set

WOW! Usually I'm not a fan of science fiction/futuristic literature but this one's so great I have to continue. I was already hood after a few pages but now after completed the first two short stories I can't wait to read further.
The stories show how our future could look like if we continue our way in term of social media and convinience of internet/data/cloud access. It's partially very chilling and scary because it's so realistic (the logical next step in technology) and shows the risks & consequences we'll have to face and the price we could pay for our internet/data security and it's over-regulation.
The writing style is great, very suspensful and has some cool twists even if the stories are very short and after the third story I started to expect the unexpected and look deeper - and still got surprised each time. I loved the characters very much but struggled with the number of characters attending the party in Friend Request and their connections and relationship.
My favorites are Joanna & Greg, the least favorite character is Madam Neapolitan

Setup 6* 2/19/20 (26) #1 - London, New Year's Day, 2022
Relationship Status 6* 2/19/20 (26) #2 - Liverpool, Valentine's Day, 2022
Timeline 6* 2/20-21/20 (34) #3 - London, April 7th, 2022
Friend Request 6* 2/21/20 (64) #4 London, May 28th, 2022
Backup 6* 2/21/20 (32) #5 Enfield (London suburb), June 24th 2022 - the premise's so over the top it becomes fun again
Copy 6* 2/29/20 (57) #6 London, September 16th, 2022
Share 6* 3/1-2/20 (103) #7 London, September 16th - October 8th, 2022 - seamless continuation of Copy
Link 4* 3/2/20 (13) #8 London, October 9th (see time line in Profile book 5 in Auto 1)

Major spoiler, please read only after finishing the entire book set I hope the man in the hospital is Greg and there'll be a reunion for my favorite couple later in series. It would be so sad if the bad guy survived

[Janine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the overall story and the way the early short stories were linked together. The idea of these Autos, the extreme internet/digital regulations and how reliant everyone has become on technology is a really interesting idea. However, I just really did not like a few of the short stories. In particular,'Relationship Status' and 'Copy'. The characters in these felt like caricatures, with way too much inner dialogue for me. They were annoying, unlikeable and completely arrogant. These few stories ruined my overall impression and left me feeling that this book was just not for me!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Conceptually interesting, as a slight tech addict myself I can relate to Wailing's apparent concerns that the mobile phone is going to develop into something more - something that runs our lives without our consent, and how that will open us up to further privacy issues. That makes the book sound boring, but it isn't - it's built around a solid, segmented plot that draws together throughout the book to explain (redacted for spoilers!).

It's not work of literature but it's very readable and fairly thought provoking for what could easily have been a throwaway story. I'm buying the sequel.

[Kate Page · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book bub freebie. I think this is a collection of short stories loosely tied together into a novel, and I don't think it survives the transition. There are good ideas in this book, which kept me intrigued until they started to feel a bit repetitive. Its biggest fault, for me, was the poor characterisation. Characters made so little impression on me that when they were re-introduced into the story later on I'd completely forgotten who they were. And didn't really care.

[Frank Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Tale(s)

I really enjoyed this book; I could imagine that some of the advances in technology in this book happening in real life. Great read!