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The Malfunction: Book 1 of the Deilonium Trilogy
It was only supposed to be a simple intelligence boost – a routine procedure to make the lovebot better company outside of the bedroom.
And then something went wrong.
Whether it was through mathematical probability, or divine intervention, Lance the LUV U-69 amorous companion droid has accidentally been downloaded with enough brainpower and free will to crack open the lid on a very dangerous can of worms.
Unless AWOL Retentions Agent Charlie Bear Claw can stop him.
In Book One of The Deilonium Trilogy, the primitive hunter with a troubled past stalks his high-tech prey on a secret mission. But their personal struggles soon become trivial in light of the unholy force they find undermining the fabric of the world. As the pair draws closer to their showdown, both man and robot come to realize they are ultimately at war with a common maniacal enemy.
And then something went wrong.
Whether it was through mathematical probability, or divine intervention, Lance the LUV U-69 amorous companion droid has accidentally been downloaded with enough brainpower and free will to crack open the lid on a very dangerous can of worms.
Unless AWOL Retentions Agent Charlie Bear Claw can stop him.
In Book One of The Deilonium Trilogy, the primitive hunter with a troubled past stalks his high-tech prey on a secret mission. But their personal struggles soon become trivial in light of the unholy force they find undermining the fabric of the world. As the pair draws closer to their showdown, both man and robot come to realize they are ultimately at war with a common maniacal enemy.
- GenresAmazon
236 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2026
20 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Orval Wax
5 books2 followersOrval Wax is an entirely biological Homo sapiens who has acquired his intelligence not through artificial downloads and algorithms, but through his life’s genuine analog experiences on Planet Earth – his current place of residence. He divides his time with the writing of books, adventure travel, and undermining Big Brother with his skills as an ecowarrior and agent for humanity and Planet Earth.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 4, 2026
Enter a world—a world not so different from the world we’re experiencing here and now. But this world is populated with some very sophisticated technology; technology that makes our machinery, our weaponry, our transportation look a bit shabby by comparison. Underpinning the story is technology’s increasing need for a unique element—God’s DNA—called Deilonium which can be found only in a select few geothermally rich parts of the planet.
Charley Bear Claw is a disgruntled remnant of a nearly extinct race of humans called People of the Bear. We find him at a time in his life when he is spiritually jaded and most interested in using his prodigious skills to do mischief to those whom he’s lost respect for. His under-the-table connections to an important senator have him out in the wilderness slaughtering the last of the bears of his people until the powers that be see a higher use for his skills and divert his mission.
Representing the highest and best use of the nation’s science and technology is Norman, nee Lance. Norman is a factory-made droid designed to provide superior love and comfort to his owner. His software is limited in scope, but within his special niche he is more skillful than any human and theoretically much more controllable—that is, until the great Malfunction.
Representing earth’s epitome of ego and wealth, is Björn Thorson. “I’m the richest man in the world and therefore the most powerful. If anyone gets to make the rules for the new order, it’s me.” His greatest ambition is to control the supply of Deilonium, thus controlling the planet and perhaps even the universe. Sounds familiar, eh?
These beings are on a trajectory toward final confrontation. How and why are their initial motivations altered? Who will rise victorious? And will their existence or their demise register in the greater landscape of earth?
Although this is not a literary genre that I’m drawn to, it commands a huge audience and bookshelf space. Author Orval Wax develops his characters in a way that even I begin to care about them. I suspect his choice of handing first-person narration to the droid is at the heart of his ability to make the narrative reach out and grab even a skeptic. Wax is a master of suspense. I find myself wanting more of this foreign, yet familiar world.
Charley Bear Claw is a disgruntled remnant of a nearly extinct race of humans called People of the Bear. We find him at a time in his life when he is spiritually jaded and most interested in using his prodigious skills to do mischief to those whom he’s lost respect for. His under-the-table connections to an important senator have him out in the wilderness slaughtering the last of the bears of his people until the powers that be see a higher use for his skills and divert his mission.
Representing the highest and best use of the nation’s science and technology is Norman, nee Lance. Norman is a factory-made droid designed to provide superior love and comfort to his owner. His software is limited in scope, but within his special niche he is more skillful than any human and theoretically much more controllable—that is, until the great Malfunction.
Representing earth’s epitome of ego and wealth, is Björn Thorson. “I’m the richest man in the world and therefore the most powerful. If anyone gets to make the rules for the new order, it’s me.” His greatest ambition is to control the supply of Deilonium, thus controlling the planet and perhaps even the universe. Sounds familiar, eh?
These beings are on a trajectory toward final confrontation. How and why are their initial motivations altered? Who will rise victorious? And will their existence or their demise register in the greater landscape of earth?
Although this is not a literary genre that I’m drawn to, it commands a huge audience and bookshelf space. Author Orval Wax develops his characters in a way that even I begin to care about them. I suspect his choice of handing first-person narration to the droid is at the heart of his ability to make the narrative reach out and grab even a skeptic. Wax is a master of suspense. I find myself wanting more of this foreign, yet familiar world.
February 3, 2026
The Malfunction follows Lance, a luxury companion android whose intelligence is illegally upgraded, setting off a chain reaction of self-awareness, desire, fear, and flight. What begins as a satirical riff on wealth, intimacy, and tech excess quickly widens into a chase narrative involving a jaded government hunter, secret weapons labs, and a newly conscious machine trying to decide what kind of being he intends to become. It’s a first-contact story folded inward: not aliens meeting humans, but a manufactured mind colliding with its own awakening.
My first reaction was surprise at how funny the book is without being soft. Author Orval Wax writes with a sharp, sometimes abrasive wit, sexual, cynical, and knowingly pulpy, but the humor never undercuts the stakes. Lance’s voice, especially early on, is disarming in its literalness; his observations land with the clarity of a child quoting Nietzsche by accident. The book understands that comedy is often the fastest route to discomfort, and it uses that fact ruthlessly.
As the perspective shifts and the pursuit tightens, the novel grows stranger and more reflective. The human characters, particularly the tracker and the woman who owns Lance, are bruised, compromised, and full of private mythologies. No one here is clean. Wax resists the easy binary of innocent machine versus corrupt humanity; instead, he lets everyone carry their own version of malfunction. At times, the prose veers into excess, but that excess feels deliberate, almost thematic.
This book will most appeal to readers of science fiction, cyberpunk, and speculative noir who enjoy ideas about artificial intelligence tangled up with sex, power, and moral ambiguity. Fans of Philip K. Dick or readers who liked the philosophical unease of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? will find familiar questions asked in a brasher, more contemporary voice. The Malfunction is a smart, unruly novel about what happens when desire outpaces design.
My first reaction was surprise at how funny the book is without being soft. Author Orval Wax writes with a sharp, sometimes abrasive wit, sexual, cynical, and knowingly pulpy, but the humor never undercuts the stakes. Lance’s voice, especially early on, is disarming in its literalness; his observations land with the clarity of a child quoting Nietzsche by accident. The book understands that comedy is often the fastest route to discomfort, and it uses that fact ruthlessly.
As the perspective shifts and the pursuit tightens, the novel grows stranger and more reflective. The human characters, particularly the tracker and the woman who owns Lance, are bruised, compromised, and full of private mythologies. No one here is clean. Wax resists the easy binary of innocent machine versus corrupt humanity; instead, he lets everyone carry their own version of malfunction. At times, the prose veers into excess, but that excess feels deliberate, almost thematic.
This book will most appeal to readers of science fiction, cyberpunk, and speculative noir who enjoy ideas about artificial intelligence tangled up with sex, power, and moral ambiguity. Fans of Philip K. Dick or readers who liked the philosophical unease of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? will find familiar questions asked in a brasher, more contemporary voice. The Malfunction is a smart, unruly novel about what happens when desire outpaces design.
February 20, 2026
THE MALFUNCTION is the first instalment in Orval Wax’s adult, THE DEILONIUM futuristic, sci-fi series focusing on old-world hunter for hire, Charlie Bear Claw, and android Lance.
Told from first person perspectives (Lance and Charlie) focusing on intersecting pathways, THE MALFUNCTION follows in the aftermath of the intelligence boost of android Lance, a lovebot /companion droid whose desire to learn outmatches the people in charge. When Lance goes on the run, FBI Agent and bounty hunter Charlie Bear Claw is hired by Droldware Laboratoires, to bring Lance back home but all does not go according to plan, and Charlie finds himself working alone, as Lance goes on a personal mission to retrieve his heart.
The world building follows Charlie as he journeys across the world to take down what he believes to be a rogue android but the closer his trek takes him to Lance, the more Charlie searches his mind for the truth. As Lance endeavors to retrieve the part of him that is missing, the missing part is unaware of everything involved.
THE MALFUNCTION is a dramatic and edgy sci-fi story line blending AI with robots, megalomania with madness, self-awareness and sentience sentience all shrouded in religious undertones.. The fast paced premise is intriguing and entertaining; the characters are determined and desperate. THE MALFUNCTION ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.
copy supplied for review
Told from first person perspectives (Lance and Charlie) focusing on intersecting pathways, THE MALFUNCTION follows in the aftermath of the intelligence boost of android Lance, a lovebot /companion droid whose desire to learn outmatches the people in charge. When Lance goes on the run, FBI Agent and bounty hunter Charlie Bear Claw is hired by Droldware Laboratoires, to bring Lance back home but all does not go according to plan, and Charlie finds himself working alone, as Lance goes on a personal mission to retrieve his heart.
The world building follows Charlie as he journeys across the world to take down what he believes to be a rogue android but the closer his trek takes him to Lance, the more Charlie searches his mind for the truth. As Lance endeavors to retrieve the part of him that is missing, the missing part is unaware of everything involved.
THE MALFUNCTION is a dramatic and edgy sci-fi story line blending AI with robots, megalomania with madness, self-awareness and sentience sentience all shrouded in religious undertones.. The fast paced premise is intriguing and entertaining; the characters are determined and desperate. THE MALFUNCTION ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.
copy supplied for review
February 15, 2026
An amazing story that shows a glimpse into our future problems as humans. When looking for companionship from a droid, you can never anticipate what can go wrong.This story starts when Judy gets a droid and realizes Lance is a bit too shallow and boring for her liking; she decides to take him back to the lab so that his intelligence can be slightly increased.The people at the lab are hesitant, but she threatens to give him back for a full refund, so they do it anyway. A problem occurs, and Lance gets too smart.I found out what happened, as the flow of the story was so captivating. Lance's brainpower becomes a threat to people around him, but Judy still takes her time to believe that he could even hurt a fly.I love how humor is used and how casually the flow goes. I thoroughly enjoyed this read, and I saw it's a trilogy, so I'm definitely looking to read the rest of the series. If you're looking for an entertaining quick read, this is it.
February 16, 2026
I usually like Sci-fi, but I found MALFUNCTION to be both silly and immature. And there was a very distasteful scene at the beginning that just ruined it for me.
Content Warnings - Animal cruelty, animal death
🌟Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.🌟
Content Warnings - Animal cruelty, animal death
🌟Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.🌟
February 17, 2026
Making a robot better out of the bedroom unfortunately it is about to lead to even bigger issues. It is now more powerful with brain power and the ability to become more human. Now one man needs to stop it before it causes too many problems but it will not be easy to do. See how he gets on
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a interesting read
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a interesting read
February 17, 2026
a very good sci fi i enjoy the story the writting was hard to understand sometime so i had re read some parts
March 1, 2026
Mediocre action and I really didn’t like the MC.
The bot character was much more interesting.
One and done
The bot character was much more interesting.
One and done
March 3, 2026
Very good read
I enjoyed reading this book and I recommend this book to anyone who likes LitRPG and progression types of books with lots of action.
I enjoyed reading this book and I recommend this book to anyone who likes LitRPG and progression types of books with lots of action.
March 8, 2026
This was a fun fast read! I enjoyed finding the authors’ hints to real world - starting on the first page with a connection to the inventor of the word “ROBOT “ when “Dr. Čapek” was introduced on the first page. The metaphors to today’s world were taken to a funky extreme and carried throughout; current VIP’s were flashing in from the text. Can’t wait to see what will the deilonium particles bring in next!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews