Autonomous (novel)

Autonomous
Front cover of the US hardcover edition of Autonomous
Cover of the US hardcover edition
AuthorAnnalee Newitz
LanguageEnglish
GenreScience fiction
PublisherTor Books
Publication date
September 19, 2017
Publication placeUnited States
Pages301 (hardcover, first edition)
AwardsLambda Literary Award for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror
ISBN978-0-7653-9207-7 (hardcover)

Autonomous is a 2017 science fiction novel by Annalee Newitz. It is Newitz's debut novel and was published by Tor Books on September 19, 2017. Set in a near future Earth, the book describes a world where both humans and intelligent robots can be owned as property. The events of the novel follow Jack, a "drug pirate" who manufactures illegal versions of patented drugs, and Paladin, a combat robot who is owned by the law enforcement agency searching for Jack after one of the drugs she reverse-engineered turns out to have dangerous side effects.

Autonomous received generally positive reviews from critics. Critics in particular found the novel's coverage of intellectual property compelling and connected the book's fiction to Newitz's prior work in journalism covering science and technology. It won the 2018 Lambda Literary Award for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror and was nominated for several other awards, including the Nebula Award for Best Novel.