The future: a place where sex-bots exist as adult toys to give pleasure – not to receive. Until Kiana, the malfunctioning Orgasmatron 6000, Kiana Alpha 1 is released. Had she been provided with batteries, Dr Darian Black, mastermind engineer at Playtime Industries and Kiana’s creator, would not have found himself in the position of having to hunt her down to destroy her hours before Christmas Day begins and before she destroys half the city. Alas, what if games are useless. What was done was done. In this case, not providing batteries was a cost cutting attempt on Darian’s part, which has resulted in the bot having an incompatible energy source placed into her battery compartment, causing multiple system failures. Kiana is now self-aware and out for her own interests – an orgasm. Learning as she goes, she has some nasty experiences with selfish men, who soon get a nasty lesson in return from her. Oblivious of the danger she poses, the ultimat! e in sexual satisfaction is the goal she is driven to pursue – unaware that a multiple orgasm will cause her to explode and take out much of the city with her. Dr. Black now rues releasing the Kiana Alpha 1 model, which he had fast tracked though production to get out in time for Christmas – against his computer’s advice. Will the city still be intact on Christmas? Will Kiana still be ‘alive’? Just what did Darian do to piss off his computer so much that he ends up a bloody, aching mess before the night is through?

Batteries Not Included is a refreshing futuristic/fantasy novella that is completely unlike anything I have ever come across in all of my vast reading. This is the first tale in I cannot remember how long where I have been completely stymied as to what was going to happen next or how the ending was going to turn out. Though the theme of Christmas is strong in this story and Christmas has now passed, this should not stop you from reading this great tale that makes a very good read at any time of the year. You may occasionally be thrown by some of the language, but you will nevertheless have an excellent understanding of what is going on and what each of the characters is going through. Darian I felt was an arrogant, over paid egotist. The computer mainframe is a sassy, vengeful entity. Kiana is a sex-bot who has my sympathies, driven as she is by the need for an orgasm and the mistreatment she goes through, not to mention the threat to her very existence. This novella ! is very erotic; threesomes are numerous. Also included is oral and anal sex, as well as double penetrations. This is a fabulous read, so long as you have an open mind and are not looking for a heavy romance plotline.

Reviewed by: Elizabeth