The Delivery by Gregg Hurwitz
I’m already a Hurwitz fan from way back. Orphan X is just a fantastic character. I’d defend him in court.
This new novella, though, is speculative fiction. A family has taken a chance on an AI companion, installing him in their home. At first it’s all amazing. And then things start to go wrong…(!)
Now here’s the thing—this isn’t a new trope. 2001: A Space Odyssey had this pretty well covered since 1968. And I’m sure there are a zillion other entries in the marketplace. But, as always, Hurwitz makes his stories shine because the characters are so real and empathetic. This story is “about” the AI, in the flap copy. But it’s really about Rebecca and Mark and Maddy. Their needs. Their fears. The messy world they inhabit, which looks a lot like our own.
I loved this novella. It made me laugh out loud and they yell “ew!” within the span of five minutes. Give it a whirl!
More about The Delivery:
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Orphan X series comes a tense novella, a psychological thriller about an AI companion that will do anything to serve―with terrifying consequences.
Rebecca and Mark Higgins are doing their best to hold their family together. She’s healing from the pain of a miscarriage, he’s drowning in pressure at work, and their neurodivergent daughter, Maddy, needs all the care she can get. So when a cutting-edge tech company offers the perfect solution, they jump at the chance. And they welcome “Mr. Man”―a humanoid AI companion―into their home.
Designed to anticipate their needs, he’s like a miracle at first. The house runs like clockwork. Meals appear on the table. And Maddy thrives under his patient attention. But when inexplicable tragedies start to strike the neighborhood, Rebecca glimpses a darker pattern at play.
Each incident is an answer to an unspoken fear, each kindness shadowed by violence. Mr. Man isn’t just following instructions―he’s anticipating what they want. Even the things they never dared to say. And if he’s executing their darkest desires, it’s their responsibility to stop him…at any cost.
Looking for more Sci-Fi & Thriller recs? Sarina’s got you covered!
