Adventures of the Artificial Woman

The Pulitzer Prize–nominated author of Little Big Man offers “high-concept storytelling” in this “satirical fantasy” of a man who builds the perfect woman (New York Times).

Twice-divorced engineer Ellery Pierce is done with women. At least, the kind made of flesh and blood. A technician at an animatronics firm, Ellery has everything he needs to build the ideal female. But once Ellery unleashes Phyllis on the world, all his plans for romantic bliss quickly go awry.

As a robot, Phyllis quickly absorbs the worldview of a superlative woman, and it’s only a matter of time before she abandons Ellery for Hollywood and becomes a movie star. But when Phyllis sets her sights on the presidency of the United States, Ellery jumps on her campaign, astounded at her antics and wondering if perhaps this time, she will take things too far . . .

“What is the meaning of Adventures of the Artificial Woman if not that perfection is a very dangerous thing to crave?” —Donald E. Westlake, Edgar Grand Master and author of The Ax

“Berger updates the Pygmalion myth with this witty, dark comedy . . . his fanciful plot will keep readers laughing throughout.” —Publishers Weekly

Praise for Thomas Berger

“A writer of enormous wit and incisive wisdom.” —San Francisco Review of Books

“[Berger is] as brilliant a student of American talk as Nabokov or DeLillo.” —Jonathan Lethem, bestselling author of The Fortress of Solitude

“Thomas Berger is a magician . . . he never hits a false note” —Detroit Free Press

“[Berger is] a compelling talespinner in his own right: a Tolkien for the worldly.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Humbling, eye-opening, and enormously funny.” —Newsweek

“One of America’s most important comic artists.” —The Boston Globe