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Cameron Coral
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Steel Guardian (Rusted Wasteland Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Cameron Coral (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 633 ratings
See all formats and editions

A timid robot protects an abandoned baby in a post-apocalyptic world.

The AI Uprising destroys society. Machines turn against humans. The military SoldierBots have one function—seek and destroy.

Block is a simple CleanerBot programmed to scrub floors and serve hotel guests. Forced to leave his city, he must avoid dangerous SoldierBots and find a new hotel he can call home.

But when Block discovers a human infant, his surprise attachment to the girl compels him to protect her.

Together, they road trip across the dystopian wastelands of America to a safe haven. Along the way, they encounter Nova, a rebellious soldier and ally. The unlikely friends must tackle the biggest challenge of their lives in this heartwarming science fiction tale of friendship and robot redemption.

They face mortal danger from bands of scavengers, militaristic robots, and Combat Mechs as they cross the post-apoc landscape. But their greatest threat is a cyborg Bounty Hunter who will stop at nothing to find Block and the child—an infant who holds the key to humanity’s future.

If you enjoy character-driven science fiction that pulls at your heartstrings and page-turning action, then you’ll love the award-finalist first book of this post apoc sci-fi series. Embark on an emotional science fiction adventure like no other with Steel Guardian.

Steel Guardian is the first novel in the Rusted Wasteland complete series about a robot protagonist protecting found family amid a human vs. robot war. For fans of Isaac Asimov, Martha Wells, JN Chaney, and Becky Chambers, this is a hope punk sci fi book that is heartwarming and full of futuristic action.

Award Finalist, Best Science Fiction Novel, The SPSFC

Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 6
    Rusted Wasteland
  2. Print length
    382 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    February 27, 2020
  6. File size
    2709 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
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  9. Enhanced typesetting
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  10. See all details
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From the Publisher

Review for Steel Guardian
An image of a robot and a baby
About Steel Guardian
Steel Guardian Steel Defender Steel Protector Steel Siege Steel Soldier Steel Legacy
Steel Guardian Steel Defender Steel Protector Steel Siege Steel Soldier Steel Legacy
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See Details
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Customer Reviews
4.4 out of 5 stars
633
4.5 out of 5 stars
214
4.7 out of 5 stars
180
4.7 out of 5 stars
131
4.7 out of 5 stars
99
4.7 out of 5 stars
49
Price $3.99 $4.99 $4.99 $4.99 $5.99 $5.99
✓ Book 2 Book 3 Book 4 Book 5 Book 6

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Block, in short, is one of the finest and most noble characters - finest and most noble people - I have ever encountered in literature. Sure, Coral may have inadvertently tapped into a long-overgrown pocket of traumatic empathy in my psyche that was last torn open and punched repeatedly when I watched Johnny 5 getting disassembled in Short Circuit 2, but (not to spoil) he comes through it just fine and I consider this anguish well worth revisiting.... A simple story with a huge heart and a lot to think about. Can't ask for more than that." --The Book in Hand

"The lovable CleanerBot was a joy to follow through the story as it learned to care for its newfound charge and find it a person it deemed worthy to be its guardian. The world was well made, the other characters unique, and the plot interesting... A must read if you enjoy stories about lovable robots facing mortal danger!" --FANTASY-FACTION

"It's very rare when my connection with a character is instant, but I adored Block from the very start. He has such a clear distinct voice that hooked on my heartstrings. The plot is just breakneck speed. This isn't a long book and the entire time the main characters are on the run and trying to reach a place called New Denver where AI and humans live together in relative peace, and I love the friendship that develops. I absolutely adored this book." --Weather Wax Report

"With clean prose and unparalleled cliffhangers at the end of each chapter, this novel is a joy to read and nearly impossible to put down." --Matthew Cushing, SPSFC judge

"Set in an essentially post-apocalyptic world the main aim here is to get the baby to safety and to give them to a family, or person, who is worthy. It's such a simple premise but it makes for such a wonderful story. Despite the fact Block is a robot you start to see him have emotions and he develops such an attachment to the baby. For me, I think that emotional journey is the highlight of the book." --FanFiAddict

"Block is a delight... A fun road trip with a robot questioning his place in a world where humans are almost extinct." --Willam C. Tracy, author of The Seeds of Dissolution

"A very enjoyable protagonist, an underdog not just because he's a cleaning robot, but because he's an old, outdated cleaning robot, and a cleaning robot who still has affection for humans... A great fun romp with some twists on old tropes." --At Boundary's Edge

"Steel Guardian is a good robot-centered read. Fans of AIs, robots, and post-apocalyptic settings should check it out." --Eclectic Theist

"Steel Guardian drew me in immediately... The author cleverly uses Block's ponderings about his loyalties and past experiences to slowly reveal his background and current world circumstances. This book may encourage readers to question their own behaviors/beliefs and what it means to be human." --L.V. Ditchkus, SPSFC judge

"Great story. Block, the Cleanerbot, is engaging from the very beginning and the story immediately caught my attention with its strong voice and confident storyline." --Veronica Strachan, SPSFC judge

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08588JK1P
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Amazon Digital Services (February 27, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 27, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2709 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 382 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 633 ratings

About the author

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Cameron Coral

Cameron Coral

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Cameron Coral is an award-nominated science fiction author. Her book Steel Guardian about a post-apocalyptic CleanerBot was awarded second place in the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC).

Growing up with a NASA engineer in the family instilled a deep respect for science and for asking lots of questions. Watching tons of Star Trek episodes helped, too. Her imagination is fueled by breakthroughs in robotics, space travel, and psychology.

After moving around a lot (Canada, Arizona, Maryland, Australia), she now lives in Northern Illinois with her husband and a “shorty” Jack Russell terrier who runs the house.

Want a free novel, advance copies of books, and occasional rants about why robots are awesome? Visit her website: CameronCoral.com

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
633 global ratings
When the Cleaning stopped and the Nightmare Daycare Began,,,
5 Stars
When the Cleaning stopped and the Nightmare Daycare Began,,,
I did not know what to expect when I started this adventure, but I trusted the person that told me I would enjoy this story and I was NOT disappointedTold from the viewpoint of a robotic device, whose only goal and duty in life is to bring order and cleanliness to a totally messy world, I was amazed at how HUMAN this creature named Block became as the story progressedIf adventure, intrigue and action are your thing, then this is for you.Cameron Coral has borrowed bits and pieces from the greatest sci-fi novels and movies ever made, and molded them into a story that brings our main character from a single minded mundane purpose, to realizing that he is more than the sum of his parts as he travels the Apocalyptic wastelands, protecting his most valuable cargo: a single Human child.Take the journey,,,, you will not be disappointed
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Top reviews from the United States

Olivia J Ecklund
5.0 out of 5 stars Steel Guardian book 1
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2024
Verified Purchase
Great story, slow start, but well worth it. Lots of action and feeling as well. Robots vs Humans and a baby to protect.
One person found this helpful
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Laura Moncur
4.0 out of 5 stars Took me a bit to get into it, but it was delightful.
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2024
Verified Purchase
I abandoned this book about halfway through when a library book became available. It’s rare when I return to a book after abandoning it, but this book drew me back.
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Kimberley A. Mitchell
5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable read!
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2024
Verified Purchase
Exciting and filled with twists and turns. This is the kind of book I would have devoured as a teen, and still found it quite compelling as a 63 year old reader.
3 people found this helpful
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ET
5.0 out of 5 stars Not all robots will want to destroy humans. Haha
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2024
Verified Purchase
In this book there are good and bad AIs. This friendly cleaning robot is very likeable. Great story and easy reading. I really enjoyed this book. Just enough science to satisfy and make us think about AIs entangled with humans, a possible future.
4 people found this helpful
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Her Royal Dollness
4.0 out of 5 stars A decent attempt, but not without flaws
Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2023
Verified Purchase
Apparently in the 2040s, there will be a war between AI and humanity, leaving behind the usual burned-out, apocalyptic landscape we're all too familiar with. In the midst of this is a mild-mannered and displaced cleaning robot named Block that is on a mission to find a new, safe place to clean.

Dangerously low on power, Block makes its way into a derelict school building in the hopes of finding a means to re-energize--and gets more than it bargained for. Along with a power boost, Block is given unwilling charge of a human baby by a dying incubator bot. With bullets flying between human and robot combatants, Block flees to protect the baby. Its new mission is to find humans that are worthy to care for the child.

The idea has promise, but this is an unlikely hero--and the situations it encounters with the child stretch one's belief that the baby actually lived through them.

Block obsesses over the death of its former human employer and its failure to defend or hide the man when the danger from AI soldier bots came to the hotel where they worked. Pushed far beyond its programming and experience, Block has to adapt quickly--or neither he nor the baby (which the AI master has put a bounty on) will survive.

Not sure I'll read the second book, as I feel there are some problematic weaknesses in this one that are outweighing my desire to know what happens next. This wasn't a terrible story...but it wasn't what I consider a five-star one, either.
7 people found this helpful
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Craig S.
3.0 out of 5 stars okay
Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2024
Verified Purchase
I liked the premise of this but it drags often, repeating Block’s anxiety and fears. Found myself skimming and skipping a lot. May continue to see what happens.
2 people found this helpful
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Tanya Boyd Koch
5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down it down! Beautiful story
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2024
Verified Purchase
I really don't like reading Kindle, prefer hardbound books, but that was all that was available. I don't want to do paperback as they aren't neat. Finally settled on kindle and enjoyed the first book.
2 people found this helpful
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Matthew Dolan
5.0 out of 5 stars I enjoyed Block grew
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2024
Verified Purchase
Block is a good character that evolves through the process of protecting a baby. The characters were good. I liked the cars.
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Top reviews from other countries

sonia
5.0 out of 5 stars Steel guardian book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 29, 2024
Verified Purchase
Great book excellent story love all the characters
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Lena F.
4.0 out of 5 stars interesting scenerio on humans vs robots
Reviewed in the Netherlands on December 26, 2022
Verified Purchase
Cleaning Robot trying to escape both sides of the war raging between humans and robots. He saves a child and has to find a "worthy" person to take care of it. I only find it a shame to have to read the next book, to see what happens next. I enjoyed reading it.
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Phoebe D
5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting story
Reviewed in Australia on December 26, 2022
Verified Purchase
Now is a story that will cause meals to be missed and the cat not to be fed, just because you need to find out what is going to happen.
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Sue S
4.0 out of 5 stars Great sci-fi adventure
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 20, 2023
Verified Purchase
The futuristic story of a domestic robot who becomes enmeshed in a fight between robots and humans. He inadvertently comes across a special baby and takes care of it, protecting it from many perils on his journey.
The first book in a series of adventures- very compelling and interesting tale.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Could not put this series down!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 17, 2023
Verified Purchase
Bloody awesome series! So Mr C, Please get off facebook and get on with writing no 6 pretty please! lmao. Brilliant brilliant.
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