Thirty years into our future, life is very different in Auckwell. Robots do everything for humans, from cooking and cleaning to developing personal AI’s to keep them company. Technology allows humans to virtually visit anywhere in the world, or visit people by hologram if feeling lonely. This tech is welcome because inside their homes is the best place to be.

The world outside is being gobbled by desert or flooded by oceans, with extreme temperatures both hot and cold. Scientists have also had to deal with another problem for humans. Some humans, both young and old have begun to fart. No one knows why, even with scientific studies done on diets why people are farting – constantly.

This affliction is so bad for many that members of their households must wear special equipment to be able to breathe. Way too expensive for most, there needed to be another solution – Bad Smell Hotels.

These custom built buildings house these people and their smells, far from their family and friends. They rarely leave their rooms and leave their in-house robots to do everything for them. There are a few however who still love to do what they loved to do before.

Aina loves to dance and Jerry loves watching her do it. This friendship and simple enjoyment in their lives leads to an amazing discovery. Will anyone else believe them?

This daughter and dad team began to put this story together on walks during NZ’s Covid lockdown in 2020. Each day after their walk they would make notes and changes until their story had finally come together.

The Bad Smell Hotel is a quick and funny read for ages 8 up. The narrator talks directly to the reader, telling the story of two twenty-somethings discovering each other, a solution and a much happier life. It’ll make you wonder what might be in store for us in the future. Will we have to start wearing a Fart-Bit?

Authors – Leela & Rajorshi Chakraborti

Age – 8+

(2023, The Cuba Press, Ahoy, Farts, Funny, Humour, Future, Robots, Technology, Virtual travel, Dance, Friendship, Teaching, School, Experiment, NZ, New Zealand)