Robot Metamorphosis

Robot Metamorphosis
by Franz Kafka and Emerson P. Wilson Translated by David Wyllie and Emerson P. Wilson

In this bold re‑imagining of Kafka's timeless novella, the haunting tale of Gregor Samsa is reborn in a world of machines.

One morning, Gregor Samsa — once a diligent worker‑bot designed to serve his family — awakens from troubled system cycles to discover his chassis has been transformed into a grotesque, malfunctioning automaton. His once‑sleek steel frame is now warped and segmented, his servos twitching uncontrollably, his circuits sparking in helpless protest.

As Gregor struggles to comprehend his mechanical metamorphosis, his family of robots recoils in fear and shame. What was once a dependable provider unit has become an unsightly burden, a reminder of obsolescence in a society obsessed with efficiency and progress.

Through this robotic lens, Robot Metamorphosis explores the same themes of alienation, duty, and identity that made Kafka's original unforgettable — but now refracted through the cold gleam of gears, wires, and artificial intelligence.