The Brave Little Toaster is a novel by Thomas M. Disch intended for children or as put by Disch, A Bedtime Story for Small Appliances. The story centers on five household appliances—the Lamp , the Blanket , the Radio , the Hoover , and the Toaster —on their quest to find their owner, referred to as "The Master." The story first appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction . Although appearing in a general circulation magazine, the story was written in the style of a children's fable. It was one of the most popular science fiction and fantasy stories of the early 1980s,... and was nominated for both a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award for Best Novella. It also won a Locus Award, Seiun Award and British SF Association Award. It was later published as a book. The Brave Little Toaster was well-received by critics. Anna Quindlen, writing for the New York Times, called it "a wonderful book for a certain sort of eccentric adult. You know who you are. Buy it for your children; read it yourself," and also suggested that the book lacked a clearly defined audience.
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