The Love Machine (novel) The Love Machine (novel) The Love Machine is the second novel by Jacqueline Susann, the follow-up to her enormously successful "Valley of the Dolls" (1966). Published by Simon & Schuster in 1969, the book was a "New York Times" #1 best seller. "The Love Machine" tells the story of ruthless, haunted Robin Stone and his life and career in the cut-throat world of 1960s network television. Handsome but promiscuous, the latter earning his nickname the Love Machine after he describes television with the same sobriquet, Robin is loved beyond all reason by three women: Amanda, the beautiful but doomed fashion
Jacqueline Susann novel, "The Love Machine", is the story of Robin Stone, a ruthless but tormented executive in the cut-throat world of 1960s network television, and three women who love him: Amanda, the doomed fashion model; Maggie, the independent television personality turned movie actress; and Judith, the insecure wife of the network founder. Like "Valley", the book was considered a "roman a clef", with Robin reportedly based on former CBS president James Aubrey. Published by Simon & Schuster on May 14, 1969, the book was an immediate success: it spent 32 weeks (13 weeks at #1) on the "New York Times" best