The Murderbot Diaries, by Martha Wells (All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol)

I’m lumping the first three novellas into one review. 

Murderbot is a great addition to the roster of cranky sci-fi robots that include Bender from Futurama, Marvin from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and the Roomba that always looks like it’s judging me when sucking up the Cheez-It crumbs after breakfast.

Murderbot is an AI security robot who has gone rogue. And going rogue means they’re not only an unregulated killing machine, but they also act like a lazy teenager addicted to TV. In these first three novellas, Murderbot gets swept up in various shenanigans when all they really want is to be left alone and watch shows. There are spaceships, shady space corporations, planetary crime scenes – all the usual sci-fi stuff, but told through the lens of Space Eeyore.

I heard good things about the series, but never knew why it was popular. I went in expecting a RoboCop-like character but instead was treated to a remarkably human robot that’s less like the Terminator and more like Darlene from Roseanne. 

I know there’s an Apple+ show based on the series, but I haven’t checked it out yet. Any good? 

And if you want to read the book, check your local library (or the Libby App) because it’s straight-up rude to charge $15 for a novella. I think Murderbot would agree. (Maybe I’m just a cranky robot. That would explain the sparks.)

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