All Systems Red: The Murderbot Diaries

Description

In this science-fiction novella, a cyborg security unit protects scientists on an alien research mission. After overriding its governor module, the autonomous unit calls itself Murderbot, though it would rather watch soap operas than perform security work. When an expedition member is attacked, Murderbot saves her and begins confronting evidence that the mission has been sabotaged, including deleted fauna data and missing maps. The team later finds another expedition destroyed and suspects that a third group is targeting both missions. As the scientists flee an assassin team, Murderbot devises a false negotiation and tries to summon help. Its growing attachment to caring humans produces emotions it finds deeply uncomfortable, even as it remains wary of them and of its own violent history.

Themes