The Murderbot is an enigmatic individual whose travails are followed in this fine novella by Mary Wells. It is a worthy finalist in the 2018 Hugo Awards.
The story is skillfully paced and allows the reader to understand the protagonist's struggle with its role as a Security Unit for as group of scientists on an unexplored planet. A sense of its fear and trepidation that it will fail at its task is palpable, and its determination to isolate itself from its charges so as not to be emotionally affected by the these undertakings is oppressive. The murderbot seeks solace in downloaded media to wall itself off from any interaction with its erstwhile employers. We get the hint of a backstory tragedy, which has made this behaviour an essential survival mechanism.
But when the shit hits the fan, and its charges are endangered, it has no choice but to risk its hard won isolation and protection in its duty to those it has been tasked to protect.
The story is skillfully paced and allows the reader to understand the protagonist's struggle with its role as a Security Unit for as group of scientists on an unexplored planet. A sense of its fear and trepidation that it will fail at its task is palpable, and its determination to isolate itself from its charges so as not to be emotionally affected by the these undertakings is oppressive. The murderbot seeks solace in downloaded media to wall itself off from any interaction with its erstwhile employers. We get the hint of a backstory tragedy, which has made this behaviour an essential survival mechanism.
But when the shit hits the fan, and its charges are endangered, it has no choice but to risk its hard won isolation and protection in its duty to those it has been tasked to protect.