All Systems Red by Martha Wells

All Systems Red (The Murderbot Diaries #1) creates a unique character and gripping premise in the world of science fiction from the very first page. With high praise in every review I've read, the Murderbot series of four novellas and two novels (with three more novels to come) has been turned into an Apple+ streaming series. If you have seen the show, this novella goes off in different directions, adding to the story.

In the corporate-dominated future, planetary missions must be approved by The Company, which contractually offers inferior supplies and security androids. These humanoid SecUnits, made of artificial and organic components, have weaponized suits and a governor module to ensure obedience. Only speaking when spoken to.

The planetary survey group PreservationAux are wary of SecUnits, and don't recognize the one assigned has gone rogue. They don't know he calls himself Murderbot and has removed his governor module so he can do what he wants, which is to watch hundreds of hours of his favourite serial on the satellite entertainment feed - the long-running Rise and Shine of Sanctuary Moon. If it's discovered he is now a free thinker, they would destroy his organic components and cut the rest up for parts. Scornful of humans, he just wants to be left alone to watch his shows. Blah, blah, blah, it's easier to pretend to be a robot.

Protecting them from hostile creatures while they survey, he discovers signs of sabotage. The other survey team DeltFall is found murdered, their SecUnits destroyed. Is there an enemy set on eliminating their investigations?

They soon find Murderbot has a mind of his own, revealing the standard generic human face beneath his helmet visor and awkwardly talking back. If they question his actions, answering "Security Protocol" usually works. He mines Company information on the HubSystem as they discover the enemy group GreyCris has destroyed the planets' emergency beacon. The humans plan: meet up and outsmart them. Even to him, that sounded like a stupid thing to do, but, blah blah blah, he's not contractually obligated to care.

This Murderbot has a quirky and sardonic sense of humor, and the series has been praised for its depiction of a character seemingly on the spectrum. The characters are gender-fluid, and the futuristic premise is presented in a fresh way. After watching the streaming series, I was gripped again by this story, and reading it only added to my enjoyment.

Martha Wells is an established fantasy writer, and All Systems Red won the Nebula Award, the Hugo Award, the Alex Award, and was nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award.

Blah, Blah, Blah. Just go read it.

2017 / Tradeback / 160 pages