Martha Wells

Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory, A Murderbot Short Story: #BookReview #scifi #scifibooks #sciencefiction #BookLover

Book Review, Science Fiction Books, Space Opera / By /

“Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory” by Martha Wells was a treat I saved for my first chemo treatment. What better companion for battle than Murderbot? Of course, I loved it. Murderbot is my new obsession. As a treat, I pre-ordered the next book due out at end of November. Not only am I excited about the new novel, but I’ll be done with chemo then, done with surgery, and done or nearly done with radiation. So come quickly end of November!

“Home” is a fascinating and thought-provoking short story that expands the world of the Murderbot series in new ways. Unlike previous installments, the story is not told from Murderbot’s perspective, but rather from the point of view of Dr. Mensah, the human who freed him at the end of book one. This story takes place between books 1 and 2 in the timeline.

The story explores the concept of “home” and what it means for different characters in the series. From the perspective of humans, “home” can be a place of safety and security, while for bots like Murderbot, it can be a more elusive concept, tied more to personal freedom and autonomy.

One of the strengths of “Home” is Wells’ ability to create vivid and compelling characters in just a few pages. Despite the brevity of the story, each character is well-drawn and fully realized, with their own motivations and desires.

Wells continues to expand and deepen the world of the series. The themes of family, belonging, and identity are explored in a nuanced and compelling way, making for a satisfying and thought-provoking read.

If there’s one downside to “Home,” it’s that the story is over too soon. Of course, I wanted more. I always want more Murderbot. For a person who doesn’t usually care for robot stories, I’m quite surprised that this series has become such an obsession for me. This story made me laugh out loud a few times. Not an easy feat with chemo drugs being pumped into your veins. Murderbot is always good for some laughs. It has a sense of humor. So yeah, go read you some Murderbot.

 

 

Ooo! And here’s the cover of the next one. Can’t wait!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#SciFi Worth Reading: All Systems Red #BookReview

Book Review, Science Fiction Books / By /

Robot stories aren’t usually my thing, but All Systems Red: The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells changed my mind.

Murderbot was easy to identify with and to root for. It just wants to be left in peace to watch TV but is forced to figure out what it wants. The clients it is contracted to watch over end up in a pickle, and Murderbot decides to help.

Murderbot can ignore its programming and surprises itself by continuing to assist its humans.

The story stirs up all sorts of questions. What is life? If it can think and feel, does it have rights? Mostly, what will Murderbot do now?

I’m so curious, I ordered the second book. Yup, it was that good. There was suspense and action, and I got to spend some time on an alien planet. All pluses for me.

I would recommend this book, however, t’s a short one. It doesn’t take long to devour it. It’s also a pricey series.

“As a heartless killing machine, I was a complete failure.”

In a corporate-dominated spacefaring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. Exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids, for their own safety.

But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn’t a primary concern.

On a distant planet, a team of scientists are conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid — a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module, and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.” Scornful of humans, all it really wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is.

But when a neighboring mission goes dark, it’s up to the scientists and their Murderbot to get to the truth.

 

 

 

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