Thoughts Murderbot Diaries #1 
by Martha Wells, Tor.com 2017, 155 pages
Challenge: 20 Books of Summer
Genre/Theme: Artificial Intelligence, Humor, Fun Adventure
Type/Source: eBook / Libby-Kindle
What It’s About: We meet “Murderbot”, an artificial intelligence device called a “construct” which is a company-controlled machine, hired to protect. Murderbot is the private name given to themself but is referred to as “SecUnit” by the humans, aka the clients of the company that is on expedition to an unknown planet. Murderbot is the security detail to keep the humans safe from hostile fauna and flora. I had somehow assigned Murderbot a feminine pronoun, others have assumed Murderbot is a he. (I discovered this when I started reading reviews… I found it interesting I assumed Murderbot is a girl.)
The planet has another expedition party on the other side of the planet and when their communications link goes dark, the crew of Murderbot’s party decides to go check out what happened, either to render assistance and/or discover a threat.
In the ensuing survival efforts, the humans and Murderbot, reach new understandings of what it means to be a construct and a human. They become friends. Sort of.
Thoughts: Great fun and lots of laughs. The kind of sly wit and funny asides, under breath mutterings and sarcasm.
Rating: Four slices of pie. No pie mentioned.
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YAYYYYYY Murderbot! I think in latter books it’s been referring to itself as it (maybe? did I make that up), so I’ve been doing that as well. But yeah, gosh, I love Murderbot so much — you are reminding me I have the latest novella still to read!
YAY!
I love this first book so much! And all the subsequent ones! Jenny’s right that the Murderbot prefers “it.” (I had to concentrate not to call it a “she” for a while and couldn’t figure out why so I went through the book and found passages where it explicitly says it prefers “it” as a pronoun).
Good to know. I think Ruthiella had a theory on why she thought it was a girl… Me? I was intrigued why I did so, and I’m not sure.
Murderbot is completely new to me. Sounds like a bit of fun.
FOMO!
I’ve added this to my list since so many of friends love it!
Same
I just read this first one and it was so much fun! I can’t wait to read the rest.
Yes! I think I saw your Litsy post on this.