All Systems Red by Martha Wells

 

All Systems Red by Martha Wells, 152 pages

From the MARC: "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."

Artificial Condition by Martha Wells

 Artificial Condition by Martha Wells, 158 pages

The self-christened Murderbot has left its human guardian to dig into its own violent past. Reluctantly teaming up with a transport vessel named ART, Murderbot makes its way into the mining facility where it once went rogue and had its memory wiped. 

All Systems Red was so, so good that I was almost afraid to continue to series. So often I am disappointed by subsequent offerings of an engaging story, but Martha Wells goes beyond. Artificial Condition straight snagged my imagination and I read it all in one sitting. 

All Systems Red by Martha Wells,

 All Systems Red by Martha Wells, 171 pages

A SecUnit which calls itself Murderbot has hacked its command module; now instead of a mindless drone, a budding personality is emerging. Desperate to keep itself separate from the humans it has been hired to protect, Murderbot learns of an unforeseen plot against the team. 

All Systems Red is my first foray into the Martha Wells catalog. I cannot wait to dive in further. The characters were compelling, the writing kinetic, and the worldbuilding was solid.