Synopsis
When last we left MurderBot, it had decided to decline the generous offer of life under the auspices of Dr. Mensah and pursue a peripatetic lifestyle of its own. After outfitting itself with ill-gotten clothing disguised as an augmented human, MurderBot hitches a ride on a bot-driven cargo transport using downloaded entertainment media as bartering chips to ensure its passage. MurderBot soon finds itself on a "transit ring mall" feeling secure even though there is a bustle of activity all about it. It knows that the hovering security bots wouldn't be scanning for SecUnits unless specifically instructed; it feels relief. Proceeding through the transit mall, MurderBot espies a news feed with an image of itself dressed in gray PreservationAux survey uniforms. Braced for the worst, MurderBot replays the feed and gleans that it is listed as a "bodyguard," and the station it had thought of as The Station was termed "Port FreeCommerece." MurderBot is pleased to see that journalists had not made the connection between what was a purchased SecUnit and an assumed "generic augmented human person." Time stamping reveals that it is old news, and besides, no one would be looking for a "rogue SecUnit."
As it were, MurderBot has come to this outreach for a reason. It has formulated a plan to get it to the RaviHyral Mining Facility Q Station, specifically the installation called Ganaka Pit. An "incident"(a massacre at the hands of MurderBot as a SecUnit) niggles at it, and it feels some compulsion will resolve the uncertainty it feels concerning its then rogue state, "I needed to find out whether or not it had been voluntary." MurderBot settles in for the second leg of its journey, ready to pass the time by watching a new entertainment media series when its feed is interrupted by a transport bot that seems to have some knowledge of its history. After some bantering, ART (aka Asshole Research Transport) offers to support MurderBot in its mission, the reason: boredom.
It soon becomes apparent that ART has some significant research abilities and possesses some serious hacking skills. Together with MurderBot's skills at breaching data, we are witness to a hack fest throughout the novella. But first, MurderBot needs its configuration altered. Why? With a little bit of persuasion, MurderBot is made to see reason: that closer resemblance to an augmented human will help it blend in and avoid identification as a SecUnit to those familiar with this class of AI. MedSystem augmentation surgery is a go and proves to be successful.
After a plausible recuperation, ART points out that a position as a security consultant could earn it an employment voucher to said installation, and it has found a technologist group with a need for a limited contract, and a meeting is secured. "Two were female, and one was tercera, which as a gender signifier used in the group of non-political entities known as the Divarti Cluster." They appear as being not far from adolescence, but their problem is quite adult. While working on RaviHyral, for Tlacy Excavations in mineral research and technology, personal data results are stolen from the group resulting in being suddenly terminated without explanation. Tlacy Excavations absconded with work that was free from contractual obligations. MurderBot finally says, " I accept your job." after the group parries with some other possible outcomes.
A meeting with Tlacy in a public place, a food court in the centre of the port fulfills expectations; however, in the aftermath, the encounter goes south. MurderBot's clients whisked away to safety, remain unsettled after their hostile battle with the so-called "Targets."
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| Concept Art & Illustration by JAIME JONES www.artpad.org ©2018, Jaime Jones |
A disgruntled Tlacey employee reaches out with an offer, his surrendering files of importance to Tapan et al. (clients). A meeting is set up, questionably a trap? What ensues is an exciting encounter with a Comfort Unit, Tlacey and a goon squad.
After a short goodbye, MurderBot reminds itself it needs some additional downloads for its next transport. It appears it will be a lengthy one.
Epilogue
What exactly are we witnessing here? Martha Wells is taking us on an "AIian" SecBot evolution. In All Systems Red, MurderBot exercised its first step on the road to independent thinking: free will. And what makes us human? The act of free will. MurderBot initiates a series of decisions that constitute free will and is primarily exhibiting its "humanness" in each consequential action.
To begin with, its decision to leave Dr. Mensah initiates this new-found drive. Then, it steals clothing, acts as an augmented human, undergoes a Humpty Dumpty augmenting surgery, takes on clients, gives orders, has ideas, balances what it hears as truth or lies, behaves like a fugitive, experiences friendship, cares for its clients, weighs the balance of right and wrong, and most importantly: discovers the truth concerning its so-called rogue behaviour. Its paranoia as a SecUnit is now clearly chary. Are not these all the actions a human would assume? I can't help feeling that MurderBot's addiction to downloaded space operas (that it dearly loves to watch on a scale that goes beyond bingeing) has an osmotic impact contributing to its ever-expanding human side. I anticipate further development.
Once again, employing the evolutionary theme, I admire Martha Well's contribution to the revolutionary human experience. She has taken us into the future by introducing us to new human genders currently unknown; she authenticates this by creating pronouns to further the effect. I feel that Martha is demonstrating humanities increasing tolerance for change and differences outlined in today's attitude towards evolving human relationships.
Special consideration should apply to the method Martha uses, whereby she verbally choreographs the two main violent confrontations in exquisite detail demonstrating, MurderBot's martial abilities.
MurderBot is genuinely a unique character full of charm, faults, and failings, always searching for the next plane of adaptability; I hope it finds it. I look forward to its next foray into self-discovery.
Post-Script
I hope that someone somewhere thinks about turning the MurderBot novellas into a television series.I was impressed with the artwork that went into development for the novellas' cover page. Please check out Jaime Jones's portfolio at www.artpad.org.
To Purchase The MurderBot Diaries: Artificial Condition go to https://amzn.to/2ASrR1r
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