Fugitive Telemetry

"Fugitive Telemetry," the sixth book in Martha Wells' acclaimed Murderbot Diaries series, delivers a delightful blend of snark, mystery, and reluctant heroism. Our beloved, misanthropic SecUnit, who would much rather binge-watch media in peace, finds itself embroiled in a murder investigation on Preservation Station.

The story kicks off with a dead body, disrupting Murderbot's plans for a quiet existence. This unexpected murder propels our anti-social protagonist into the role of a detective, navigating the intricacies of a space station murder mystery. With its characteristic wit and dry humour, Murderbot reluctantly engages with the humans of Preservation Station, who not only distrust it but also impose restrictions on its ability to hack systems and move freely.

This locked-room whodunit is packed with sarcastic commentary and clever insights, as Murderbot maneuvers through the investigation, uncovering clues and dealing with the prejudices that still linger despite robots being considered people. The tension between Murderbot's desire for solitude and its evolving sense of duty adds depth to the narrative, making for an engaging and multifaceted read.

Wells masterfully balances the humour and the suspense, creating a story that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining. "Fugitive Telemetry" is a testament to her skill in character development and world-building, as we see Murderbot's growth and its interactions with the humans around it.

For fans of the series, this instalment offers another captivating adventure with our favourite snarky AI. If you're new to the Murderbot Diaries, prepare to be hooked by the unique blend of science fiction, mystery, and the irresistible charm of a robot that just wants to be left alone.

A fun story, where Murderbot gets to play a detective to solve a murder mystery on Preservation Station. The investigation would involve determining if the murder was part of an attempt on its client's life by the company, GrayCris, that Murderbot and its client royally screwed in the previous Murderbot stories.

Also involved in the investigation would be Station Security, who are reluctant to work with a rogue SecUnit (aka Murderbot) who they think would murder them all in an instant (and they wouldn't be wrong). To allay their fears, Murderbot had earlier promise not to hack their security system, which limits what kinds of data Murderbot can access, which makes it very unhappy (it needs all the info to make sure the case wasn't part of a GrayCris plot).

Eventually, Murderbot works it all out and determines not just why the murder occurred, but also the method and who did it. And now it and Station Security have a better working relationship.

Written from Murderbot's point of view, the story features a lot of internal monologues and Murderbot's opinions about humans on the station (mostly sarcastic and funny), which adds a lot of laughs to the situation. Of course, there are moments of sheer violence, but Murderbot keeps the enemy body count low compared to previous stories.