Artifical Condition
By: Martha Wells
It has a dark past – one in which a number of humans were killed. A past that caused it to christen itself “Murderbot”. But it has only vague memories of the massacre that spawned that title, and it wants to know more.
Auuster's Takeaway
The story is set after All Systems Red (the first installment of the Murderbot series). The Secunit has left her owners and decided to search about her past. She wanted to search about her erased memories where she was accused of being a rouge unit, destroying her entire team.
On her route to the planet, she encounters a scientific research vessel with greater artificial intelligence. Asshole Research Transport (ART) became the intelligence and surveillance system for the Secunit’s mission. She disguised herself as a security consultant to protect a group of three people while trying to uncover her own story.
I rather enjoyed the story and the commentary going on through the Secunit’s head. It was interesting to see the considerations made to alter the Secunit’s appearance and her intentions to maintain hidden. Above all, the Secunit seems to have both a rational side and an emotional side. Which makes her somewhat relatable.
All in all, it is a great follow up to the first novella.