Murderbot Gets a Makeover in Artificial Condition
Murderbot Gets a Makeover in Artificial Condition – Murderbot Diaries Book 2 by Martha Wells – as it heads to where it all began . . . the very minute where it ‘went rogue’ and turned the corner toward sentience.
Why had it killed the members of its former crew, so many prior missions ago?
The remains of deleted memories still haunt the delightful SecUnit (security droid) with a conscience that, once self-aware, names itself Murderbot.
As it decides to go on a quest of self-discovery, the snarky, disdainful, and witty fan of space opera television, especially its favorite Sanctuary Moon, boards a ship sans crew, but finds an unexpected surprise . . .
“Murderbot Gets a Makeover in Artificial Condition” book review has Mild SPOILERS* related to the plot at the book’s start.
For Murderbot is not the only droid to have hacked its government module, and its new pilot is not only self-aware, but has serious attitude and a lot of questions for its newfound friend.
Without ruining the story, let us just say that when ART – the pilot-program – helps Murderbot with some body customizations to better fit in as human and throw off anyone looking for a rogue SecUnit, Murderbot has not thought through the end-result: if you look more human, you need to act more human.
What a nightmare!
Martha Wells’ Murderbot Diaries is a series that any fan of science fiction, Kurt Vonnegut, good humor, well-written action, and the philosophical contemplation of what it means to be alive – as a thinking being – including realistic artificial intelligence (real AI, not that LLM knock-off garbage-slop) must devour this as soon as you are able.
The security android unit has a unique, human-looking face – when its helmet is not opaqued – and a chiding personality, which works wonderfully as a metaphor for autism spectrum disorder on many levels:
- Murderbot feels and uses empathy in its actions, despite the common misnomers of a lack of feeling for others.
- Its face appears mask-like much of the time.
- It observes many details and minute facets of the human beings around it that they themselves are often oblivious to.
- It takes pride in making decisions based on logic, especially when its companions appear to fly in the face of it.
P.S. The MURDERBOT Apple TV series adaptation is very faithful, well-written, and superbly-acted and OUT NOW!
Murderbot often makes fun of – or screams in frustration – in its dealings with or monitoring of humans, and as it continues to binge-watch serial TV whenever it can, the reader gets the sense that this is an extremely plausible and entertaining depiction of AI.
For all of the awful renditions of self-aware programs or bots in fiction – After Origin, anyone? – that are far too simplistic or one-dimensional, in Artificial Condition, Murderbot, ART, and company are here to set us at ease.
The Forgotten Fiction Grade: YEA (read it!)!
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“Murderbot Gets a Makeover in Artificial Condition” Was Written By R.J. Huneke.
