Fugitive Telemetry

This entry takes the familiar Murderbot voice, dry, defensive and secretly caring, and drops it into a classic detective structure. The result is a lot of fun. Murderbot's methods, scanning camera feeds, piecing together data and noticing human behaviour it finds baffling, make for an unusual and satisfying investigation.

Much of the pleasure comes from its awkward partnership with Station Security, especially Senior Officer Indah, who distrusts it as much as it distrusts her. Their slow, grudging progress towards respect is handled with Wells's usual light touch. The mystery itself involves refugees and corporate schemes and wraps up neatly.

The book is set before Network Effect, even though it was published after, which can confuse readers following the series in order. It is also slighter than the novel that precedes it, with a smaller canvas and lower stakes. Fans will still enjoy it, and it works as a pleasant palate cleanser between bigger adventures. Newcomers should begin with All Systems Red, since much of the humour depends on knowing Murderbot's history and its complicated feelings about the humans it protects. About 176 pages in the Tordotcom hardcover; some catalogs say 168.