#25 [2024/CBR16] Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells

I'm slowly working my way through the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. I think Fugitive Telemetry (2021) is the fourth or fifth Murderbot novella that I've read. Even though science-fiction is not my favorite genre, I've definitely enjoyed reading these books. They are funny, creative and exciting. The Murderbot is both impressive and relatable, and my science-fiction, loving friend is so happy that I continue to read these. On the other hand, I have a hard time remembering the details in these books, and especially keeping the different novellas straight. Granted, I read Fugitive Telemetry many months ago at this point, but I have already forgotten most of the details of the people involved and the plot.

So after a quick google search, I refreshed my recollection for a quick summary. The Murderbot is on Preservation when it discovers a dead body. It is par for the course that security on Preservation do not trust Murderbot, but in the end Dr. Mensa encourages them to work together to discover what is going on. 

Murderbot uses its tools and tricks to link the body back to a ship, and they learn more details from there. It is fun to see how reluctant Murderbot is to work with others and to see others come to trust and rely on him. In the end, the murdered man was helping refugees from a slave-like planet escape to their freedom. Now the refugees are in danger, and Murderbot uses its considerable skill to find them and go after them--even when the very sight of the Murderbot is terrifying to them. 

The themes of loneliness and not fitting in continue to be strong in this novella. The Murderbot is still a fun and engaging narrator. I enjoyed reading this book, and I'm pretty sure I will move on to the first full-length Murderbot book, The Network Effect, at some point next year.