![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Book1.jpg?resize=114%2C181&ssl=1\")
By Martha Wells.\nTordotcom, Publisher.\n
<\/p>By Martha Wells.
\nTordotcom, Publisher.\n
This is a delightful science fiction series which explores \u201chuman nature\u201d in a non-human main character known as SecUnit. Told in the form of \u201cdiary\u201d entries (only without the dates for each ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Book2.jpg?resize=110%2C175&ssl=1\")
entry), these seven stories get the reader into the narrator\u2019s head. We see\/hear the action (and there is a LOT of that) through the eyes and ears of SecUnit, and every story is a wild ride.<\/p>\n
SecUnit (Security Unit), is a construct\u2013a humanoid with both artificial, augmented, and biological parts. SecUnits are usually owned by a corporation within the Corporate Rim segment of space, where life is run\/controlled\/secured by various corporations and their laws. SecUnits are used to ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Book3.jpg?resize=118%2C187&ssl=1\")
help keep the weaker humans safe on planetary exploration, terraforming expeditions, scientific research journeys, and the like. But to keep them in line and make them \u201csafer\u201d for direct interaction with humans, they are controlled by \u201cgovernor modules\u201d which, if the rules are violated in any way, will fry the SecUnit\u2019s brain from the inside out, rendering them useful only as spare parts.<\/p>\n
But here\u2019s the thing. SecUnit has hacked its governor module. We learn that in book one, so I\u2019m ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Book4.jpg?resize=107%2C170&ssl=1\")
not giving you any spoilers. But the fact that it has done so is a closely guarded secret, known (at first) only by SecUnit. The stories unfold as it begins to change, evolve, and relate to (ugh\u2013its sentiment, not mine) \u201cmessy\u201d humans. Some of its programming holds true\u2013protect humans at all costs\u2013while other bits of its programming do not; it\u2019s no longer ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Book5.jpg?resize=113%2C173&ssl=1\")
required to answer questions asked of it, or to respond to requests or demands. But if it doesn\u2019t do these things, the humans will quickly know that it\u2019s \u201crogue.\u201d This would be\u2026bad. Yeah, BAD. Its struggle to grow into its new nature and blend its internal Self with what is expected of it from those around it is closely related to the human struggle. It was a joy to read the stories and follow its development. With each experience, each adventure, each near-death experience, it comes closer to a fully fleshed out ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Book6.jpg?resize=102%2C163&ssl=1\")
(so to speak) individual, complete with FEELINGS (ugh) toward its crewmates. (Don\u2019t let SecUnit hear me say that.)<\/p>\n
There are seven Murderbot Diaries so far (see the list below). Most are novella length. One, book 5, is a full-length novel. While the stories in each one can stand alone, I would recommend reading them ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Book7.jpg?resize=103%2C164&ssl=1\")
in order since each book\u2019s story draws from and builds on what happened in the prior books. SecUnit grows and evolves a little further in each one, so now I\u2019m perched on the edge of my seat, waiting for the next book to come out. All seven of The Murderbot\u00a0Diaries are fabulous romps filled with snarky commentary, delightful dialogue, and non-stop drama\/action\/adventure, and available in multiple formats (including audiobook). I cannot recommend this series highly enough.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Book 1: All Systems Red
\n\u00a9 2017, ISBN: 978-0765397539<\/p>\n
Book 2: Artificial Condition
\n\u00a9 2018, ISBN: 978-1250186928<\/p>\n
Book 3: Rogue Protocol
\n\u00a9 2018, ISBN: 978-1250191786<\/p>\n
Book 4: Exit Strategy
\n\u00a9 2018, ISBN: 978-1250191854<\/p>\n
Book 5: Network Effect
\n\u00a9 2020, ISBN: 978-1250229854<\/p>\n
Book 6: Fugitive Telemetry
\n\u00a9 2021, ISBN: 978-1250765376<\/p>\n
Book 7: System Collapse
\n\u00a9 2023, ISBN: 978-1250826978<\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Martha Wells. Tordotcom, Publisher. This is a delightful science fiction series which explores \u201chuman nature\u201d in a non-human main character known as SecUnit. Told in the form of \u201cdiary\u201d entries (only without the dates for each entry), these seven stories get the reader into the narrator\u2019s head. We see\/hear the action (and there is…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3835","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8n0kX-ZR","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6308,"url":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/17\/project-hail-mary\/","url_meta":{"origin":3835,"position":0},"title":"Project Hail Mary","author":"DremaDeoraich","date":"August 17, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Andy Weir \u00a9 May 4, 2021 File Size: 11.6 MB ISBN-13: 978-0593135211 Ryland Grace awakens from a coma with no idea who he is, where he is, or what happened to put him there. 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