This novella has won ALL OF THE AWARDS, which makes it difficult to review. There’s not much I can add to the discourse about it that hasn’t already been said, and it doesn’t need the advertising help. But it was a wonderfully fun read, so if you’re one of the five science-fiction fans after me who hasn’t started on this series, you should probably rectify that immediately. You won’t regret it.

This is a fun locked room (planet) sort of mystery, and the POV character (self-named Murderbot) is just as adorable/hilarious/murderous as everyone raves. The pacing works well for novella-length story, and I was never bored with any facet of the adventure.

The technology and world-building of this universe are never totally fleshed out, but it’s appropriate to what Murderbot knows and accepts about its life. I also especially enjoyed the novelty of a POV character without a specified gender, which adds a subtle nuance to the writing.

As usual, my greatest praise for a book is whether I get the sequel. I’m definitely looking forward to reading the further adventures of Murderbot.

Rating: 5 (out of 5) stars. Cross-posted to Amazon and Goodreads.