Artificial Condition

In All Systems Red, the first in The Murderbot Diaries series, Murderbot, a security robot, hacks its governor module and is therefore not beholden to its client’s instructions. Without strong ties to anyone or anyplace, and with the anonymity of its human disguise, Murderbot is free to explore the universe. This freedom is a curse as well as a blessing because Murderbot must take responsibility for its future. Introverted, asexual, unhoused, and without the need for food, drink, or sleep, Murderbot’s freedom comes without the limitations that might provide purpose for a human in a similar situation. Murderbot understands that if it doesn’t find a purpose it could sink into “anxiety and depression” (19).

Artificial Condition emphasizes Murderbot’s plight by inviting the reader to ask what they would do in its situation. The novella does not answer the question of Murderbot’s future. While it discovers important information about its past, Murderbot does not depart RaviHyral with a clearly defined purpose. The parallel of the novella’s beginning and end, in which Murderbot jumps onto a transport without a stated destination, suggests that it has much to learn about itself and that purpose is not easy to find.