All Systems Red

On first reading, I thought this was a story about a robot with some superficial organic components (like a Terminator), but I realize now that it has a human brain in there somewhere; although that brain is heavily supplemented by inorganic processing, memory, and communication components. So the fact that it thinks and behaves somewhat like a human isn't as implausible as I originally thought.However, it has no interest in sex and no sex organs. It doesn't eat, drink, or excrete (which makes me wonder how its organic brain and other components are maintained). Furthermore, up to the start of this story it's always been regarded and treated as equipment, as property, not as a person. So, compared with an average human, it's abnormal in various ways.It once killed a bunch of humans because a malware attack messed up its mind, and it privately calls itself Murderbot, I suspect because it still feels guilty about that; although the incident wasn't its fault. It tells us that it doesn't care about anything, but it behaves as though it cares very much about the humans for whose safety it's responsible.This story, being the first in the series, introduces us to the main character, the good guys, and the bad guys; all of whom will appear again in later stories.The scenario of the story reminds me vaguely of [b:Shards of Honor 531792 Shards of Honor (Vorkosigan Saga, #1) Lois McMaster Bujold https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1681493311l/531792.SY75.jpg 9673658]: a team of scientists surveying an uninhabited planet is unexpectedly attacked by strangers.I like the story more now that I find Murderbot more plausible, and I've gradually come to the conclusion that this makes an excellent start to the series. Wells writes here with more confidence, and hits the spot more accurately, than I've noticed when trying some of her fantasy books.It occurs to me that Murderbot might otherwise be named Supernerd. It's more powerful and less vulnerable than a human, and it's intelligent and well-meaning, but it's also socially challenged, addicted to video dramas, and moody and sulky at times.