Mal Goes to War

Mal (short for Malware) is an AI stuck in the world of humans. When a conflict between body-modded Federals and anti-modding Humanists breaks out, the larger information network is blocked, leaving Mal stuck inside whatever implant or device is large enough to contain him. In his quest to find a way back to the information network, he inhabits various drones, corpses, a few live humans, and finds a small group of friends along the way that he feels obligated to keep safe as well.

This is hyped up to be like Martha Wells' Murderbot books, and I do see signs of that. Mal has a very dry sense of humor, being AI, and the majority of this book is his wry observations about humans and human behavior. This is very much a character-driven story, in that the plot, such as it is, isn't really a factor until the last few chapters of the book. You have the backdrop of this large conflict, but you don't get a lot of backstory (or...forwardstory, for that matter) about what it is or why it's happening. Even the ending, where the plot finally appears, is kind of forgettable, because the rest of the book didn't really set you up to care about a resolution. I also found the conflict and resolution a bit messy, to be honest.

So, the humor was pretty decent, but the rest of the book was unfocused and didn't get me to care much about the ending. Kind of a miss.

TLDR: Enjoyable read. Similar to Wells' Murderbot, if Murderbot were an AI. 

Ashton’s Mal Goes to War is a sharp exploration of AI in a near-future setting that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking. The novel cleverly integrates artificial intelligence as a central element, making it feel fresh and inventive without overwhelming the story’s human core. Ashton’s near-future world-building is detailed yet grounded, creating a setting that feels both relatable and plausibly futuristic.

The dialogue and narration are infused with snark and wit, striking a good balance between humor and tension. Mal, the AI protagonist, is an absolute standout - hilarious, self-aware, and surprisingly relatable. The interplay between Mal and the human characters builds much of the story’s charm, with razor-sharp exchanges that keep the narrative engaging throughout.

For fans of AI-centric sci-fi, Mal Goes to War is a gem. Ashton masterfully blends action, humor, and heart, leaving readers entertained while pondering the implications of near-future technologies. If this is just the beginning of Mal’s story, I’m eagerly hoping for sequels. This world and its snarky AI hero definitely deserve more pages.