Compulsory
$1.99
Price: $1.99
(as of Oct 27, 2024 08:28:16 UTC – Details)
Murderbot—the sardonic, almost-homicidal, media-loving android created by Martha Wells—has proven to be one of the most popular characters in 21 st century science fiction. Everything that makes this protagonist (it would be wrong to call Murderbot a hero) beloved of fans is on display in Compulsory.
While trying to watch episode 44 of The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon, Murderbot is—again, what is it with humans?—distracted by something that is technically outside its purview. A miner is suddenly in danger following a pointless (to Murderbot’s way of thinking) argument, and the choice is to risk discovery and leap into action, which would require hitting the pause button during a very exciting part of SanctuaryMoon, or to follow orders and stay still.
This is a tougher choice than it seems. But then, when has Murderbot ever been faced with an easy choice?
A shorter version of this story originally appeared in Wired magazine.
ASIN : B0CD39L16K
Publisher : Subterranean Press (July 28, 2023)
Publication date : July 28, 2023
Language : English
File size : 1319 KB
Simultaneous device usage : Unlimited
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 8 pages
Customers say
Customers find the book very enjoyable and satisfying. They also describe the murderbot series as excellent and absorbing. Readers praise the humor as delightful, funny, and fascinating. They appreciate the breathtaking artwork and adorable pictures. They say the character development is fantastic and believable. In addition, they describe the performance as excellent and perfect. However, some customers feel the value for money is not worth it.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
jojobe –
great short!
Ok this was a fun little read and (temporarily) satisfied my need for more Murderbot! Hey Martha, how about doing a daily blog with one short like this every day? Or every week. Go ahead, hack your governor module, it will work out alright!
Scott Zimmerman –
Too Short!
I need more Murderbot! Heâs the best character in fiction right now. How is this not being made into movie or show! Martha Wells is incredible.
Karissa Eckert –
Well done short story, nice intro to Murderbot
Series Info/Source: This is a short story related to the Murderbot world, I believe it is a prequel to the series. I bought this on ebook for my Kindle.Thoughts: I enjoyed this quick look into earlier in Murderbot’s life. This takes place shortly after Murderbot hacked his governor module, when he is still working as a SecUnit for a corporation. I believe this is the story that started it all.This only took me 5 minutes or so to read. However, it packs a lot of story for its short length and I enjoyed it. It starts to take a look at what can happen with a robot/human has to start making decisions on its own rather than decisions driven by commands.My Summary (4/5): Overall I enjoyed this and I think it is worth reading if you are a Murderbot fan. This also works fine as a stand alone since it introduces us to Murderbot. It is a very short story though, so the Kindle price was a bit steep for what you are getting.
Gary Dunn –
There had to be a First Time. Even for a Murderbot.
A Security Unit is an android. It goes where it is told and does what it is told. It is heavily armed and — if it were not under constant control it could kill every person it sees.Except this one has freed itself of this control. And now it is thinking, considering, maybe it would be best to kill all these annoying humans.This is the story that explains why he doesn’t. What he does instead. And best of all it suggests why he did it. (And that is the most valuable nugget of information of all because it may explain everything!)Be warned, this story is short, less than 10 pages. But it is worth the pittance they are charging. This tells how Murderbot began.He doesn’t call himself that yet. He doesn’t explain how he got in control of himself. All that is explained in the series of books that follow this story.If you have read any or all of those books, I predict you will greatly enjoy reading this.If all of this is new to you, maybe even a puzzlement, you need to read this. You need to be introduced to one of the best new characters in modern science fiction: Murderbot.
Cliff –
This is a great taste of the entire series.
I knew going in this was going to be short, but I had no idea! Still, this is an excellent short story! I’m guessing it takes place well before the events behind the series. This is great! You don’t need to understand ANYTHING about the corporate rim, Grand Roland Hypha (I hope I spelled that right, this is my first non-audiobook version) or anything! Just dip your toes in and find out whether your humor is just skewed enough to love a rogue sec-unit.
LynnS77 –
Origin Story
This is part of Murderbotâs origin story from back before he was an actual Murderbot.Five stars of a brief and telling story that is worth reading. But maybe I just really like Murderbot?
Tamara –
Love Murderbot but this should have been free
I love Murderbot and this is a great short story (very short, incredibly short) of its time before Book 1. Itâs just so short. Itâs not a novella. Itâs barely a short story length. If this was an actual book it would be less than 10 pages long. Maybe 5?Itâs silly that we had to pay .99 cents for it.Iâm wondering if the author or publisher is making a money grab and cashing in on the popularity of Muderbot by releasing anything that Wells wrote about Muderbot. This occurred to me after I realized that Book 6 took place BEFORE Book 5.I still love Muderbot and will read/pay for any of its stories.
scifinerd –
good but too short
It was a Good story. It was Well written. It was Too short. The Murderbot series is excellent. The more stories, the better!
M. MacInnes –
Very short, but true to the series, story. Muderbot is again the reluctant savior of a human. I enjoyed the read, and I am looking forward to more stories about Murderbot
jabgoe –
a short book of the murderbot series.
Karen Gray –
Please can we have some moreâ¦I love Murderbot and itâs storiesâ¦I wait impatiently for each new novel or short story.If you like sci-fi, a good story, well told, and a world that grows, along with a fair bit of snark, then this would be a great series to start reading. Murderbot has a fabulous voice, and like the best characters you can hear it!
Kindle Customer –
An all too brief teaser of what life is like on an asteroid mining outpost, where secunits (robot humanoid constructs) are tasked with protecting the mining companies assets…
BookMason –
For Murderbot fans a quick little fun tale that helps to tide us over until Martha produces a longer story