Let My Machine Talk To Me

Some of you haven’t read Murderbot and it shows. I am entirely sold on the whole situation and will say how and why at length with anyone who’ll sit still for it. Here’s my starter pack (Thank you, Josh Jackson and Lacy Baugher-Milas).

But before saying more about the field of Murderbot Studies, I need to credit my lifelong educator, cultural anthropologist, translator, genius friend, Ian McMillan, who, to his everlasting credit, hardly exists on God’s internet at all. He’s been among my beloved, mostly transatlantic mentors for most of my life.

Sarah and I were in a pub with Ian and, another lifelong mentor, Shirley-Anne, when Ian started enthusing about Murderbot. I found him completely persuasive and was already more than a little resolved to look Murderbot up when a slight lull set in and Ian broke the silence by announcing he would permit each of us one question about Murderbot.

That did it. I wanted Ian’s frame of mind on the matter of Murderbot to be mine as soon as possible.

We are each our own. No two readings are alike. Nobody reads Murderbot like Ian McMillan reads Murderbot.

But I believe I have now begun to receive anew the gift of spirit Ian vouchsafed unto me that evening. There’s a Murderbot-shaped hole in my heart that can only be filled by Murderbot. Maybe you have one too.

I’ll be looking into what Martha Wells has set down among us from here on out.

Thank you, Ian.

Anybody out there reading Murderbot?