Murderbot is back—and back on the bestseller list. Fugitive Telemetry, the latest novella in Martha Wells’ Murderbot Diaries, debuted at #14 on the New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list, and #4 on the combined print and e-book list. The book is also a USA Today bestseller (#7) and and Indie Bestseller (#12).
Murderbot’s latest outing is a murder mystery: When Murderbot finds a dead body on Preservation Station, there’s a whole series of questions it will have to—reluctantly—help the humans answer. Who was the person? What happened to them? And why?
The Murderbot Diaries began in 2017 with the also-bestselling All Systems Red, which introduced the binge-watching, people-scorning Murderbot. That novella won the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and Alex Awards, and kicked off a series that now includes five novellas and one novel, last year’s Network Effect.
Fugitive Telemetry was published last week to glowing reviews; as Em Nordling wrote, “Fugitive Telemetry is a delightful entry in a continually delightful series. Rest assured you can sink into this murder mystery like a warm, robotic bath.”
And there are yet more Murderbot tales on the way. Last month, Tordotcom Publishing signed Wells to a new six-book deal that includes three more entries in the Murderbot Diaries.
Wells is currently in the middle of a virtual book tour; you have three more chances to catch one of her events:
Thursday, May 13, 7 pm ET
Solid State Books, in conversation with S. B. Divya
Thursday, May 20, 9 pm ET
Green Apple Books, in conversation with Annalee Newitz
Tuesday, July 13, 7 pm ET
Brookline Booksmith, in conversation with Becky Chambers
Buy the Book
Fugitive Telemetry
Love this series. When I finished Fugitive Telemetry a few days ago, I decided to go back and read through all of them again!
The audiobooks are very well done and a great way to revisit the series.
What does Barnes and Noble have against Tor? Martha’s book is only available in 2 stores within 100 miles of central Connecticut (in RI and Smithtown NY)–they never ordered it for any other locations, apparently. And when I checked NYC, just for ha-has, I see that the book isn’t even available in their flagship store.
And this is not the only Tor title I’ve had trouble finding in the last year–most Tor books are not carried in the lower half of New England at all.
I’ll drive up to Harvard Bookstore or Pandemonium Books in Cambridge to get it next week–at least I can rely on independents supporting Tor.
@3. I vote Pandemonium. Tyler’s an old friend. :)