Joy of Reading

I Opened a Book by Julia Donaldson

“I opened a book and in I strode.

Now nobody can find me.

I’ve left my chair, my house, my road,

My town and my world behind me.

I’m wearing the cloak,

I’ve slipped on the ring,

I’ve swallowed the magic potion.

I’ve fought the dragon, dined with a King

And lived in a bottomless ocean.

I opened a book and made some friends.

I shared their tears and laughter

And followed their road with its bumps and bends

To the happily ever after.

I finished my book and out I came.

The cloak can no longer hide me.

My chair and my house are just the same,

But I have a book inside me.”

The previous poem “I Opened a Book” by Julia Donaldson captures the joys and delights of reading.

A friend and I were talking about reading the book “Alice in Wonderland.”  Although it had been at least fifteen years since I had read it and longer than that for my friend, we both were struck by the story.  Despite the years since we had read the book, it remained memorable to both of us.

Take a moment to think back to a book that you have read that captured your imagination.  How long has it been since you read it?  Was it fiction?  Non-fiction?  Do you read lots of books or once in awhile?

I have many favorite books by many favorite authors.  Some books I have read multiple times.  Some only once.  Many are fiction.  But I enjoy non-fiction books about adventure, travel and certain historic time periods. 

Do you prefer cozy murder mysteries? Maybe you enjoy fantastic adventures with hobbits, dwarves and elves? Reading about robots and all other future possibilities found in Science Fiction. Do romances make your heart go pitter-pat? Or is it horrific monsters, ghosts and terrifying tales? You may prefer Historic novels about people and places from the past. Whatever types of book you like to read, be sure to make time for reading.

There are some serious benefits of reading for pleasure:

• Stress management by increasing enjoyment and relaxation.
• Good for your brain and cognitive development.
• Improves concentration.
• Enhances vocabulary.
• Increases reading and writing skills.
• and, improves memory.

I hope that you have time today to read something you like, at least for a little while. Enjoy a creative escape.

Fugitive Telemetry

The newest novel  “Fugitive Telemetry” by Martha Wells is another wonderful exploration into the world of Murderbot, the part human, part robot security unit.  The following is from the book cover:

“No, I didn’t kill the dead human.  If I Had, I wouldn’t dump the body in the station mall.

When Murderbot discovers a dead body on preservation station, it knows it is going to have to assist station security to determine who the body is (was), how they were killed (that should be relatively straightforward, at least), and why (because apparently that matters to a lot of people – who knew?).

Yes, the unthinkable is about to happen: Murderbot must voluntarily speak to humans!

Again!”

-Jacket cover of Fugitive Telemetry 

At Preservation Station, Murderbot is hanging out watching media, protecting his humans and hoping that there isn’t an attack from GrayCris. When a body is found, SecUnit is contracted by Station Security to assist in the investigation. The story takes off, pun intended, from there.

One of my favorite parts of these novels is the conversations that Murderbot has with himself in his head.

“The weapons scanner (which I was not allowed to hack, and which I wasn’t hacking) alerted on me, but it had my body scan ID on the weapons-allowed list so it didn’t set off an alarm.  (I have energy weapons in my arms and it’s not like I can leave them behind in the hotel room.)  (I mean, my arms are detachable so theoretically I could leave them behind if I had a little help but as a longterm solution it was really inconvenient.)  I was sure the weapons scanner would alert Station Security that I was in the area.”

Chapter Three, Pages 45-46 of Fugitive Telemetry

The relationships that Murderbot has developed with the humans through the course of the novels continues to delight me. The quote below is about Murderbot determining who to call when he wants to break into a damaged transport.

“That left me with the human most likely to want to drop everything and come watch me break into a damaged transport and the human also most likely to come watch me break into a damaged transport but only so he could argue with me about it.

So I called both of them.” 

Chapter Three, Pages 47-48 of Fugitive Telemetry

If you follow the novels in the order that they were published “Fugitive Telemetry” is sixth in the series. But if you follow the novels as they happen in the storyline, “Fugitive Telemetry” is fifth in the series. My recommendation for reading the novels is to read them as they happen in the storyline which is as follows:

1. All Systems Red
2. Artificial Condition
3. Rogue Protocol
4. Exit Strategy
5. Fugitive Telemetry
6. Network Effect

If you would like to read my reviews of the other five novels, click on their titles here: All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy and Network Effect

I can’t stress enough how well written these novels are. Martha Wells captures the balance between the robotic and organic sides of SecUnits personality. She also tackles questions and issues that pertain to planet on which we are living. For example, what does it mean to be human? Corporations verses human rights. And many other thought provoking topics throughout the series.

Creative, fun and an enjoyable read. I highly recommend “Fugitive Telemetry” and the entire series of Murderbot novels. I haven’t heard if there are more books planned for this series. I am hoping Martha Wells will continue to writing about Murderbot’s adventures well into the future.