With Fugitive Telemetry, Martha Wells gives readers what they need in these chaotic times: more Murderbot! We recently had a chance to ask Martha about her writing process, what TV series Murderbot would love, and what she is working on next.
Hi Martha! Thank you for taking some time to speak with us! Can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself and your career so far?
I’ve been an active SF/F fan since I can remember and was chairman of a regional SF/F convention in college. My first fantasy novel came out in 1993 (The Element of Fire, Tor Books), and since then I’ve had about 25 books come out, all SF/F, including media tie-ins and young adult. My two most recent series are The Books of the Raksura, which is fantasy and was completed in 2017, and The Murderbot Diaries, which is science fiction. I’ve won a Nebula Award, two Hugo Awards, and my novel Network Effect was a New York Times Bestseller.
What can readers expect from your latest entry to the Murderbot Diaries, Fugitive Telemetry?
It’s a prequel to Network Effect and is set on Preservation Station, where Murderbot has to solve the murder of an unknown person found dead in a station corridor. Knowing Graycris is possibly planning an assassination attempt on Dr. Mensah, Murderbot has to make sure this isn’t related, and ends up having to help Station Security solve the crime, whether Station Security likes it or not.
Where did the idea of Murderbot come from?
There was really no specific inspiration. I got the idea when I was working on the ending of The Harbors of the Sun, the last novel in the Books of the Raksura series. I was working very hard on the book, and just getting a lot of ideas for other books and stories. Somehow during that time I got an idea for a short story about an enslaved security person who had destroyed their governor module but would have to reveal that to save an innocent group of scientists. The first scene that I came up with was the moment in All Systems Red where Mensah knocks on the wall of Murderbot’s cubicle. I started to write the idea down so I wouldn’t forget it, then I ended up writing the cubicle scene. I had to make myself stop and go back to work on the novel. After I was done with it, I wrote All Systems Red.
You’ve written extensively in both fantasy and science fiction. Do you find that you have a different writing process for each genre?
Not really. I don’t think there’s any difference between the way I write them. What is important is the character’s voice and how they fit into their world. When I got the idea for Murderbot, it was very much a story for a science fiction setting.
What is one of the best pieces of life advice you’d share with writers?
You don’t have to be traditionally published to be a writer, but if you want to be, try to learn as much as possible about how the publishing industry works. There are a lot of opportunities to do this online.
If Murderbot had access to the TV series of our Earth, what do you think it would love to watch?
I think it would like a lot of shows, from the DC superhero shows like the Flash and Legends of Tomorrow, to baking competitions, documentaries, and mysteries.
Do you have any favorite AIs or robots from pop culture?
I loved K2SO from Rogue One and the robot from Space Sweepers.
Are there any books, TV series, or movies from 2021 that you would recommend to our readers?
Most recently I’ve really enjoyed Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard, Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor, Soulstar by C.L. Polk, The Burning God by R.F. Kuang, and Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell. Right now I’m reading A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine. For TV, I’m looking forward to the new season of Legends of Tomorrow.
And lastly, can you let us know what you are working on in the near future?
Right now I’m working on a fantasy novel, though there’s definitely more Murderbot in the future.
