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cecile87's review against another edition
4.0
I just finished this snippet after reading the first full novel, The Network Effect.
I’m already a Murderbot fan, so I have no critique on the length or the motive of this snippet, as others do.
What I think about is how little value human life has for corporations in the past, in the present and in the future. It will always be a plantation capitalist universe I think. I hope I am wrong.
I think of the 400+ year enslavement practice of descendants from Africa and the subsequent white supremacy used to justify commodifying and brutalizing black bodies.
I think of the Radon girls—the women who licked radon-covered paintbrushes back in the early 20th century to paint illuminated spots on watches. Many died and the corporation fought being accountable to them and their families. I think of child labor and the various forms of indentured servitude. I think of how Amazon hires part time people and doesn’t provide medical insurance. I think of CEOs who make more money than they can possibly spend on themselves and their indentured politicos rather than on making the world a better place for everyone.
Anyway, the piece Wells wrote was part of a series on how SF writers viewed the future of work. I might read some of the others (in WIRED magazine) to see if anyone concocted a utopian view.
I’m already a Murderbot fan, so I have no critique on the length or the motive of this snippet, as others do.
What I think about is how little value human life has for corporations in the past, in the present and in the future. It will always be a plantation capitalist universe I think. I hope I am wrong.
I think of the 400+ year enslavement practice of descendants from Africa and the subsequent white supremacy used to justify commodifying and brutalizing black bodies.
I think of the Radon girls—the women who licked radon-covered paintbrushes back in the early 20th century to paint illuminated spots on watches. Many died and the corporation fought being accountable to them and their families. I think of child labor and the various forms of indentured servitude. I think of how Amazon hires part time people and doesn’t provide medical insurance. I think of CEOs who make more money than they can possibly spend on themselves and their indentured politicos rather than on making the world a better place for everyone.
Anyway, the piece Wells wrote was part of a series on how SF writers viewed the future of work. I might read some of the others (in WIRED magazine) to see if anyone concocted a utopian view.
brisingr's review against another edition
4.0
Apparently getting free will after having 93 percent of your behavior controlled for your entire existence will do weird things to your impulse control.
There's something so special to me in such a short story that it is still acknowledged that capitalism will design robots to oversee and maximize profit on jobs made more dangerous and risky because of despair, but still performed by humans.
There's something so special to me in such a short story that it is still acknowledged that capitalism will design robots to oversee and maximize profit on jobs made more dangerous and risky because of despair, but still performed by humans.
ffictionist's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bookwyrm76's review against another edition
4.0
Very short, I wouldn't start with this. It is a great look back to see how Murderbot first started to act on their own conscious.
jennkei's review against another edition
4.0
Extremely short, it's just two pages long. Made me want to read more.
zerrota's review
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
lzemp's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
dubtek5000's review against another edition
4.0
Really short but a fun short story including everyone's fav murderbot.