#just googled them to check their pronouns and apparently their partner is charlie jane anders! nice!

[libraryspectre]

I'd recommend Autonomous by Annalee Newitz for fans of The Murderbot Diaries who were particularly interested in the themes of ownership, personhood and identity, and corporate exploitation. The major difference is that it contains a bot/human romance but imo it's explored in a very interesting way, questioning the deliniation between genuine and programmed desire and if the distinction even matters.

The plot follows two main protagonists. The first is a rogue scientist named Jack who's a bit of a pharmaceutical Robin Hood and accidentally distributes a dangerous drug that causes addiction to work. The second is our robot friend Paladin, who's just been activated, paired with a human partner, and sent after Jack. There's a lot of fun, creative, and bleak cyberpunk and biopunk elements, and I found the characters and story really engaging.

Also, heads up that the romance is complicated and dubiously healthy, but please do not try to cancel this nonbinary author for depicting a taboo relationship further complicated by internalized homophobia and transphobia. Depiction is not endorsement and the (again) NONBINARY author is not trying to endorse transphobia.

Final note, you have some common triggers, you may want to look up a list for this book. I'd also be happy to tell you if any specific trigger warnings apply.

#murderbot #tmd #autonomous #annalee newitz #just googled them to check their pronouns and apparently their partner is charlie jane anders! nice! #edit: fixed a typo #the murderbot diaries