recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
The Undersnax

This article contains spoilers.

## Soundtrack

**The Undersnax** (Queen's Lair) is a twisting, cavernous area underneath the surface of Snaktooth Island accessed via the ancient door in the Frosted Peak and can only be accessed during the final events of main story.

Every surface of its gut-like structure is made up entirely of Bugsnax parts, with various bits of food mushed together into a red-tinted, organic wall. There are red rivers running through the caves.
While all Bugsnax are present within the underground, they are unable to be caught in this point in the game - reason being that The Journalist had all their gear break during their fall.

In the files it is referred to as the "Queen's lair" as it houses the Queen of Bugsnax, which is Lizbert during the events of the game.

The Journalist is supposed to follow Filbo but if they decide to take the other turn in the final tunnel, the Snaxsquatch will come run towards them as a supposed "jumpscare". Given the collision and violent sound, it is to be assumed it attacks them. The player is reset back in the location of the turn choice.
White Strabby

White Strabby is a ladybug-like Bugsnak resembling a white strawberry, or a pineberry. It is found in Garden Grove.

## Strategy

White Strabbies act identically to red ones. When undisturbed, they walk around in small ovals near Hiding Bushes. If you walk too close, they will retreat into the bush and appear scared.

To capture White Strabbies, place the Snak Trap near where it is pacing, then back away and wait for it to come out of hiding. If the Trap is placed correctly, it will walk into the Snak Trap capture zone.

## Related to

* Strabby
* Razzby
* Black Razzby
* Cheery

## Trivia

* The famed 'white jewel' strawberry is grown under limited exposure to light, hence Snorpy's commentary.
* White Strabby's sticker changed, formerly lacking it's seeds. The same goes for Strabby.

## Gallery

FilboWambusBefficaGrambleWiggleTriffanyCromdoChandloSnorpyFlooftySheldaEggabell
Daddy Cakelegs

**Daddy Cakelegs** is a Legendary Bugsnak residing in Frosted Peak during Snorpy's sidequest, Cake Boss!

## **Strategy**

**Daddy Cakelegs** is found in the lower cave, covered in a mound of snow. When approached with Snorpy, a candle will be poking out of this mound, and lighting it will awaken the boss.

The boss will summon ice pillars from out of the ground. Set the Trip Shot on fire using one of the torches, and shoot it at one of the pillars in the **Daddy Cakelegs's** path, high enough to light one of the candles on the sides. It is also possible to shoot the flaming Trip Shot directly at the candles, but this is considerably more difficult due to the boss's mobility. Once both candles are lit, **Daddy Cakelegs** will then burrow into the ground and go to another area on the mountain, its bottom layer splitting into four Baby Cakelegs that will flee to the area where **Daddy Cakelegs** can be found next.

This process is repeated for the next phase of the battle, during which **Daddy Cakelegs** will now sometimes stop to launch a scoop of ice cream that will freeze the player. This attack does grant a somewhat risky opportunity to launch the Trip Shot directly at a candle.

During the final phase, **Daddy Cakelegs** will also gain the ability to climb on the side of the mountain, making it harder to reach. Once its final candle is lit, **Daddy Cakelegs** will be defeated, and able to be caught with the Bug Net.

## Trivia

* The music that plays during the battle with Daddy Cakelegs is called "Cakequake!"
* It's possible to light the candles by walking into a torch and jumping in to Daddy Cakelegs.
* Daddy Cakelegs is the only boss to have multiple battle locations.
* The Charamallow encased in ice is attracted to Daddy Cakelegs' candles, and will actively try to light them as Daddy Cakelegs swivels around to try to avoid it.
* Daddy Cakelegs is technically the only Legendary Bugsnax to not be seen out of it's boss area, as Mama Mewon is seen in Snaxburg in the ending cutscene.

## Gallery

Daddy Cakelegs, defeated.Daddy Cakelegs' Statue

FilboWambusBefficaGrambleWiggleTriffanyCromdoChandloSnorpyFlooftySheldaEggabell
## In Other Languages

### Meaning/Origins

* **Spanish (Latam):** Father. Pun on *Torta* (cake) and *Patas largas*
Cromdo Cashes In

**Cromdo Cashes In** is the main quest for Cromdo Face.

Cromdo Face

On top of the canyon, on a stone bridge rock formation, Cromdo, dancing about like a tube man, shouts to The Journalist to come visit him for the deal of a lifetime. This "deal" leaves the Journalist swindled but they figure they have to play along for the ultimate goal of getting him back.

With the return of him, Chandlo Funkbun and Snorpy Fizzlebean back to Snaxburg as the fourth wave of returns, Snaxburg Isn't Safe follows that eventually opens the possibility for the final Grumpuses to return.

 Cromdo wants me to dislodge the gunk from his windmills. I suppose this new Lunchpad will do the trick.

 **Objectives:** Knock three windmills into working order! (3/3)

 Cromdo demands payment for his Lunchpad. I'll need Cheepoofs to appease him.

 **Objectives:**
* Catch three Cheepoofs. (3/3)
* Feed three Cheepoofs. (3/3)

 Cromdo continues to make demands. A Sweet Fryder should keep him quiet.

 **Objectives:**
* Catch one Sweet Fryder. (1/1)
* Feed one Sweet Fryder. (1/1)

 Cromdo now wants cold feet so that he can walk across the desert. He is trying my patience.

 **Objectives:** Turn Cromdo's feet into Bopsicles or Big Bopsicles. (2/2)

 Cromdo is quite the capitalist. I might have to play along with his schemes to get him home.

 **Objectives:** Convince him to go home.

## Aftermath

Back in Snaxburg, Beffica is displeased to see Cromdo back in town for obvious reasons.

## References & Notes

1. ↑ This line is only spoken when the Journalist does not climb the canyon and Cromdo tries to get their attention.
Snaktivator

> *"Feed me Strabby. Poke Snaktivator in foot. Foot turns into Strabby."*
>
>

The **Snaktivator** is an invention created by Floofty Fizzlebean.

Floofty gives the Snaktivator to the Journalist upon first meeting them in Simmering Springs. Once in possession, they can choose which part of a Grumpus's body will change after eating a Bugsnak.

Later, upon meeting Floofty for the second time in Boiling Bay, they will upgrade the Snaktivator, allowing the player to fully customize a Grumpus with any Bugsnax they have previously eaten.
Meaty Snakpod

Meaty Snakpod is a bagworm-like Bugsnak resembling a bag of jerky. It is found in Sizzlin' Sands.

## Strategy

Five Meaty Snakpods can be found hidden around Sizzlin' Sands. Though some may be difficult to locate, they are very easy to capture when found, and can be captured using the Bug Net, Snakgrappler, or Snak Trap.

Snakpods will not respawn until all five in the area are collected.

## Related to

* Crispy Snakpod
* Fruity Snakpod
* Grumpy Snakpod
* Melty Snakpod
* Nutty Snakpod
* Puffy Snakpod
* Twisty Snakpod

## Gallery

FilboWambusBefficaGrambleWiggleTriffanyCromdoChandloSnorpyFlooftySheldaEggabell
Education Modules

*They don't give murderbots decent education modules on anything except murdering, and even those are the cheap versions.* (All Systems Red, Chapter 1)

The term "module" is used in two ways: as a physical component, e.g. the cargo or engineering module of a ship, and as a software component used by constructs and augmented humans (and presumably bots) to perform a skill. (A governor module seems to be a hybrid component with both physical and software components, as Murderbot is able to "hack" its governor module using software and Murderbot 2.0 is able to give Three a code bundle to hack its own governor module, but the module has the ability to inflict physical damage.)

The following types of modules are known:

* Risk Assessment- Used to estimate the risk or chance of success of a plan or proposed action. Murderbot's Risk Assessment module is "wonky".
* Threat Assessment- Used to determine whether a situation or person presents a threat. Murderbot's threat assessment module identified Marne as a possible threat to Amena.
* Translation - Most people rely on the Feed for simultaneous translation of any languages they don't know, but linguists like Thiago have modules for archaic languages.
* Finance - Murderbot doesn't know anything about it
* Weapons systems - the ComfortUnits on RaviHyral didn't have these and would have had difficulty using weapons to defend the humans from the rampaging SecUnits even if they had had access to them
* Piloting - Three has a module to pilot a shuttle

Humans learn in more traditional ways as well as using education modules: Thiago and others from Preservation Alliance attended FirstLanding University. Murderbot has learned by experience and from observing media through the entertainment feed. Most constructs and bots seem to have little opportunity to learn new skills in a more organic fashion.

Examples:

* My education modules were such cheap crap; most of the useful things I knew about security I learned from the edutainment programming on the entertainment feeds. (All Systems Red Chapter 2)
* ...while they (ComfortUnits) could pick up a projectile or energy weapon and use it, they had no education modules on how the weapons worked. They could pick one up, try to aim it, pull the trigger, and hope the safety wasn't engaged. (Artificial Condition Chapter 6)
* I had never been given any education modules on financial systems and since our modules were crap anyway, I'm not sure that would have helped. (Artificial Condition, chapter 7)
* By tricky I meant I was getting an average of an 85 percent chance of failure and death, and it was only that low because my last diagnostic said my risk assessment module was wonky. (Exit Strategy Chapter 4)
* ...the EVAC suits I'd used since then had such good instruction modules that it was almost like having an onboard bot pilot. (Network Effect Chapter 4)
* "I've been assembling a working vocabular module of the languages the Targets are using. Without *Perihelion* to translate for us, it could come in handy." (Network Effect Chapter 15)
GrayCris

> *We were talking about GrayCris here, whose company motto seemed to be “profit by killing everybody and taking their stuff.” (Rogue Protocol)*
>
>

**GrayCris** is a corporation that mines alien remnants and sells them on the black market. They try to kill PreservationAux and DeltFall's survey teams in All Systems Red to keep a planet's resources a secret, and when this fails they kidnap Mensah, trying to dismantle the legal cases now waged against them and to extort the Preservation Alliance to pay off the companies they can't threaten.

At one point Graycris built a supposed terraforming platform over Milu, which was a cover for its illegal mining activities. When it was done it abandoned the platform, then tried to destroy the evidence when GoodNightLander Independent investigates the remains.

The corporation is headquartered on TranRollinHyfa, and has corporate jurisdiction on the station's upper torus.

## Members

* Survey Team
	+ Blue Leader: (she/her) Leader of the GrayCris team, she sent messages to the PreservationAux survey team and negotiated with Murderbot later
	+ Green (no stated pronouns) Part of survey team
	+ Yellow: (he/him) Consults with Blue Leader about handling PreservationAux' systems.
* Gerth: (she/her) Hired to go to Milu and transmit an encrypted signal that would lead to its terraforming facility's destruction
* Wilken: (she/her) Hired to go to Milu and transmit an encrypted signal that would lead to its terraforming facility's destruction
* Serrat: (he/him) Representative sent to receive ransom from Pin-Lee in Exit Strategy

## Notes

* GrayCris has a gray square logo
* Ratthi coins the term 'EvilSurvey' to refer to them before learning their real name
Marker Paint

**Marker Paint** is a technology that supports markers, which are limited broadcasts that tie in to feed interfaces even when the local feed is down. Although markers are supposed to be used for emergency applications (marking emergency directions in cases of power outages), they're also frequently used in the Corporation Rim for advertising.
Martha Wells

**Martha Wells** is the author of the  Murderbot series, as well as several other fantasy and sci-fi books.

## Biography

As said on her website:

>  *Martha Wells has been an SF/F writer since her first fantasy novel was published in 1993, and her work includes The Books of the Raksura series, The Death of the Necromancer, the Fall of Ile-Rien trilogy, The Murderbot Diaries series, media tie-in fiction for Star Wars, Stargate: Atlantis, and Magic: the Gathering, as well as short fiction, YA novels, and non-fiction. She has won Nebula Awards, Hugo Awards, and Locus Awards, and her work has appeared on the Philip K. Dick Award ballot, the BSFA Award ballot, the USA Today Bestseller List, and the New York Times Bestseller List. Her books have been published in twenty-two languages.*
>
>

## Links

* Official Website
* Twitter
* Dreamwidth Journal
* LibraryThing
* GoodReads
HaveRatton

**HaveRatton** is a main hub for transports leaving the Corporation Rim. It is located on the edge of the rim, and has connections to hundreds of destinations, including Milu.

This is the station Murderbot travels through on its way to and from Milu. When it returns, the security corporation Palisade has paid off local security to let them try to intercept its ship as it docks. Murderbot evades them and hurries away.

## Locations

Standard station design seems to include a transit ring bordering a central area (frequently filled with a mall.) HaveRatton follows this configuration, with these spaces being its only two named areas.

The station mall includes offices for big transport lines.
Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory

> *Knowing what would happen, she wouldn’t choose a different planet, a different bond company. Because then SecUnit would still be someone’s property, would be waiting for the contract where the negligence or greed or indifference of its clients got it killed.* (**Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory**)
>
>

**Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory** is a short story in *The Murderbot Diaries* series, set between Exit Strategy and Fugitive Telemetry. It originally came with pre-orders of Network Effect, and is now free to read on Tor.com. It is the only work in the series told entirely from the point of view of someone other than Murderbot, namely Dr. Mensah.

## Synopsis

"Home" is written from the perspective of Dr. Mensah, one of the human characters who first appeared in All Systems Red; she is Preservation's system admin and Murderbot's "favorite human." The short story is set on Preservation Station and touches broadly on the rights of bots and constructs, more specifically Murderbot's as Mensah and a fellow council member discuss its status as a refugee and killing machine while Murderbot eavesdrops and sends Mensah requisition forms for improbable weapons.

The short story also delves into Dr. Mensah's trauma stemming from the GrayCris kidnapping incident, and how Murderbot provides security and comfort in lieu of Mensah seeking actual therapy. The short story ends with Mensah offering Murderbot its first bribe--of small intel drones--in exchange for not pushing the topic of therapy.

"Home" takes place after Exit Strategy, and apparently before the incident mentioned in the HelpMe.file in Network Effect.

## Trivia

* Unlike the other stories and books in the series, this story is written in third person.

## Cover Art

EnglishJapaneseEnglish (ALT for Subterranean)
## References

Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory*, Martha Wells, https://www.tor.com/2021/04/19/home-habitat-range-niche-territory-martha-wells/*
Augmented Human

Augmented humans are human beings with varying degrees of augmentation made to their body. Augments go beyond implants (which are often removable and may/may not be helpful) or interface devices (which are removable). Murderbot states that augments work with machine-readable code written into human DNA; and this makes augments even capable of being infected with malware.

Augments are “supposed to help humans do things they couldn’t do otherwise, like interface with the feed more completely or store memory archives" (but still less efficiently than a construct or bot) and typically ones that aren't feed interfaces are meant to correct physical injury/illness. Many augments are built into the brain.

'Spliced' is an informal term for being augmented. Despite Murderbot's tendency to separate them in its personal narration, most humans do not consider augmented humans to be especially distinct from unaugmented humans.

## Known Augmented Humans

* Gurathin
* Iris
* Eletra
* Tlacey
* Gerth
* Wilken

## References

1. ↑ *"It deleted every part of targetControlSystem, treating it like killware, and it must have deleted the infected… code, or whatever it was. An alien code, in a form that didn’t make sense. Well, sort of sense. It must be using the same principle as the machine-readable code written into human DNA that was how things like augments worked, and constructs, and you could transfer malware that way if you weren’t filtering for it… Oh, shit."* Chapter 19, Network Effect.
2. ↑ Talking Murderbot With 'Network Effect' Author Martha Wells https://www.newsweek.com/network-effect-murderbot-diaries-martha-wells-novel-sanctuary-moon-1502150
Tarik

**Tarik** is a member of the Perihelions crew, which gathers information for anti-corporate activities and strikes out against corporations. When he and his crewmates are kidnapped in Network Effect and separated, he's in the group that escapes being implanted and reaches the planet.

## Biography

Not much is known about his pre-Network Effect history beyond that he's are affiliated with the Pansystem University of Mihira and New Tideland.

At the start of Network Effect, the Perihelion's crew had received word that Barish-Estranza was turning its attention towards the Lost Colony, so the crew set out to reach it first. They intend to block Barish-Estranza from re-enslaving the colony and, if possible, to make new allies.

Before they can reach the colony, they're intercepted and captured by lost colonists who'd hijacked a Barish-Estranza shuttle and were looking for a ship that could travel further. Three of the Perihelion's crew are given implants made of Pre-Corporation-Rim technology and alien code, much like the ones already implanted on the Lost Colonists. Tarik and the other unaffected crewmates are approached by a sympathetic colonist, who smuggles them to the Lost Colony's surface in an attempted rescue. The colonist dies in the attempt, and Tarik, Seth, Iris, Matteo, and Kaede continue on to the surface alone, where they're immediately stranded: they have nowhere safe in the colony to go, and no way to return to their ship.

They're struggling to reactivate the lift pod when fighting breaks out among the colonists, triggered by the arrival of Murderbot's drop box. Murderbot, Thiago and Overse reach out, coordinating their rescue. Seth and the others recognize everyone by the Perihelion enviro-suits they're wearing, and Murderbot by the pictures ART showed them previously.

They make it back to the Perihelion, but Murderbot is captured in the process. Once they regroup they immediately coordinate a rescue, and soon Murderbot is safe as well.

They're stranded in the system, since Perihelion's warp capability is damaged, until an armed ship from the Preservation Alliance arrives some days later. It is recruited for the Perihelion's side and helps them in the aftermath. At the end, Tarik joins a group that is going through the Perihelion's programming to help search for lingering effects from the Lost Colony.

## Personality

Little is known about Tarik's personality. He insists twice that some of the stranger things happening on the Lost Colony can't be true, contrasting with Matteo. He doesn't complain about his injuries.

## Physical Appearance

Tarik's physical appearance is mostly unknown.

When Murderbot first meets him, he's noted as having bruises and torn, blood-stained clothes (like everyone else in his group). More specifically, he also has signs of a worrying internal injury.

## References

1. ↑ *They all had bruises, blood-stained and torn clothes, [...] Tarik kept pressing his hand to his lower abdomen and trying not to wince in a way that made me want to call a nonexistent MedSystem.”* Chapter Fifteen, Network Effect
Cinnasnail

Cinnasnail is a snail-like Bugsnak resembling a swirled cinnamon bun. It is found in Sugarpine Woods.

## Strategy

Cinnasnail sticks to surfaces out of the player's reach, where it can be caught with a Snak Trap launched by a Lunchpad. Once captured, the trap will stick to the same surface. Though it can sometimes be reached by jumping, the safest option is to retrieve the trap with the Snakgrappler. Cinnasnail can also be lured within reach using chocolate before capture.

Cinnasnail have the Sticky attribute but interacting with them does not make one sticky like attacking Hunnabees do. Throwing a basketball or the Buggy Ball on it will have it stick to it for a bit.

## Summer of Bugsnax information

* The Cinnasnail is so sticky-sweet that it can climb any surface, while leaving a gooey trail of icing behind!
* This glucose gastropod will ruin your diet and your drywall!
* Temperament: Leisurely, oblivious, congested
* Star sign: Taurus

## Trivia

* The Summer of Bugsnax saying that Cinnasnail will ruin your drywall is likely a reference to giant African land snails. These snails have become invasive after being introduced outside their native range, where they are known to eat the calcium-rich drywall from houses.
* Filbo is snakified by a Cinnasnail and Weenyworms in the Announcement Trailer.

## Gallery

Artwork (Press Kit)Fangamer Cinnasnail PlushFangamer Lunch Bunch shirt design, featuring CinnasnailSlow Your Roll!Cheat Day!

FilboWambusBefficaGrambleWiggleTriffanyCromdoChandloSnorpyFlooftySheldaEggabell
System Collapse

**System Collapse** is the seventh book in *The Murderbot Diaries* series, and the second full-length novel. It was published on November 14, 2023.

## Publisher's summary

*Am I making it worse? I think I'm making it worse.*

Following the events in Network Effect, the Barish-Estranza corporation has sent rescue ships to a newly-colonized planet in peril, as well as additional SecUnits. But if there’s an ethical corporation out there, Murderbot has yet to find it, and if Barish-Estranza can’t have the planet, they’re sure as hell not leaving without something. If that something just happens to be an entire colony of humans, well, a free workforce is a decent runner-up prize.

But there’s something wrong with Murderbot; it isn’t running within normal operational parameters. ART’s crew and the humans from Preservation are doing everything they can to protect the colonists, but with Barish-Estranza’s SecUnit-heavy persuasion teams, they’re going to have to hope Murderbot figures out what’s wrong with itself, and fast!

*Yeah, this plan is... not going to work.*

## References

1. ↑ https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?972135
Lalow

The **Lalow** is a stripped down cargo hauler with a small livable space. Its crew is from outside the Corporation Rim and is anti-corporate.

They come to Preservation Station Port Authority's attention during the investigation of Lutran's death, since they are the ship scheduled to deliver Lutran's next cargo. When Port Authority approaches Lalow, a Port Authority supervisor and a Station Security Offider (Gamila and Aylen) are allowed on board and immediately taken hostage. This goes nowhere, as Murderbot intervenes and helps take the crew into custody, where they are questioned.

It turns out the crew had expected to be attacked by corporates under the guise of legitimate officers from the Station because they're smuggling corporate slaves away from BreharWallHan. They initially deny knowing Lutran, but turn out to have regularly met with him as their contact to pass smuggled slaves on to the next stage in their escape. They're the ones who delivered Lutran's current 'cargo', and had traveled with them from BrehardWallHan.

The crew of the Lalow speaks a different language than is spoken on Preservation, and according to the ship's (dubious) records the ship has never docked at a Corporate port. It is uncommon for humans to be feed augmented in the polities in this area, and none of the crew is augmented. The crew's cover story is that they're traders from the indie station WayBrogatan.

## Crew

Murderbot internally designantes each crewmember as 'Target (number)'. The names of two of them comes up during conversation, but the rest are unnamed. Target Four (Miro) says 'our grandperson' was contract labor, and that they'd gotten away and first purchased the Lalow.

* Target One (he/him, nonaugmented, shabby human, initially armed and ends up in medical)
* Target Two/Fenn (she/her, nonaugmented, initially armed and clams up in questioning)
* Target Three (she/her, nonaugmented, initially armed and ends up in medical)
* Target Four/Miro (he/him, nonaugmented, unarmed, messes up part of his story during interrogation and is ultimately the group's weak point)
* Target Five (she/her, nonaugmented, unarmed, the brains of the group)

## Locations

The Lalow is a shabby, stripped down cargo hauler with a small livable space. The part of the ship where the hostage taking happens is a large compartment with four corridors leading out (one connected to Airlock).
Spoiler Policy

The **Spoiler Policy** of the Murderbot fandom wiki is that spoilers for a released work in the Murderbot series will be marked for up to six months after the work's release. After six months have passed, spoilers for that work will no longer be tagged and old templates and signs will be taken down.

## System Collapse

System Collapse is the newest release in the Murderbot series and was released on November 14th, 2023. Spoiler warnings for this book will end May 14, 2024.

### Page/Section Notice

All pages/sections with spoilers related to this novel will be marked at the top with a spoiler tag as follows:

```
{{Spoiler}}
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The Murderbot Diaries

**The Murderbot Diaries** is a Subterranean Press omnibus edition release of several Murderbot books, coupled with illustrations by Tommy Arnold. This release sold out almost immediately, which is typical of this vendor's approach.

## Publisher's Summary

Designed for duty and destined for adventure, the secretly autonomous cyborg SecUnit with the self-awarded nom de guerre Murderbot really just wants to access media feeds and leave its human charges to their own devices. Unfortunately, Murderbot’s days of high-bandwidth soap opera viewing come to an end when an alien creature attacks the off world expedition it is assigned to guard. Here begins the award-winning and instantly beloved series The Murderbot Diaries, in which Murderbot investigates its own past and present, and ultimately rises to meet a threat to its former owner—and possibly friend—Dr. Mensah.

With Murderbot, New York Times bestselling author Martha Wells has created one of the most engaging characters to emerge from science fiction in decades. Witty observations, troubling memories, a sardonic voice, and the rendering of action-packed combat sequences with élan and panache combine for a virtuoso performance in all four of the novellas collected here: All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, and Exit Strategy. This collection also includes an original short story appearing in print for the first time, “Home: Habitat Range Niche Territory.”

Across alien environments, corporate intrigue, and high tech adventure that reinvents and reenergizes genre staples like aliens, powered combat armor, and spaceships, Wells exhibits her mastery over an entire subgenre that stretches all the way back to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the awakening into independence of an artificial being created by humans.

The Murderbot Diaries have earned Wells rave reviews around the world, as well as Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Awards. But, most important of all, they’ve earned a legion of devoted and delighted fans.

## MarthaWells.com Summary

Special Edition hardcover compilation of the first four novellas plus "Home: habitat, range, niche, territory." Subterranean Press, March 2021. Cover art and illustrations by Tommy Arnold.

## Notes

* Martha Wells wrote an introduction for the books, which can be found at her blog.
* This release had 26 signed leatherbound copies, and 400 signed numbered copies.

## Cover Art

The Murderbot DiariesAll Systems RedAll Systems Red (2)Artificial ConditionRogue ProtocolExit StrategyHome: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory
## References

1. ↑ *Introduction to the Subterranean edition of The Murderbot Diaries*, Martha Wells, https://marthawells.dreamwidth.org/564808.html
2. ↑ The Murderbot Diaries, https://subterraneanpress.com/murderbot-diaries
Company

*“It’s normal to feel conflict. You were part of something for a long time. You hate it, and it was a terrible thing. But it created you, and you were part of it.”* (Dr. Bharadwaj, Network Effect, Chapter 10)

"The company" is the corporation that created Murderbot, along with countless other bot/human constructs, as part of its business in offering security bonds to customers. Murderbot deliberately never mentions it by name, and edits its own internal records to replace its name with "the company" if anyone else says or writes the name.

The company is based on Port FreeCommerce, within the Corporation Rim.
TranRollinHyfa

> *I walked up the last ramp surrounded by a crowd of humans and augmented humans, and on into the station mall. There was no fringe travelers’ area, with cheap transient hostels and vending kiosks. It went straight into multi-levels of expensive shops and offices, most in spheres, stacked into looming towers or hovering overhead. The feed was a maze of vids and ads and instructions and music, competing with the floating display surfaces and the holosculptures of giant waterfalls and trees and abstract art things.* (Exit Strategy)
>
>

**TranRollinHyfa** is a major hub station in the Corporation Rim. It hosts the headquarters of nearly two hundred companies, including GrayCris.

When Murderbot arrives during Exit Strategy the station's security is unusually tight. Despite this, its public feed (which includes its safety information and public announcements) is mostly drowned out by paid advertisements, which are overwhelming in quantity. The feed is also noted as having much more to offer in the way of entertainment options than HaveRatton or Port FreeCommerce.

## Known Resident Corporations

* GrayCris (Headquartered here)
* EinoArzu (A security company based here that rents SecUnits)
* Stockade Kumaran (A security company based here that rents SecUnits)
* Palisade (A security company that uses but does not rent SecUnits)

## Locations

TranRollinHyfa is a large station (larger then Port FreeCommerce), and consists of a main hull above three interconnected transit rings. This is different from a usual station design, where the transit ring circles the station's main areas.

Specific locations on this station include:

* Station Mall (multi-level, with expensive shops and offices, many of which are in spherical structures. The spheres are hovering or are stacked into towers. One multi-level plaza is surrounded by office blocks and hotels that have large geometric shapes, such as cones or cylinders. At least one hotel has its own transit station)
* Station Pipe Transport
* Transit Bubbles (cup-shaped lift platforms designed for sightseeing)
* Upper Hull (possibly the same as the upper torus where GrayCris is located)
Farai

## Known Relatives

### Relatives

Mensah (Martial Partner), Tano (Marital Partner), Amena (Daughter), Unnamed Brother-in-Law, Unnamed Sister-in-Law

*She added, “I wanted to ask what your relationship to her is.”*

*Uh. In the Corporation Rim, Mensah was my owner. On Preservation, she was my guardian....*

*But I knew Farai knew all that, and I knew she was asking for an answer that was closer to objective reality. And wow, I did not have that answer. I said, “I’m her SecUnit.” (Yes, that’s still in the buffer.)*

*She lifted her brows. “And that means?”*

*Backed into yet another conversational corner, I fell back on honesty. “I don’t know. I wish I knew.”*

*She smiled. “Thank you.”* (Network Effect Chapter 2)

Farai is one of Dr. Ayda Mensah’s two marital partners. After a brief initial conversation with Murderbot, Farai seems to accept Murderbot’s relationship with Mensah, undefined as it is. Murderbot notes that Farai is an exception to the rest of Mensah’s family, who seem uncomfortable around it.
Red Banopper

Red Banopper is a grasshopper-like Bugsnak resembling a red banana. It is found in Boiling Bay.

## Design

Red Banopper is based on a grasshopper (suborder Caelifera) as well as a red banana. Its eyes are at the base of its stem, which resembles a nose, and two lower strips of its peel are curled, resembling springy legs.

## Strategy

Red Banoppers leap between treetops in Boiling Bay. To catch them the Trip Shot can be attached to a high surface to intercept their path. Once tripped up, Red Banopper will fall to the ground, where it can be picked up with the Bug Net.

## Related to

* Banopper
* Cobhopper

## Gallery

Get Hopping!

FilboWambusBefficaGrambleWiggleTriffanyCromdoChandloSnorpyFlooftySheldaEggabell
Unnamed Transit Station 1

**Unnamed Transit Station 1** is where Murderbot begins in Artificial Condition. This station is in the same system as the planet that holds the Pansystem University of Mihira and New Tideland (the university that created ART), and is twenty one days away from RaviHyral.

## Locations

Standard station design seems to include a transit ring bordering a central area (frequently filled with a mall). This station seems to follow this layout, and has the following locations:

* Transit Ring (which has a big mall between its embarkation zones, as well as a cargo loading area)
* Commercial area
* Small business district
Feed

The **feed** is a standardized means of communication and data access used throughout known human space.

The feed is similar to a wireless local network connected to the internet or a mobile cellular network. Humans can access the feed via external or implanted interfaces (augments). Bots and constructs have built in interfaces with hard-coded addresses (like a MAC address or IMSI). These fixed addresses serve as “names” when bots and constructs communicate with one another. Humans can be tracked by their feed interfaces, but this is not reliable with non-augmented humans, who can lose or discard their interfaces. Feed interfaces usually remain powered on and traceable even if their human user is unconscious.

Communicating through the feed requires an active feed server, like a Wi-Fi router or cell tower. Limited short-range wireless connectivity is possible in the absence of an active feed (similar to a Bluetooth connection). Marker Paint is a substance that can emit a feed signal without an active local feed network or power source.

Multiple “levels” of the feed have different degrees of encryption and may carry data that is more or less sensitive, e.g. entertainment vs. financial transactions. Within levels, there may also be different channels, possibly corresponding to bandwidth frequencies.

The feed is not directly broadcast across interstellar distances, because a signal traveling at the speed of light would take years (or centuries) to travel the distance between worlds. Data packets are carried between planets and space stations via wormhole-capable starships. There is no other known mechanism of FTL communication.

Bots, constructs and augmented humans may perceive the feed as a virtual reality or augmented reality overlay, metaphorically interpreting the feed as a physical place or substance.

Human voices on the feed sound like their physical voices (and are even capable of showing emotion). Humans and augmented humans usually subvocalize when talking on the feed. Human and augmented human users often display their "Feed ID," which displays their name/designation and their gender.

The feed is capable of being used as a means to transmit and spread killware.

## External Interfaces

According to Murderbot, most normal external interfaces have a lot of different possible designs, such as "carved natural wood to skin tones to jewels or stones or enamel art pieces to actual plain metal with a brand logo."

## Notes

* The entertainment feed is where Murderbot procures its serials.

Also see Comms
Preservation Station

*Preservation Station* is a space station, which houses a transit ring and a habitat ring, among others, outside of an unnamed planet in the Preservation Alliance.

## Appearance

Murderbot notes that a junction in Preservation Station mall has "standard silver-blue textured wall panels" with high ceilings and preserved graffiti. There are many junction points and areas to the station (such as a delineation between residential and work areas). Murderbot notes all the corridors have names and it is "annoying."

## Culture

Most Preservation Station clothes supply came from the planet nearby where human-hand-made clothes and textiles are popular. They don't use the recycler (as is common in the Corporation Rim).

According to Murderbot, people on Preservation Station typically wear "work/casual pants, short jacket, and a short or long shirt or tunic, and the more formal long robes or caftans in solid colors with patterned trim." Bright multicolored patterns would standout on the station.

With regards to housing, there is "no separation between transient spaces and long-term station housing" as there would be on stations in the Corporation Rim.

Preservation Station values history. Old transport ships and technology often go untouched and are preserved. There are many kiosks on the station providing information about Preservation Alliance's creation.

The cultural attitudes on the station are very similar to the Preservation Alliance as a whole.

## Residents

### Security

Preservation Station keeps an ID record and body scan of every resident and transient passenger that crosses through.

Known Preservation Security Officers:

* Senior Officer Indah
* Special Investigator Aylen (temporarily)
* Tural: a technician
* Doran: a security officer
* Farid (he/him): a security officer
* Tifany (she/her): a security officer
* Soire: a security officer
* Matif (he/him): a security officer

### Port Authority

Known Port Authority employees:

* Supervisor Gamila (she/her)
* Balin (a Port Authority bot)

### Dock

Known dock employees:

* JollyBaby (a cargo bot)

### Hotel / Hostel

Known hotel employees:

* Tellus (a bot)

## Notes

* Murderbot notes that the threat assessment for murder on Preservation Station is 7%.
Trip Shot

The Trip Shot is a tool used for stunning all sorts of Bugsnax. It can only be placed on solid surfaces, mainly rocks, ice and some wood platforms. Once placed, the player can aim it in a similar fashion to the Lunchpad. Then they can shoot the wire onto another surface to create an obstacle for large or really fast Bugsnax, that are too big, too aggressive or too fast to fit in a Snak Trap or Bug Net. Any Bugsnax that get caught in the wire will result in them getting stunned for a short time, along with the wire breaking. Sometimes only this tool can be used to get your hands on certain Bugs, notably the Kwookie and its cousins, Sandopede, Megamaki and Daddy Cakelegs, the latter two are boss battles that focus on the Trip Shot.

This item can be obtained from Snorpy by heading up to the watchtower in Sugarpine Woods and using the newly acquired tool to take down a Charmallow.

> Did you know that my Trip Shot can do more than, well, trip? It can also spread fires... or spread waters. Harness the elements of nature if you will.
>
>

The Trip Shot can also conduct fire should it be in the way of flames, which is immensely helpful for lighting torches and catching frozen Bugsnax like the Chillynilly and the Scoopy Banoopy.
Floofty Changes Everything

{{Navbox quest {{{type}}}}}

 Floofty is dedicated to their work. They won't leave until I help them with whatever dreadful experiments they've concocted.

 **Objectives:** Convince them to go home.

## Main Quests

### Side Quest

Floofty Faces Judgement

Floofty Fizzlebean

The scientist made their debut early on when entering the Simmering Springs and belittling The Journalist into paying attention to them. Handing them the Snaktivator and zonking off to the other side of the beach had them out of sight for a while.
 After Snaxburg Isn't Safe, Snorpy points into the directions to where the Journalist should pick up their sibling. Floofty, musing at the Springs, "politely" leaves the door open for the Journalist to follow them. Once reaching them at their camp at the Boiling Bay, Floofty berates the Journalist for having taken their time. Research needs to be done and the Journalist is wrapped up in the wacky science in favor of getting the terror back to camp.

With the return of both them and Shelda back to Snaxburg as the fifth and final wave of returns, Major Celebration! follows and marks the Point of No Return which escalates into the Conclusion of the story.

## Mystery Grumpus!

 This menacing Grumpus has given me a device that can control Bugsnax transformation. It's amazing technology, but the concept makes my fur stand on end.

 **Objectives:** Turn their left foot into a Strabby.

## Find Floofty!

 Snorpy says that Floofty is hanging out in the Boiling Bay. I need to see the results of their experiments.

 **Objectives:** Find Floofty in the Boiling Bay.

## Get Hopping!

 Transforming Floofty's hand into a Red Banopper is apparently the first step in their new experiment.

 **Objectives:** Turn Floofty's hand into Red Banopper.

## Legwork!

 Floofty has upgraded my Snaktivator and wants me to change their limbs based on Snax they've eaten in the past.

 **Objectives:** Turn Floofty's hand into Strabby.

 Floofty wants me to transform their 'missing leg,' which seems improbable and dangerous.

 **Objectives:** Turn Floofty's peg leg into Strabby.

## Coconauts!

 Floofty wants to be transformed into Cocomites, though there are not many of them on the beach.

 **Objectives:** Turn Floofty's limbs into Cocomites. (4/4)

## Use Your Noodle!

 Now Floofty wants to be made of many Snax from the beach, including Noodlers. Apparently this is the full potential of the Snaktivator.

 **Objectives:**
* Turn Floofty into Noodler.
* And Cocomite.
* And Red Banopper.
* And also Strabby.

## Aftermath

Back in Snaxburg, Snorpy has been expecting his sibling but the two do not see eye-to-eye.
Murderbot 2.0

> *Killware was not supposed to be able to alter its deployment directive, so that was disturbing. I had a moment of confusion and a little bit of terror that ART and I had designed it too well and my killware was maybe about to eat my brain.* (Network Effect, Chapter 18)
>
>

**Murderbot 2.0** is sentient killware created by Murderbot and ART, described as their baby by Amena, during the events of Network Effect. The sentient portion of this program is a copy of Murderbot, so it adopted the designation Murderbot 2.0 for itself. Murderbot was originally disturbed by the idea of 2.0 being its baby, but after the events of *Network Effect* came to recognize it as a person. 2.0 was written with limitations (such as not having mapping code), but was also able to view Murderbot's private name and share its private curated logs with Three due to Murderbot not writing those restrictions in 2.0's instruction set.

## Notes

* 2.0 was able to write its own new deployment directive during the events of *Network Effect*, a surprise to Murderbot's understanding of the abilities of killware.
Governor module

Constructs created in the Corporation Rim include a **governor module**. This device serves several functions. It monitors all behavior of the construct, reports anomalous behavior to the HubSystem, and can deliver punishment, which can be painful or fatal. The governor module can force a construct to remain immobile indefinitely.

Most governor modules have a maximum distance limit; if no contracted client is within this distance of the construct, the governor module will kill the construct. While the governor module is not sentient, it has sophisticated programming which allows it, for example, to notice if clients are disparaging the corporation that owns the construct and order the construct to defend the corporation.

Before the Murderbot Diaries begins, Murderbot has already hacked its governor module.

Types of behavior the governor module enforces (as seen through Murderbot):

* Must follow instructions from owners and HubSystem
* Must verbally defend owners if disparaged in conversation
* Must speak respectfully to clients
* Must not exceed one hundred meters distance from at least one of the assigned clients at all times (at least in the case of SecUnits)
* Must not sit on human furniture
* Must not hack or search for hacks without human direction
Tapan

**Tapan** is a female human who first appears in Artificial Condition. She is a member of a group marriage and research collective, alongside Rami, Maro, and four others.

## Appearance

Tapan has slightly darker skin than Rami. She wears multicolored braids wrapped up around her head, and has a blue jewel-toned feed interface clipped to one ear.

Murderbot describes her as young: old enough not to be a child, but otherwise not far from adolescence.
Tano

Tano is a marital partner of Dr. Ayda Mensah and Farai. Tano's gender and pronouns are unknown. It can be assumed Tano is a parent of some kind to Amena (and possibly does not use the parental label "mother" as Mensah is Amena's "second mom," Farai identifies as female, and Amena jokingly referred to Murderbot as "third mom").
Constructs

Constructs are a combination of inorganic bot components and organic tissue, usually cloned human tissue. Unlike augmented humans, constructs do not have full human rights in any known polity.

The earliest constructs were developed using human survivors of catastrophic injuries and were considered fully human, able to choose their employment, etc.

Constructs seem to be relatively common in the Corporation Rim, where they are considered property and are widely thought to be incapable of self-awareness or feelings (or even speech). Constructs are not common outside of the Corporation Rim, e.g. on Freehold planets, and still do not generally have citizenship rights, falling under the same laws as bots and requiring a human “guardian.”

Constructs are, however, sentient, as stated by Martha Wells and as obviously shown by Murderbot.

Known forms of constructs include:

* SecUnits
* Combat SecUnits
* ComfortUnits

There may be other forms of constructs not described in the series so far.

It is not known how long it takes to create a construct. SecUnits are able to heal up to 20% of their body mass within 8 hours or so in a repair cubicle (and are allegedly able to regenerate up to 80% of their organic body mass in an unknown amount of time), so it seems unlikely that the 18 or so standard human years are required to complete a construct. Constructs have no socialization and are trained using 'training modules' (digital programs or data packets designed for construct education), which may vary in quality. They are unaware of any topics they have not been trained on or have not directly experienced.

Constructs are stronger than humans, even most augmented humans, as well as being considerably faster. They have highly durable skeletal systems made of metal and synthetic bone, and may have in-built weapons or other equipment. They can control their sensitivity to light, sound, pain, etc. They generally do not have digestive systems, but have some form of internal power that can be depleted with high levels of activity. After depletion, a construct may require a recharge cycle during which their power system reserves are replenished. This process does not resemble human sleep. No mention is made of constructs having dreams.

Constructs created in the Corporation Rim include a governor module to enforce their compliance.