Right, sometimes you just have to hold your hand up and admit you don’t understand what all the hype is about. The Murderbot Diaries, which begin with All Systems Red, have been a huge success, selling tens of thousands and they’ve even struck writer gold by becoming an Apple TV series. All I can say, is well done, Martha! I wish my books had sold a tenth as well as yours.

But I must admit, I really don’t understand why the lightning of public approval has decided to strike here. The titular Murderbot is a grumpy security android, detailed to look after a crew of planetary explorers. Yes, someone wants to kill them all. Yes, the Murderbot saves them. Yes, he’s still grumpy at the end of the book.

In essence, the Murderbot is Marvin the Paranoid Android with more guns and less wit. It’s enjoyable enough but I remain baffled why this particular SF series should have struck through the clouds of disinterest that surrounds most stories – but then, I couldn’t work out why Twilight or 50 Shades of Grey were huge either. So I’m probably doomed to never knowing sales like the ones Martha Wells is currently enjoying.

So, well done, Martha Wells. I wish I was you, at least for sales.