"All Systems Red," by Martha Wells

One of the shortest books we've ever read, this novella has started an outright literary phenomenon in the sci-fi world. Now up to seven books, this title and its sequels have won so many awards that the author has repeatedly turned down a slew of nominations in order for "other, fresh authors to have their stories heard and featured." If you're into audiobooks, this title and its sequels have "normal" versions and dramatized editions. Its success has also garnered a television series currently in the works for Apple TV Plus starring Alexander Skarsgård. Among its 26,000+ reviewers, a growing number of readers are exclaiming: I can't get enough Murderbot! Will you be one of them?!

Regarding our location, if you need some extra landmark help, find your way to Belvedere Castle. Behind it you'll find two staircases diverging past fenced-in outdoor equipment. Take the left staircase, and keep bearing to the left at the bottom of it.

Feel free to bring a blanket, chair, water, snacks, your friendly dog.

From Goodreads:

"As a heartless killing machine, I was a complete failure."

In a corporate-dominated space-faring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. For their own safety, exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids. But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn’t a primary concern.

On a distant planet, a team of scientists is conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid--a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.” Scornful of humans, Murderbot wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is, but when a neighboring mission goes dark, it's up to the scientists and Murderbot to get to the truth.