System Collapse, by Martha Wells

Following on directly from the Murderbot novel Network Effect, the story continues the alliance of Preservation and the University against the evil corporations. The two sides are in a stand-off over the fate of the population of a failed colony planet – will they be resettled or re-enslaved? Unfortunately the SecUnit has had a breakdown after the events of the previous book so it is uncertain how much use it will be in supporting the good guys. The corporations are starting to eat themselves, so Murderbot needs to get its act together and help exploit the situation. It turns filmmaker and propagandist to beat the-ultra capitalists at their own game and help the colonists choose the right path. What is it to be human? This vastly entertaining series poses the question and strives to provide some answers.