Chapter Text
The rule I used for the books/stories was that the character had to be mentioned by name or by using its designation (Hostile One, etc.) as a name. For purposes of which book they are in, the character must be present and taking actions or having dialogue in that book. A passing mention of how much Murderbot misses ART in Rogue Protocol isn't enough, but mentions of Pin-Lee doing things in System Collapse count even if she never has dialogue or shares a scene with Murderbot. Another example, from Network Effect: "I had a few scout drones still in the corridors near the control area" – does not count. A paragraph later, "A drone (designated: Scout Two)" does count. Names or designations don't have to be capitalized (like the company gunship bot pilot, or targetControlSystem).
For the tv show, some names and titles were taken from subtitles or credits. That represents a break from the rule above. It's a different medium.
On the recommendation of eyeonthenightsky, this list is to represent all characters we saw.
As far as ordering goes, where possible I have put the higher-ranking/more important persons first in their sections, including putting named characters ("Fenn") above non-named ones ("Target One"). But some of it was random. Presented more-or-less chronologically as the stories happen in-universe:
Obsolescence
Jixy – human
Lilly – human
Greggy – augmented/rover, the victim
Arnie – human
Dubarre – human, general fixer
Shen Jean – human, the medic
Sully – human
Tia Joi – human
Aarti – human
Piecework – augmented/rover, the villain
Data Ghost
Deni – augmented human
Winnie – human
Nehian – human
(the) Interface – Deni's augment
Compulsory (the expanded version, not the original)
Murderbot – SecUnit
Asa – human miner
Elane – human miner
Sekai – human miner
Vena – human miner
SafetyResponder28 – bot
All Systems Red
Murderbot – SecUnit
PresAux:
Dr. Ayda Mensah – PresAux team leader and admin director of Preservation steering committee
Pin-Lee – PresAux member
Dr. Ratthi – PresAux member
Dr. Gurathin – PresAux member, augmented
Dr. Bharadwaj – PresAux member
Dr. Arada – PresAux member
Overse – PresAux member
Dr. Volescu – PresAux member
Enemies on survey planet:
Hostile One – the worm
Blue Leader – leader of GrayCris survey
Yellow – GrayCris survey member
Green – GrayCris survey member
Systems, bots, and constructs:
MedSystem – PresAux
HubSystem – PresAux
SecSystem – PresAux
DeltFall SecUnits – two, override control module, fought with Murderbot
GrayCris SecUnits – two, fought with Murderbot or killed by Mensah
Bot-driven cargo transport – accepted media in trade for a ride
Others:
Human in company gear - spoke to Pin-Lee on Port FreeCommerce
Artificial Condition
Murderbot – SecUnit
ART – Asshole Research Transport, Perihelion
The Collective:
Tapan – member of a collective of technologists
Rami – member of a collective of technologists
Maro – member of a collective of technologists
Tlacey and agents:
Tlacey – corporate, owner of Tlacey Excavations, augmented
Tlacey's ComfortUnit
Target One – mercenary working for Tlacey
Target Two – mercenary working for Tlacey
Target Three – mercenary working for Tlacey
Male human bodyguard – one of Tlacey's agents at the food service place
Bassom – one of Tlacey's agents on her shuttle
Others:
Crew member – on the first shuttle
ShuttleSecSys
Tapan's friend – who returned the Collective's files
Eden – a character in Sanctuary Moon. Murderbot uses this name for interactions with the Collective
Rogue Protocol
Murderbot – SecUnit
GoodNightLander Independent:
Don Abene – GoodNightLander Independent team leader
Miki – human form bot, GoodNightLander Independent team member
Hirune – GoodNightLander Independent team member
Kader – GoodNightLander Independent team member, pilot, augmented
Vibol – GoodNightLander Independent team member, pilot, augmented
Ejiro – GoodNightLander Independent team member
Brais – GoodNightLander Independent team member
Others:
Gerth – mercenary, augmented
Wilken – mercenary, augmented
Drone One – a drone Murderbot stole from the combat bots
Ayers – indentured worker
Elbik – indentured worker
Transport – carrying the indentured workers
Ship – cargo transport to/from Milu
Rin – a character in Sanctuary Moon. Murderbot uses this name for a cover identity
Rapport
ART – Asshole Research Transport, Perihelion, Peri
Perihelion crew (additional crew listed in exploration teams):
Seth – captain of the Perihelion, Martyn's spouse, Iris' dad, Perihelion's dad
Martyn – Perihelion crew member, Seth's spouse, Iris' dad, Perihelion's dad
First exploration team:
Iris – Perihelion crew member, Perihelion's sibling, augmented
Tarik – Perihelion crew member
Matteo – Perihelion crew member
Dr. Ladsen – first exploration team member
Dr. Sunara – first exploration team member
Second exploration team:
Karime – Perihelion crew member
Turi – Perihelion crew member
Kaede – Perihelion crew member
Dr. Mauriq – second exploration team member
Osten – second exploration team member
Exit Strategy
Murderbot – SecUnit
PresAux:
Dr. Ayda Mensah – Preservation team member and admin director of Preservation steering committee
Pin-Lee – Preservation team member
Dr. Gurathin – Preservation team member, augmented
Dr. Ratthi – Preservation team member
GrayCris/Palisade:
Serrat – GrayCris representative
Primary Target – Palisade SecUnit escorting Dr. Mensah
Target One – Palisade security person escorting Dr. Mensah
Target Two – Palisade security person escorting Dr. Mensah
Target Three – Palisade security person escorting Dr. Mensah
Target Four – Palisade security person escorting Dr. Mensah
Hostile One – Combat SecUnit owned by Palisade
Hostile Two – Palisade SecUnit owned by Palisade
Hostile Three – Palisade SecUnit owned by Palisade
Others:
Company gunship bot pilot
MobSys
Small juvenile human – in Mensah's office, looks like a miniature version of Mensah
Jian – false ID Murderbot stole from Wilken and Gerth, from Parthalos Absalo
Kiran – false ID Murderbot stole from Wilken and Gerth
Home
Murderbot – SecUnit
PresAux:
Dr. Ayda Mensah – PresAux team leader and admin director of Preservation steering committee
Pin-Lee – PresAux member
Dr. Ratthi – PresAux member
Dr. Gurathin – PresAux member, augmented
Dr. Bharadwaj – PresAux member
Dr. Arada – PresAux member
Overse – PresAux member
Other:
Ephraim – former admin director of steering committee, currently a councilor
Fugitive Telemetry
Murderbot – SecUnit
Station security:
Senior Indah – Preservation station security
Aylen – Preservation special investigator
Tural – Preservation station security
Farid – Preservation station security
Tifany – Preservation station security
Soire – Preservation station security
Matif – Preservation station security
Doran – Preservation station security
Port Authority and bots:
Gamila – Preservation port authority supervisor
Balin – Preservation port authority bot, also a CombatBot
JollyBaby – Preservation cargo bot
Tellus – Preservation bot
PresAux:
Dr. Ayda Mensah – Preservation team member and admin director of Preservation steering committee
Pin-Lee – Preservation team member
Dr. Gurathin – Preservation team member, augmented
Dr. Ratthi – Preservation team member
Sonje – Preservation councilor
Human smuggling operatives:
Lutran – murder victim
Fenn – Lalow crew member, also known as Target Two
Miro – Lalow crew member, also known as Target Four
Target One – Lalow crew member
Target Three – Lalow crew member
Target Five – Lalow crew member
Human One – BreharWallHan refugee who shot Murderbot
Human Two – BreharWallHan refugee
Human Three – BreharWallHan refugee
Human Four – BreharWallHan refugee
Others:
Mensah's assistant – at Mensah's office
Responder crew person – communicating via Mensah's office
Lutran's ship – damaged transport
Life-tender – blorp
Network Effect
Murderbot – SecUnit
ART – Asshole Research Transport, Perihelion, Peri
Miscellaneous Preservation:
Dr. Ayda Mensah – Preservation member (political title unclear at this point)
Farai – spouse of Mensah
Tano – spouse of Mensah
Pin-Lee – Preservation member
Dr. Bharadwaj – Preservation member
Senior Indah – Preservation station security
Tifany – Preservation station security
Marne – took too much interest in Amena, also known as Potential Hostile
Water planet survey members:
Dr. Arada – Preservation member and water planet survey leader
Dr. Ratthi – Preservation member and water planet survey member
Overse – Preservation member and water planet survey member
Dr. Thiago – water planet survey member, marital partner of Mensah's brother
Amena – Mensah's daughter, water planet survey member
Roa – pilot for water planet survey
Mihail – copilot for water planet survey
Kanti – with Amena on water planet survey
Rajpreet – specialist for water planet survey
Adjat – survey member for water planet survey
Water planet pirates:
Potential Target Leader – leader of the water planet pirate ship, also known as Target Leader
Target One – water planet pirate
Target Two – water planet pirate
Target Three – water planet pirate
Target Four – water planet pirate
Gray persons:
Target One – gray person aboard ART, also known as Unidentified One
Target Two – gray person aboard ART, also known as Unidentified Two
Target Three – gray person aboard ART
Target Four – gray person aboard ART
Target Five – gray person aboard ART
Target Six – gray person aboard ART
Colonists:
Target One – colonist negotiating for the return of Murderbot
Target Two – colonist negotiating for the return of Murderbot
Target Three – colonist negotiating for the return of Murderbot
Perihelion crew:
Seth – captain of the Perihelion, Martyn's spouse, Iris' dad, Perihelion's dad
Martyn – Perihelion crew member, Seth's spouse, Iris' dad, Perihelion's dad
Iris – Perihelion crew member, Perihelion's sibling, augmented
Turi – Perihelion crew member
Tarik – Perihelion crew member
Matteo – Perihelion crew member
Karime – Perihelion crew member
Kaede – Perihelion crew member
Barish-Estranza:
Leonide – Barish-Estranza supervisor, augmented
Ras – Barish-Estranza member, also known as Casualty Two
Eletra – Barish-Estranza member, also known as Casualty One
Jete – human security on the Barish-Estranza supply ship
Three – Barish-Estranza SecUnit, turned rogue, also known as 3
SecUnit 1 – Barish-Estranza SecUnit, also known as 01
SecUnit 2 – Barish-Estranza SecUnit, also known as 02
Killware, bots, and systems:
Murderbot 2.0
Central System – AdaCol1
targetControlSystem [sic] – uploaded alien remnant virus (at least three iterations encountered: one on ART, one on the B-E explorer, and one with Central/AdaCol1)
TargetContact – alien remnant infected human
Scout One – one of Murderbot's drones
Scout Two – one of Murderbot's drones
Others:
Hostile Five – handler for the chemically augmented human assassins
Hostile One – chemically augmented human assassin
Hostile Two – chemically augmented human assassin
Glaw – a playwright at Preservation's festival
Ji-min – a playwright at Preservation's festival
Consuela Makeba – captain of the Pressy which originally settled Preservation
System Collapse
Murderbot – SecUnit
ART – Asshole Research Transport, Perihelion, Peri (also as ART–drone)
Preservation:
Dr. Ayda Mensah – Preservation team member (political title unclear at this point)
Pin-Lee – Preservation team member
Dr. Ratthi – Preservation team member, goes to colony 2
Overse – Preservation team member
Dr. Thiago – Preservation team member, marital partner of Mensah's brother
Amena – Preservation team member, Mensah's daughter
Perihelion crew:
Seth – captain of the Perihelion, Martyn's spouse, Iris' dad, Perihelion's dad
Martyn – Perihelion crew member, Seth's spouse, Iris' dad, Perihelion's dad
Iris – Perihelion crew member, Perihelion's sibling, goes to colony 2, augmented
Tarik – Perihelion crew member, goes to colony 2
Karime – Perihelion crew member, negotiates with colony 1
Turi – Perihelion crew member
Matteo – Perihelion crew member
Kaede – Perihelion crew member
Three – former Barish-Estranza SecUnit, turned rogue, also known as 3, providing security for Karime
Colony 1 members:
Bellagaia – colony 1 member
Corian – colony 1 member
Danis – colony 1 member
Variset – colony 1 member
Colony 2 members:
Trinh – colony 2 member
Lucia – colony 2 member
Barish-Estranza:
Leonide – Barish-Estranza supervisor, augmented
Adelsen – Barish-Estranza member
Beatrix – Barish-Estranza member
Huang – Barish-Estranza member
HostileSecUnit1 – Barish-Estranza SecUnit
HostileSecUnit2 – Barish-Estranza SecUnit
Dellcourt – Barish-Estranza sub–supervisor
Bots and systems:
AdaCol2
ScoutDrone 1 – one of Murderbot's drones
ScoutDrone 2 – one of Murderbot's drones
ScoutDrone 3 – one of Murderbot's drones, also known as FinalDrone
Holism - Perihelion's sibling-ship, associated with Sum Total (not sure if that one is an AI or not)
TV Show
Murderbot – SecUnit
PresAux:
Dr. Ayda Mensah – PresAux team leader and president of Preservation
Pin-Lee – PresAux member
Dr. Ratthi – PresAux member
Dr. Gurathin – PresAux member, augmented
Dr. Bharadwaj – PresAux member
Dr. Arada – PresAux member
Company personnel:
Board member 1 – company salesperson
Board member 2 – company salesperson
Board member 3 – company salesperson
That Fucker – lead company negotiator
Enemies on survey planet:
Hostile One – the worm
DeltFall SecUnit – the one Murderbot fights and kills
GrayCris Leader – takes the place of Blue Leader in the books
GrayCris Yellow – GrayCris survey member
GrayCris Green – GrayCris survey member
GrayCris Worker – interrupts Gurathin and Pin-Lee hacking the beacon launch
GrayCris SecUnit 5 – the one who implants the override module in Murderbot
GC SecUnit – the one with the jetpack which is decapitated by a worm
Leebeebee – GrayCris infiltrator
Characters from Murderbot's media:
Captain Hossein – Sanctuary Moon character
Lieutenant (or Captain) Kullervv – Sanctuary Moon character
Officer Hordööp-Sklanch – Sanctuary Moon character
Navigation Bot – Sanctuary Moon character
Flight Supervisor Kogi – Sanctuary Moon character
Hragnak – Sanctuary Moon character
Fimbro – Sanctuary Moon character
Friess – Sanctuary Moon character
Colony Solicitor – Sanctuary Moon character
ComfortUnit 1 on Strife of the Galaxy
ComfortUnit 2 on Strife of the Galaxy
SecUnit factory:
Announcer – for SecUnit factory
Donna Komparzits – mentioned in SecUnit factory announcement
Technician 1 – in SecUnit factory
Technician 2 – in SecUnit factory
Technician 3 – in SecUnit factory
Technician 4 – in SecUnit factory
Manager – in SecUnit factory
Worker – in SecUnit factory
Trainee – in SecUnit factory
Supervisor – in SecUnit factory
Reboot persons:
Technician – helps wake and reboot Murderbot in ep 10
Engineer – helps wake and reboot Murderbot in ep 10
Company rep – requisitions Murderbot in ep 10
Officer 1-3 – security officer in ep 10
Reporter 1-6 – reporters in ep 10
Protestor 1-8 – protestors in ep 10
Others:
Landers – Gurathin's former dealer
Landers' child – child of Gurathin's former dealer
Miner 1 – miner on ep 1 intro asteroid
Miner 2 – miner on ep 1 intro asteroid
Miner 3 – miner on ep 1 intro asteroid
The above provides insight about who Murderbot assigns/allows personhood, however tenuous, to in its diaries. If it's fighting someone, they don't get names. For example, Tlacey's guards are Targets One through Three, despite Murderbot having proven earlier in Artificial Condition that it was just a quick search in the transit ring's social feed to find profiles on Maro, Rami, and Tapan. We get names for Ras, Eletra, and water survey members who are never seen again, but there's no name given for the handler of the two chemically-augmented assassins even though Murderbot must have seen such in the process of researching his transit accommodations.
Then there's the issue of why some are Targets and some Hostiles. With two exceptions, it divides with non-human antagonists being Hostiles and humans being Targets:
- Hostiles: survey planet worm, Palisade CSU/SUs, chemically augmented assassins and handler, B-E SecUnits in System Collapse
- Targets: Tlacey's mercenaries, Lalow crew members, water planet pirate, gray person aboard ART, colonists negotiating for Murderbot's return, alien remnant-infected systems, Palisade security persons escorting Mensah
The exceptions are the chemically augmented assassins (described as "less sentient than hauler bots") and their handler, and the alien remnant-infected systems, whose names are written camel cased. Given Martha Wells' tendency to change nomenclature/terminology book-to-book, differences with a book are the most telling. For that, Exit Strategy has Mensah's human escorts listed as Targets and the CSU/SUs Murderbot fights on the docks listed as Hostiles. (For an example of the change in nomenclature, Murderbot only refers to Three as '3' in Network Effect but as 'Three' in System Collapse.)
There's another interesting feature in how Murderbot chooses to name people aside from Targets and Hostiles. It applied an acronym to ART almost immediately and while it was was fascinated to discover its crew had a pet name for it, it had been uninterested in the name emblazoned on ART's hull. Murderbot 2.0 announced its name as the answer to what it was. The only other names Murderbot applied were Blue Leader, Yellow, and Green to the color-coded GrayCris agents on the survey planet. It expressed derision about the names Tellus and JollyBaby, kind of rich coming from someone who named itself Murderbot privately and SecUnit publicly. It seems to prefer descriptive, basic names, devoid of cultural context.
Human culture, itself, is something Murderbot feels estranged from and in many respects, wants to be estranged from. Perhaps that's what the name thing is all about.