I really enjoyed this story, at least while I was immersed in it. Any questionable science that might have gotten my goat, as it sometimes has in previous stories, was quickly negated by the joyously silly framework.
Reading Scattercat's and others' points about Buddhism-as-McGuffin gave me some pause for thought, though in my (admittedly less than thorough) understanding of various belief systems, Buddhism has a stronger ideal of 'do no harm' than most religions, and that was the point on which the Thingamajig's actions were based.
That being said, I think, on further reflection, that I would have preferred that the Thingamajig learn about the precepts of Buddhism and then reject them in favour of its own moral code (possibly overlapping with and even being influenced by the Buddhism). Having had harm done to it, it could certainly have sympathy for harm done to others and wish to avoid causing it for that reason alone, without any need to buy into an ancient, Earth-biased creed.
Unlike most here, I'm afraid I found that Ms. Johnson's reading detracted from the story. As I have (I believe) enjoyed her readings in the past, I found that disappointing.
I kept being distracted by the fact that the characters didn't sound like they were depicted. For me, "‘Yee-haw!’ shouted the gun," is not as effective as, " ‘YEEEE-HAAWW!’ shouted the gun." And, when it should have, the AI didn't have "a tone of such abysmal sorrow." There are many stories where an understated, descriptive style is appropriate. I don't feel that this is one of them. The nature of this story called for a performance, not just a reading.
