Murderbot's motivations are left as something of a mystery, even three books into the series. "All Systems Red" sees it accidentally embroiled in a conspiracy to kill off its charges, a human contingent of scientists surveying a planetary surface. I say "accidentally" in that Murderbot has full agency, only it prefers to remain undercover as an obedient, non-rogue SecUnit so that it can continue to watch "Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon" without interruption. It is fully capable of independent decision-making and action, having disabled its governor module, the device and programming designed to keep androids and robots subservient to their human overlords. In "All Systems Red," Murderbot acts to save certain humans without really interrogating why. One of these humans then purchases Murderbot from Evil Co. (I mean, "the company") and sets it free, officially, after which it races off into space to leave all those pesky humans behind. In "Artificial Condition," Murderbot accepts a job as a security consultant (undercover as a regular ol' augmented human) because his new employers are offering it a ride where it already intended to go—and when they run afoul of another shady corporation, ends up bailing their puny human asses out of trouble, all while trying to figure out the truth behind its own memories. Did it or did it not commit a mass murder before becoming self-aware and hacking its governor module? The end result is surprising enough not to spoil here.

"Rogue Protocol" brings us full circle, in that the legal consequences of "All Systems Red" are finally catching up to Murderbot. It has been outed as an ungoverned SecUnit in news feeds, and its departure from its erstwhile owner, Dr. Mensah, has been noted. Meanwhile, rumors are beginning to reconsolidate into confirmed facts that certain corporations are willing to privilege profit over human life ... to the extent of massacring innocents and then covering it up. (Too close to real life? Maybe?) Dr. Mensah needs evidence that GrayCris is acting in bad faith, and despite repeated comments about how it would much rather be watching serials on the feed (read: television on the Internet), Murderbot goes a-sleuthing. Only, it doesn't tell Dr. Mensah that it's going a-sleuthing, and only after saving yet another group of puny humans from their poor security choices (and another corporate conspiracy), it has enough evidence to justify going back and reconnecting with the survey team of "All Systems Red."

You might have noticed by now that there are certain elements to "The Murderbot Diaries" that repeat. And it's true: Wells is onto a good thing, and knows it, and is milking it a little bit. That's alright insofar as I'm concerned because the brevity of the novella form means that I'm reading these books much like Murderbot is watching episodes of "Sanctuary Moon." There is an overarching structure and narrative arc, and the smaller serial arcs of the novellas are tightly plotted enough to keep the momentum going.

On a sentence level, Wells opts more often than not for simple sentences and stripped-down dialogue. Italics are used for conversations taking place over private feeds, such as between the humans and Murderbot when they don't want to converse out loud, or between Murderbot and the various bots it encounters. I'm unconvinced that my own brain could create logical, grammatically-correct sentences without the structure-enabling delays of conversation or the written page to channel them, but it works as a narrative device here to enable Murderbot to capture internal monologues in a much more interesting format. Occasionally Wells' sentences are so simple that they don't hold up well under close scrutiny; I noticed this issue first around the beginning of chapter three in "Rogue Protocol," but quickly forgot about it. One might even safely assume that Wells adopts this tone deliberately in order to reflect machine code, which (mostly) eschews the extraneous. But it would be a disservice to "The Murderbot Diaries" to swan in looking for lush landscape description and lush self-analysis.

"Rogue Protocol" and "The Murderbot Diaries" as a whole together make up a propulsive, engaging extrasolar adventure, incorporating elements of thriller and espionage genres into the science fictional construct. Murderbot is a unique and fresh take on the inhuman protagonist, and defies expectations at every turn. These books make for an excellent summer read, and with "All Systems Red" now out in paperback, there's no excuse not to stick one in your pocket as you head down to the beach (or up to the mountains, or out onto the scorched plains of Hellas Planitia) for a little R&R.

It's hard to say just what it is that makes this series work, but it just does, beautifully. I love the human characteristics of the main character -- anxiety, self-doubt, wry humor, intelligence, antipathy, and a big heart -- all rolled together it makes this a very distinctively different kind of sci fi series. I really wish there would be more than just 4 short novellas. Hopefully, Martha Wells has some other wonderful ideas on the horizon that she's feverishly developing into more exciting books. Give this woman another book contract, please!!!

After I read Artificial Condition I didn’t think I could love Murderbot any harder; than I read Rouge Protocol. Like in Artificial Condition Murderbot makes a friend, however, this friend is the exact opposite of Murderbot. Coddled, childlike and loved by their humans Miki brings out surprising feelings of anger and jealousy in Murderbot. Rouge Protocol also delves deeper into the conspiracy surrounding GrayCris and what their endgame really is.

Given a preview copy in exchange for an honest review
It was as wonderful as the first two although it was too short. It's more of a novella or a serial episode rather than a complete book. Would actually make a really good movie. Murderbot has heard some disturbing news. The company that tried to kill them on the first book, GrayCris, has history of always tampering with things to make money. In this instance they went to terraform a world but abandoned it for no apparent reason. The people who are trying to charge GrayCris with attempted murder, etc., is sending an independent company to have a look at the base camp/station to check things out. Worried about this murderbot, now calling itself Ris, is also going to go to gather more evidence to help out his human. This book reminds me a little of the movie Aliens, not because of the plot but it is that type of action. A lot of things are happening, a lot is being uncovered.
Our anxious bot learns some disturbing things on this trip. It learns that humans can love Bots and vice versa. It meets a robot named Miki who is very much loved by his human. They play games together, talk together and are allowed to sit with the other humans instead of cargo. This is Ris’s reaction:
“I had to withdraw back to my dark cubicle. I was having an emotion again. An angry one. Before Dr. Mensah bought me, I could count the number of times I sat on a human chair and it was never in front of clients. I don’t even know why I was reacting this way. Was I jealous of a human-form bot? I didn’t want to be a pet robot, that’s why I’d left Dr. Mensah and the others. (Not that Mensah had said she wanted a pet SecUnit. I don’t think she wanted a SecUnit at all.) What did Miki have that I wanted? I had no idea. I didn’t know what I wanted.”
I think this is why I like it so much. We all feel jealousy and anger yet sometimes we do not know why exactly nor we examine them as much as Ris does. We also do not always know what we want. As always when the going gets tough, Ris wants to go into a quiet room and watch his version of tv (don’t we all at some time or another), but it does what needs to be done. There are also some awesome one liners

My one criticism is that this should not be a standalone, the previous book and probably the next one should be one book.

I am back with another short review for a novella, and it’s once again for Matha Well’s incredible Hugo winning Murberbot Series. The award for best novella was definitely deserved for the first book in the series, All Systems Red, which I reviewed here. However, today we are here to talk about the third short story in the series, Rogue Protocol.

The story still follows the titular Murderbot as she bumbles her way across the universe. Outed as a rogue security unit, and attacked by a shadowy organization, Murderbot decides to hunt down some information and secrets about this nefarious group and expose them – hoping that doing so will finally allow her to consume media in peace. To accomplish this, Murderbot travels to a collapsing terraforming station owned by the shadow organization that is being slowly destroyed to cover up some dastardly crimes. When murderbot arrives on the station with a human scrapping/science crew, they find that the station is a little less abandoned than they hoped.

As usual, Martha Wells balances horror, mystery, humor, intrigue, and compelling characters to pack an enormous amount of punch into this short story. Each of the novellas shows the growth of Murderbot as a person (I realize the irony in this statement) and focuses on new people imparting her with life lessons. In Rogue Protocol we get Miki, a sickeningly adorable manual labor bot who is treated like a friend by their human owners. It is a different take on the AI/human relationship that Murderbot had not seen yet – and her reactions to it make quite the read.

Rogue Protocol took a little while to get started compared to the other to stories in the series. It felt like there was a disproportionate amount of travel at the start, but it did do a great job for setting the stage for the back half of the novella. On top of this, Rogue Protocol felt a bit short, even for a novella. However, all of this is washed away by the tides of emotions that will wash over you in the back half of this story. Martha Wells once again shows that she can humanize AIs better than most authors can humanize humans. I was honestly not prepared for how hard some of the messages in the back half of the novella were, and it helped me forgive every other of the novella’s short comings.

Be excited for this next installment, and sad that there are only four novellas planned so far – so we only get one more after it. Rogue Protocol was delightful and I would say you have to be missing a heart to enjoy it – but I think robots would like it too. Martha Wells has ignited my interest in novellas with this series and I cannot wait to see what happens to Murderbot next.

Rating: Rogue Protocol – 9.0/10
-Andrew

Rogue Protocol is the third novella in the Murderbot Diaries and let me tell you, it has absolutely held up to my expectations. If you’re been humming and hawing over trying this series, please consider giving it a try, and you’re absolutely missing out!
Murderbot is the private name that the main character of the series has given itself. Other names they go by are SecUnit and Rin, as those feel more comfortable to give out to other people and bots. The series focuses on Murderbot’s escapades as a free bot, and no, it isn’t a total gore fest like the name may imply.
Have I mentioned how much I love this series? I’m sure I have in previous reviews, but I just can’t say it enough. Murderbot/Rin/SecUnit is adorable and so sympathetically quirky they’re impossible not to get attached to.
In Rogue Protocol we start seeing the Murderbot story come full circle – Murderbot has decided they want to help the humans that unwillingly helped to free them, and there’s only one way they can do that. They need hard evidence against GrayCris.
What I love about Murderbot is how exasperated they are half the time. Here they are just trying to complete these personal missions but it seems like everywhere they go there are these pesky humans in need of help and protection. And I mean, Murderbot may be a SecUnit, but they’re not a monster. So naturally they become the unwilling protector for humans. Again, and again, and again. It’s actually pretty funny and very adorable. I enjoy picturing this whole scenario as a grumpy man begrudgingly letting another stray cat into his home (and we all know he’ll eventually get attached to the cat and even name it).
It struck me about two thirds through Rogue Protocol that I was reading a novella where 80% of the characters weren’t human. I can’t think of many other series that have taken this risk. Despite the lack of humans in the novel it is still very complex and full of emotions (confusion and frustration being among them, of course). It forces us to consider what it takes for a creature to be considered sentient. I’m sure most fans have made that decision for Murderbot two books ago, but what about the rest of the bots?
Droids and bots, like humans, fill the spectrum of good to evil. There are some bots that you want to make sure get through everything okay, and then there are the ones that you’re okay with seeing Murderbot take down.
I’m always surprised by the quality of the fight scenes in this series, I don’t know why that is. Maybe because I don’t expect that many in a shorter novel? Regardless the fights are impeccably written and always succeed in fully capturing my attention.
Now that I’ve finished Rogue Protocol, and have an idea of where Murderbot is going next, I can’t wait to start reading Exit Strategy. I have no doubt that it’ll hold up to the rest of the series.

The third in the Murderbot Diaries series of novellas finds the rogue cyborg heading for a failed terraforming planet that might be a cover for something more sinister. It encounters humans from beyond Corporation space, who don't understand SecUnits such as itself, and a pet robot, whom Murderbot finds incomprehensible. While facing plots, murderous humans, and combat bots, it continues to learn about its own reactions to the beings around it.

Action, drama, good characterization, twisty ideas, and a very confused security cyborg. Recommended.

The Murderbot Diaries is an exceptionally fun and accessible series, and this third release won me all over again. The "murderbot's" persona and humor are irresistible, as well as its interactions with others, both human and bot, both good and evil. I love seeing the continued character development, as well as the overarching story line that is drawn to sharp focus in the last sentences of this third title.

This series is the perfect recommendation for the reluctant reader (it's a quick-to-engage short read!), for the don't-do-Science Fiction folks (I'm one of those), and for the reader who wants action, lots of humor, and quickly-consumed entertainment.

The murderbot reminds me of Jack Reacher's invincibility and Gray Man's ingenuity, along with some really creative envisioning of what technology might provide in the future.

This title and the whole series have been some of my favorite reading recently, and that's saying a lot. Go right now and get the first books in this series. I'm sorry to share that this third book won't publish until August, but the first two titles are available now. And you'll want to be ready to snap up this third book August 7!
(Note: must read series in order for best pleasure.)

Another strong entry in the Murderbot series! This book felt a bit more like a book in its own right than the previous one. Murderbot is investigating possible crimes by the company that made it, and traces some suspicious clues to an orbital colony that was charged with terraforming a world, only to pull out before the job was done. Murderbot has seen this company pull some shady stuff while terraforming before and wonders if it's up to its old tricks.

The bot hitches a ride with a team headed to the orbital platform that is charged will pulling out salvageable tech and data before the platform heads into the sun. It first makes a deal with a bot that is part of the team to "ride along" in the bot's brain in order to keep an eye on everyone, but of course eventually Murderbot has to interact with illogical, fragile, foolhardy humans once again. It also has to deal with a bot who acts like Ralph from Up in its uncritical love and loyalty to its human team. In this book, I was reminded of the movies Aliens, The Black Hole, and Sunshine, but this book never quite went where I expected it to go. Murderbot must move on again, like a drifter in a Clint Eastwood movie, but its pull back toward the first humans who helped it is growing stronger. Will it learn to trust humans in the end?

I am a new fan of murderbot. I went back and read the first two installments... I want more of this snarky, self realized robot, but it was a bit slow. to get to the action which is a bit problematic in such a short form.

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

Who knew being a heartless killing machine would present so many moral dilemmas?
Sci-fi’s favorite antisocial A.I. is back on a mission. The case against the too-big-to-fail GrayCris Corporation is floundering, and more importantly, authorities are beginning to ask more questions about where Dr. Mensah's SecUnit is.
And Murderbot would rather those questions went away. For good.

Okay, so I am done with this series.

All the things that bugged me in the first two books came together here. No plot, lots of wasted pages with dialogue and nothing happening, characters who are bland and become very hard to remember who is who because none of them stand out, and Rin is at its most annoying with either its snarky attitude or ability to solve things in the blink of an eye.

I tried...I got through three novellas (mostly) - about the size of one decent novel - and I feel so let down.


Paul
ARH

This series is consistently delightful. Do you like robots, snarky first-personal narrators, and/or Grumpy Guses who are secret marshmallows deep down inside? Let me introduce you to Murderbot, who is basically what you'd get if you gave John McClane social anxiety and a soap opera addiction, stuffed him into an aggressively genderneutral robot body and kept handing it all these fragile humans that it has to look after. The latest installment of Murderbot's adventures is packed with high-octane action and is, in a way, a little higher-stakes than the previous two; I don't think it would make much sense without having at least read All Systems Red, but they're all very fast reads.

Murderbot is as relatable as ever in this third installment of The Murderbot Diaries. Murderbot has decided to look for more evidence of Graycris's crimes on an abandoned terraforming station, adopting another hapless group of humans (and a bot) in the process. Murderbot's slow increase of its friendship circle (even if it doesn't want to admit it) warms my cold coal of a heart, and I am very excited to see the conclusion of Murderbot's character growth in the final volume. Even if the end of this one did break my heart.