Rogue Protocol

Executive Summary: This is the weakest of the series so far, but still pretty enjoyable. It finished much stronger than it started.

Audiobook: Kevin R. Free once again does a good job with the narration. He adds that extra something that makes the audio a great option for this series.

Full Review
After how much I enjoyed the last novella in this series, I immediately went out and got the final two. I found this one started a bit slow. I didn't like the supporting cast in it nearly as much as in the first two stories.

I did eventually warm up to them by the end of the book. Mickie especially definitely grew on me. I loved the way he started to rub off on Murderbot. The fun dialog and good writing carried the slower parts until I started to care more about the new supporting characters

Overall this was a fun entry but didn't add as much to the series as the last two. There were some minor series developments, but much of this story could have been cut without losing too much in my opinion.

Op het einde van het vorige boek weet Murderbot wat er gebeurd is toen hij een hele stapel mensen heeft vermoord die hij eigenlijk had moeten beschermen. Het heeft te maken met wat een bedrijf daar op die plaats aan het doen was, en dat bedrijf deed misschien ook iets verdachts op een andere plaats, en dus besluit hij naar die andere plaats te gaan.

(Het wordt alsmaar moeilijker om iets te schrijven zonder spoilers, want het voelt opnieuw maar aan als hoofdstuk drie in een boek dat eigenlijk vier keer langer had kunnen zijn en alle vier de eerste boeken van de reeks had kunnen bevatten.

Het is alsof Wells alle verschillende archetypes van robots achtereenvolgend aan het woord laat: dickiaanse twijfelende androïde (Murderbot), banksiaans Mind (ART), sexbot (hier en daar, terloops), en hier dan een aandoenlijke asimoviaanse robot die door zijn eigenaar behandeld wordt als iets tussen geliefd intelligent huisdier en vriend (Miki).

Dit boek was, in tegenstelling met het vorige, véél meer actie. En nog meer dan het vorige boek, waar Murderbot zijn intellectuele meerdere tegenkwam, heeft hij hier niet meer automatisch overal en altijd de bovenhand.
Murderbot zelf blijft groeien, in al zijn contacten met mensen en niet-mensen. En blijft sarcastisch, en droog, en grappig, en onzeker, en complex.

En op het einde van het boek, jawel: meteen verder naar het volgende.

This is my least favorite of the series so far. Perhaps it is because I read Artificial Condition the day before reading this one, but the story felt rather repetitive. If I wasn't doing a readalong for these books, I'd probably take a break before starting the next book. Hopefully it doesn't recycle the same plot again

The best part of this installment was Murderbot quoting a tv show in attempt to deescalate a combat situation. Brilliant

I think the shortness of these novellas and the similarity with the previous one is kind of rubbing the shine off of them. I still really like Murderbot themselves, and the adventure was fine this time around.

But while it's well written it is very samey to the previous novella. I'm hoping to see something new from Murderbot next time around.

“Who knew being a heartless killing machine would present so many moral dilemmas?”

Murderbot continues to be its sassy, sarcastic self in another highly entertaining dark comedy novella. In addition, this chapter starts to show the development of some plot threads that were sown back in All Systems Red. A must read if you enjoyed the others in the series.

This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: Rogue Protocol

When we first met Murderbot the GrayCis Corporation attempted to kill Mensha and her crew. And once again the company is trying to cover up shady business deals. With the news of Murderbot's disappearance reaching a wider audience, it makes the decision to help Mensha and her public battle against GrayCis. After all, if the news explodes with the truth about the corporation, they'll forget all about a rogue murderbot, right?

Sometimes you don't realize what you're missing until you witness someone else experience it. The introduction of Miki as a character was the reality check Murderbot needed. Miki brought to the pages a life Murderbot never imagined a bot being able to live. As Murderbot tried to identify and process newfound emotions, you couldn't help but feel for it as a new realization began to take place. And while the new feelings put them in multiple uncomfortable situations, it also paves the way for further character development. Not to mention Miki's personality was adorable and the perfect counterbalance to Murderbot.

Rogue Protocol shows how hard it is to break free of the cycle you've been living almost your entire life. Murderbot was fit into a box. Everyone around it believed it was only good for one thing. Follow orders and kill when necessary. This novel is a pivotal turning point for Murderbot. And as it forges a new path, Martha Wells shows the growing pains and self-doubt that Murderbot's previous life has inflicted on it. Whether it's through a split-second reaction or the fear of being touched by a human, Murderbot has been subconsciously scarred.

Martha Wells continues to impress me with the way Murderbot is portrayed. And as much as I love the characterization that takes place, the plot is just as good. No time is wasted introducing a new cast of characters with each novella. And there is plenty of action and suspense to go around. I cannot get enough Murderbot!

Still enjoying the series, but a little less so. This one was more action than introspection, more shooting than listening. Still the same overall themes: the quest to fight injustice; joining forces with a team of humans who just so happen to be intelligent and professional and moral and decent; having an adventure with more than its fair share of improbable successes and narrow escapes. There was a promising storyline regarding machine consciousness and bot-human relationships, but it never really went anywhere satisfying.

Even so, Wells still draws me in. There's still good wry humor, insight, tenderness, and a story worth following. I've already started reading the next one.

TL;DR

Another great addition, this is the one I like the most out of the three. I like the story and the claustrophobic ambiance in the dark space station where it takes place. Miki was okay, not on ARTs level but he was enjoyable to read every time he interacted with Murderbot. The new set of characters were also good. I had a great time reading this book.

My Scoring System

I have five things I look for in a book, if the book checks all five it's a 5/5 stars book, if it checks none it's a 1/5 stars and everything else is a combination:

✓ - Main Story: I really liked this story, mainly because it has a bit of horror in it. It's more scary than the rest which I like.

X - Side Stories (if it applies):

✓ - Characters: I like all the characters, there wasn't anyone who I thought was annoying. ART is gone which is sad but the new humans are really nice and the new AI was interesting to see how he interacted with Murderbot.

✓ - Setting/Ambiance: The new forgotten station was nice and scary. I like how murderbot had to use the shadows and dark places to sneak around.

✓ - Ending: Best ending of the series so far.

Extensive Review

The place where it takes place and the actions scenes were the highlights of this book, I enjoyed the actions scenes and Muerderbot's planning. His interactions with the rest of the crew were also great. Don't have much to say the series is getting better and better. Can't wait to read the next entry.

I always include major spoilers (hidden), to help with my memory  issues. Read them at your peril! 

MB travels to another station to obtain evidence for Dr Mensah that Gray Cris were concealing illegal mining activities under a pretence of terraforming. On arrival he is contacted by Miki, a simpler-minded pet bot who is eager to be friends,  belonging to some  humans on another mission. As usual, things go badly  awry and MB has to save the day with ingenuity and bravery . Some combat bots and drones are on the  station, with a mission to destroy it, along with evidence of Gray Cris' wrong doing. Also, the human so-called security duo, are baddies.  In the end Miki dies heroically trying to help MB save the shuttle