Rogue Protocol is the third entry in Martha Wells’s Hugo, Nebula, Alex, and Locus Award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling series, The Murderbot Diaries. Starring a human-like android who keeps getting sucked back into adventure after adventure, though it just wants to be left alone, away from humanity and small talk. Who knew being a heartless killing machine would present so … 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.
“I love Murderbot!”–New York Times bestselling author Ann Leckie
Murderbot Diaries
#1 All Systems Red
#2 Artificial Condition
#3 Rogue Protocol
#4 Exit Strategy
At the Publisher’s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
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Lots of fun to read.
I am in love with this series. Murderbot is so relatable. These stories are quick and easy to read. No fluff or extras. Just really impressive writing and a fun story.
Each Murderbot book gets better and more enjoyable. Can recommend it highly enough.
I find Murderbot to be a truly different kind of character – adult yet lacking in the kind of emotional knowledge the typical adult would have. That makes him fascinating to follow around, just to see what he does and learns as he muddles along. Unfortunately for Murderbot in this book, he learns the potential cost of friendship. I really wish he did not have to, but without Miki, he would not have learned the depths of friendship and of love. I am looking forward to seeing how he does with the next part of his walkabout.
This is novella three in the Murderbot Series. For me, the series is beginning to feel a bit formulaic and has lost some of its charm. Part of the issue for me, is that 1&2 in the series are so good, it’s tough for author Wells to keep up with my expectations. It’s still a great series and I’ll quickly move on to #4 but felt like a little speed bump in the road.
We start this installment with Murderbot on a transport filled with annoying humans. In the Murderbot Series most of the human’s are either weak, annoying, or evil. On the transport, antisocial Murderbot somehow ends up having to play referee in a series of petty squabbles and fights amongst the worried, irritable, and bored humans. Wells also sneaks in some background information to assist in recapping a bit of Murderbot’s personality and situation for new and returning readers. I found it be a rough start with a great deal of telling and passive-tense writing that is out of place with the rest of the series. However, Wells eventually gets her feet back under her, when Murderbot arrives at a nearly abandoned Milu Station.
Milu Station is a cool setting as it’s nearly abandoned, and Wells creates much dread with this eerily empty location. Here we get introduced to several humans and Miki, a childlike and naïve robot. We seem to be getting one non-human character a novella, each with an exaggerated human trait. Still, it’s what makes the Murderbot Series great, and while Miki isn’t my favorite of these characters, the interaction of Mike and Murderbot is one of the best things about this novella. The other ‘best thing’ is action and once it finally gears up around the 40% mark, it continues pretty much non-stop until the end. Once again, Martha Wells does a great job of telling a complete story but adding a little more to overall series plotline. There are a few twists and a real gut punch that help this novella stay interesting.
Four stars for this slowly starting, but eventual action-packed story in the Muderbot Series that continues to entertain with unique and amusing non-human characters.
Murderbot has taken it upon itself to search for evidence against the company that attacked its humans and killed another research group, leading to its current freedom of movement. The plan definitely doesn’t include assisting humans against murderous combat bots and making friends with an assistant bot that acts all too human. Once again Murderbot is pulled in against its better judgement, risking itself to help vulnerable humans. I’m really enjoying this series and its main character, a construct that was not programmed to care, but does anyway, although it would rather sit and watch its favorite shows more than anything. I’m now eagerly moving on to the next book, Exit Strategy.
The entire MurderBot series by Martha Wells is fabulous, witty, clever, laugh-out-loud funny and I just devour them within days!! Reading #5 now, loving it!!
Most humans irritate Murderbot, but there are a handful that it actually… likes is maybe too strong of a word? Maybe not? Certainly Murderbot hasn’t made FRIENDS with them. Yuck. But…
Either way, Murderbot decides to help these decent humans out by getting them information on an evil company that’s trying to take over their economy. Of course, the evil company doesn’t like that, and sends soldiers to stop Murderbot.
Those soldiers are dead. Just sayin’.
Yup. Gonna recommend this whole damn series. Read my review on the first one. It applies to all of them.
Another fascinating and satisfying Murderbot story from the very talented Martha Wells. I’m recommending this series to all my friends looking for interesting and intriguing SF.
With every one of these novellas, I found myself marveling at how wonderful Martha Wells is at writing characters. Murderbot is a consistently fantastic character, and it amazes me how even though I know what to expect from my favorite snarky bot, Murderbot still surprises me with each installment.
“I hated caring about stuff. But apparently once you start you can’t stop.”
I love The Murderbot Diaries. The only problem I am having is reading these out of order. Martha Wells’ series of stories about Murderbot are snarky, sometimes in questionable taste, but a lot of fun. No one takes Augmented Humans like her completely seriously; which leaves them “scratching their programming” when something new and different comes along. Makes you wonder how Murderbot was programmed originally and what “flipped the switch”?
Here she makes “friends” with a “pet robot” Miki, (who makes me think of the song “Tomorrow “) and she hates “pet robots”. IMHO, Murderbot hates that she’s part human because it means she has to care…kind of a Catch-22.
Highly recommended 5/5
The entire Murderbot Diaries series of novelettes is great. The stories move right along and the main protagonist is great as a cyberbeing trying to understand and cope with humanity.
I also love Murderbot!