20.6 - Seasoned Reader - EShay's task: EShay's podcast connection

[SRC Moderator, Moderator]

20.6 – Seasoned Reader - EShay's task: EShay's podcast connection

I'm a huge podcast fan. I listen to a few book pods to connect with other great book people and they add to my already overflowing TBR list. Recently, one of the guests of What Should I Read Next recommended The Murderbot Diaries series. Think K2SO from Rogue One goes out on his own and ends up in mission:impossible type scenarios. Lots of action, some humor, fun characters. I read four books in four days. The series will be the highlight of my 2020 reading and I'm already plotting gift these books to my nephew.

This is a one book task. No children's books may be used.
Required: Identify the option when you post.

Option 1: Podcast proposition
Read a book recommended or mentioned on a podcast. This is in my own self interest, I want to know about the good book podcasts. If you are not a podcast listener, you may read a book from one of the following lists:
What Should I Read Next Podcast
Radiolab Suggested Readings
NPR Pop Culture Happy Hour
Required: If you read a book recommended or mentioned on a podcast, you must include a link to the podcast when you post. If you choose to read from one of the lists, state which list you used and on which page of the list your book appears when you post.

Option 2: Brave Bot
The main character of the Murderbot Diaries series is a security android whose job it is to protect the humans in his charge. Read a book with a main character who risks their life or physical safety for the safety of others. This includes active military, first responders (police, fire fighters, EMTs) and security personnel (secret service, bodyguards, FBI and CIA agents, etc.).
Required: If not obvious in the book's description, provide a link as reference to establish how the book fits the task.

Option 3: Pew pew producer
Read a book where the author’s first and last initials can be found in MURDERBOT. Middle initials can be ignored and letters can only be used as many times as they appear.

Option 4: Short and sweet
The first four books of the series are novella length. Read a book with the main page genre Novella and/or that has a page length of 150-200, inclusive.

[EShay]

Approved books:
Option 1:
All Systems Red

Option 2:
All Systems Red
Artificial Condition
Rogue Protocol
Exit Strategy

Option 4:
Gwendy's Button Box
All Systems Red
Artificial Condition
Rogue Protocol
Exit Strategy
La donna di Gilles

[EShay]

Reserved

[SRC Moderator, Moderator]

This thread is now open!

[Aprilleigh]

Please verify MPG Novella for Gwendy's Button Box.

[Dee]

well good place to try and fit in one of the murderbot diaries i guess - i just borrowed the 4th one from the library

[Marie (UK)]

Dee wrote: "well good place to try and fit in one of the murderbot diaries i guess - i just borrowed the 4th one from the library"

I am going to try the first one they are all on audio on scribd

[Joanna]

Thanks for recommending the murderbot series! These look great. I presume they all fit under Option 1.

[Trish]

I loved the Murderbot novellas - the only reason I've not read Network Effect, the novel, is I'm waiting for the price to drop a bit.

[EShay]

Aprilleigh wrote: "Please verify MPG Novella for Gwendy's Button Box."

Approved and noted. Happy reading!

[EShay]

Joanna wrote: "Thanks for recommending the murderbot series! These look great. I presume they all fit under Option 1."

I think all 4 of the Murderbot Diaries work for Options 1,2, and 4 but not 3. I will double check and add to the approved list :)

[EShay]

Trish wrote: "I loved the Murderbot novellas - the only reason I've not read Network Effect, the novel, is I'm waiting for the price to drop a bit."

I’m waiting for the audiobook from my library! 🤞🏼

[Cat]

MurderBot! all the love! I pre-ordered Network Effect and failed to makes myself savour it over several days - blink & it was read!

ETA: though I don't think MurderBot ever identifies as a gender - refers to itself as "it" rather than he/his. Indeed, when I listened to the audio of one of the novellas (#2 or 3) I had real difficulties, as I had read MurderBot with a more female voice - the male narrator threw me completely.

[EShay]

Cat wrote: "MurderBot! all the love! I pre-ordered Network Effect and failed to makes myself savour it over several days - blink & it was read!

ETA: though I don't think MurderBot ever identifies as a gender ..."

That is a great point. I listened on audiobook and got the feeling Murderbot was a "he" but I can understand wanting to be an "it." Murderbot clearly wants nothing to do with being a gender, and I love when it talks about hating the romance parts of it's shows. That part of the book reminds me a lot of Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie. I never really knew what gender anyone was because the ship-not-a-ship called everyone "she/her."

[Sara]

Hi EShay! Could you please verify MPG Novella for La donna di Gilles?
Thank you :)

[EShay]

Sara Ⓥ wrote: "Hi EShay! Could you please verify MPG Novella for La donna di Gilles?
Thank you :)"

I see it, happy reading!

[Sara]

EShay wrote: "Sara Ⓥ wrote: "Hi EShay! Could you please verify MPG Novella for La donna di Gilles?
Thank you :)"

I see it, happy reading!"

Thanks! Wishing you the same :)

[SandyL]

Hi EShay,

Can you clarify option #4 - if the book is between 150-200 pages, does it need to have the MPG Novella? Or is the page count sufficient?

Thanks!

[EShay]

SandyL wrote: "Hi EShay,

Can you clarify option #4 - if the book is between 150-200 pages, does it need to have the MPG Novella? Or is the page count sufficient?

Thanks!"
Page count is sufficient, hence "or"

[Melanie]

Can I please get A Court of Frost and Starlight approved as a novella with MPG novella with 323 users? thanks!