Mar 2023 READER Rogue Protocol by Wells

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

The March 2023 Reader Pick is Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells. Please use this thread to post questions, comments, and reviews, at any time.

Official description:
SciFi’s favorite antisocial A.I. is again 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.

[bob]

I could happily read Murderbot knots by a fireplace. Truly the most original character in years.

[bob]

Make that Murderbot Knits!

[Betsy]

Murderbot's friendship with ART is a fascinating trope, but I was also struck by his relationship with Miki, the "pet robot" of the humans MB ends up assisting in this installment. MB treats Miki with such disdain and yet he (yes I still think of MB as male) is somehow drawn to Miki. MB seems very confused by his reactions to Miki.

[Kay Dee (what is your storygraph name?]

love when emotions confuse muderbot. it i knows very well that it is feeling emotions but refuses to acknowledge them.

murderbot is in DEEEEEEEEEP denial that it always ends up caring for people, bots basically whoever needs its help.

[Audrey]

MB is going above and beyond in trying to find answers to certain questions, when it claims to want to be just left alone to watch entertainment media, because of concern for others. MB even admits to worry for Dr. Mensah. Not uncaring, for sure.

[Ken]

I enjoyed the first book and loved this one. ART is a great character and I really liked Miki as well. Looks like I'll be binging the entire series. So much fun.

[Kay Dee (what is your storygraph name?]

Audrey wrote: "MB is going above and beyond in trying to find answers to certain questions, when it claims to want to be just left alone to watch entertainment media, because of concern for others. MB even admits..."

Murderbot would claim its part of its programming to gather information for the company and look for potential threats against what it thinks of as its customers.
DEEP denial
hahaha

[Trike]

All of these books are good, and Murderbot is probably my favorite new character this century. A lot of potentially top ten characters, but Murderbot is the acme. It’s my spirit droid.

[Kay Dee (what is your storygraph name?]

Trike wrote: "All of these books are good, and Murderbot is probably my favorite new character this century. A lot of potentially top ten characters, but Murderbot is the acme. It’s my spirit droid."

your spirit droid. i like that. R2-D2 is mine.

[Audrey]

I love how much Murderbot develops through the series. The actions of Miki and Miki's human friends makes such a strong impression on MB.

[Nick]

I just finished Rogue Protocol. This 3rd book in the Murderbot series started at a slower pace than the previous two books. However, it picks up the pace after chapter 3 to an eventually satisfying ending.

The new side character bot, Miki is in stark contrast to Murderbot. They are practically the opposite of each other and it meshes together epically.

I love how Murderbot wants nothing to do with anyone yet Miki wants to be friends with everyone including Murderbot. There's an engaging dialog between these two characters that is entertaining.

I felt this book is setting up a larger story ark for Murderbot and there is a much more intense story coming. I only discovered this series in January 2023 so I need to catch up on the rest of this series.

[Ryan]

I enjoyed the book. My review:
Murderbot’s character has become progressively more tolerable, and interesting, with each installment. The whininess is minimal and less of a turn-off than the previous books. The world-building is great, but to some extent it comes at the expense of plot, the scope of which is quite narrow. What plot there is, though, was quite engaging, as was the action. The minor characters could have been more fleshed out.

[Adrian]

I've never read any books by Martha Wells. I have now added the first in the series to my To Read list.

[David]

At first I was put off by the price for such short books. After reading the first I WAS HOOKED. I have never felt more connected to a character. Martha Wells has nailed it in my opinion. This is a series that I will continue with.

[Adrian]

Thanks to your comments I’ve now read (listened to) the first in the MB series and I’m halfway through the second.
I had thought an audible credit for such a short book was a waste. However, when I saw that books three and four were available for free to members…

I have thoroughly enjoyed the introduction to Murderbot and I’m looking forward to enjoying the rest of the series.

Thanks for introducing me to Martha Wells.

[Trike]

The audiobook Humble Bundle has all of the Murderbot books (plus others) for one low price until June 17th, 2023.

https://www.humblebundle.com/books/ma...

[Adrian]

Thanks Trike. I’ve never heard of Humble Bundle so I will check them out.

I’ve also added the two books you mention in your profile to my want to read list.

Thanks