Apr 2023 READER Exit Strategy by Wells

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

The April 2023 Reader Pick is Exit Strategy by Martha Wells. Please use this thread to post questions, comments, and reviews, at any time.

Official description:
Murderbot wasn’t programmed to care. So, its decision to help the only human who ever showed it respect must be a system glitch, right?

Having traveled the width of the galaxy to unearth details of its own murderous transgressions, as well as those of the GrayCris Corporation, Murderbot is heading home to help Dr. Mensah—its former owner (protector? friend?)—submit evidence that could prevent GrayCris from destroying more colonists in its never-ending quest for profit.

But who’s going to believe a SecUnit gone rogue?

And what will become of it when it’s caught?

[Audrey]

Murderbot is finally realizing that it has friends. Not that it thinks it wants or needs friends, but acceptance is slowly creeping in.

[Kay Dee (what is your storygraph name?]

“I don’t want to be human.”

Dr. Mensah said, “That’s not an attitude a lot of humans are going to understand. We tend to think that because a bot or a construct looks human, its ultimate goal would be to become human.”

“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”




this is why i love Murderbot!!!!!

[L J]

Murderbot continues to develop as a unique personality. Quite different from robots designed to mimic human behavior so successfully they can be mistaken for human but not developing personalities.

[Audrey]

Here is an example of that Murderbot personality: "SecUnits are never allowed to sit down or use human furniture whether on or off duty, so I sat in one of the chairs and put my feet up on the table. Then I took my feet off the table because it wasn’t comfortable."

[Nick]

It's funny how Murderbot can be humorous, serious, loving, a jerk, and chronically anxious yet be so high-functioning. I love this character. Relatable on so many levels!

[Ryan]

Had a bit of trouble following the main plot. Questions:
In Chapter 3, Pin-Lee says to MBot - "Speaking of pay-offs, the company is playing a double game, right?" - What does this mean?

It's said repeatedly that GrayCris needs money, which is why they try to ransom Mensah. What do they need the money for? Who are they paying off?

It's said the gunship is owned by the bond company. What is the bond company and what are its goals?

[Audrey]

This book continues a plot line introduced starting with the first book of the series. GrayCris needs money as a consequence of their highly illegal activities being discovered. If you missed reading any of the previous books in this series, it would help to go back and read them.

[Ryan]

I've read them. I know what GrayCris did. What is unclear is specifically who they need to pay and exactly what their plan to get out of trouble is.

[bob]

The plot in Murderbot is never important. I admit they are well constructed and the action scenes are great, but the star is Murderbot’s emerging personality. I have always said I would buy “mudrderbot knits a Sweater”.

[Kay Dee (what is your storygraph name?]

Ryan wrote: "I've read them. I know what GrayCris did. What is unclear is specifically who they need to pay and exactly what their plan to get out of trouble is."


were they not sued? and don't they have to pay insurance claims as well fees for breaking laws and not fulfilling their contracts? also they lost sect bots which are rather expensive.

and their plan to get out of trouble is to make more money...in a sorta legal way that is unethical, right?

[Nick]

Ryan wrote: "I've read them. I know what GrayCris did. What is unclear is specifically who they need to pay and exactly what their plan to get out of trouble is."

I agree with you. The author's style is certainly character-based rather than plot based. And what a fantastic job she did to base this series around character. Murderbot is interesting to read about, and I always want to learn more about THIS character over the other characters (though ART is a close second!)

This series has quickly become one of my most recent favorites, specifically in terms of characters in recent (past 5 - 7 years or so) in sci-fi soap operas. I was attached to Bob in the Bobiverse Series, but Murderbot has outshined Bob for me in more primal ways. The key difference is that Bob is more human-like, and Murderbot has to figure out what it (sort of what it's like to be human, to be accepted to be just Murderbot) Both stories include a theme of addressing the meaning of life in different sci-fi space opera stories.

My favorite aspect of Murderbot is the inner monologue and its tendency to want to procrastinate and distract itself from the ongoings of the world by watching human serial video shows in its feed. Its interaction with other AI is also very entertaining.

Nick

After thought:
If you have yet to read the Bobiverse series by Dennis E Taylor, it's a great take on the meaning of life via technology. That series starts with book one, We Are Legion (We Are Bob). It's a great read. It has tremendous references to the pop culture of the 60's 70's, 80's and 90's including sci-fi and general geekiness, which is an attractive feature of Bobiverse series.

[Ryan]

I love Bobiverse, of which I've read the first three. Better than Murderbot for me. I find the character interactions more interesting and the plot more fun.

[Suman]

I read this book a year after it was released and still remember the thrill of reading it.

Murderbot is awesome.