Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

Find it on Graphic Audio | Goodreads | MurderBot Reviews

Graphic Audio is making great progress adapting the MurderBot Diaries, and I am here for it! Graphic Audio is a full-cast audiobook version, so they work hard to bring our characters to life.

As this is the third novella in the series, I’ve gotten used to SecUnit’s voice. However, every new character takes a bit of getting used to (I’m just so used to Kevin R. Free’s voice!). For example, Miki’s voice wasn’t quite as I expected. That said, I think it’s a pretty good fit – it just took some getting used to.

Since downloading Rogue Protocol, I’ve gone and listened to it twice. I have to say, I like some of the intonations in this version. It makes the panic and frustration that MurderBot feels all the more apparent.

I’m looking forward to listening to Exit Strategy.

My Original Review of Rogue Protocol:

Rogue Protocol is the third novella in the Murderbot Diaries, and let me tell you, it has absolutely held up to my expectations. If you’ve been humming and hawing over trying this series, please consider giving it a try, and you’re absolutely missing out!

Murderbot is the private name that the main character of the series has given itself. They also go by SecUnit and Rin, as they feel more comfortable giving out to other people and bots. The series focuses on Murderbot’s escapades as a free bot, and no, it isn’t a total gorefest like the name may imply.

Have I mentioned how much I love this series? I’m sure I have in previous reviews, but I just can’t say it enough. Murderbot/Rin/SecUnit is adorable and so sympathetically quirky they’re impossible not to get attached to.

In Rogue Protocol, we start seeing the Murderbot story come full circle – Murderbot has decided they want to help the humans that unwillingly helped to free them, and there’s only one way they can do that. They need hard evidence against GrayCris.

What I love about Murderbot is how exasperated they are half the time. Here, they are just trying to complete these personal missions, but it seems like these pesky humans need help and protection everywhere they go. And I mean, Murderbot may be a SecUnit, but they’re not a monster. So naturally, they become the unwilling protector of humans. Again, and again, and again. It’s pretty funny and very adorable. I enjoy picturing this whole scenario as a grumpy man begrudgingly letting another stray cat into his home (and we all know he’ll eventually get attached to the cat and even name it).

About two-thirds through Rogue Protocol, it struck me that I was reading a novella where 80% of the characters weren’t human. I can’t think of many other series that have taken this risk. Despite the lack of humans in the novel, it is still very complex and full of emotions (confusion and frustration among them). It forces us to consider what it takes for a creature to be considered sentient. I’m sure most fans have made that decision for Murderbot two books ago, but what about the rest of the bots?

Droids and bots, like humans, fill the spectrum of good to evil. There are some bots you want to make sure get through everything okay, and then there are the ones you’re okay with seeing Murderbot takedown.

I’m always surprised by the quality of the fight scenes in this series; I don’t know why that is. Maybe it’s because I don’t expect many in a shorter novel? Regardless, the fights are impeccably written and always fully capture my attention.

Now that I’ve finished Rogue Protocol and know where Murderbot is going next, I can’t wait to start reading Exit Strategy. I know it’ll hold up to the rest of the series.

Highlights:
Cyberpunk meets Solarpunk
Rogue Android/SecUnit
Sarcastic Characters
Space Adventures
Artificial Intelligence

Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat’s Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy