Exit Strategy
Murderbot Diaries Book 4.0
ISBN 9781250191854
eISBN 9781250185464
ASIN B078X1N8VF
I have been slowly working my way through this series. It has only been a month since I read book 3, but it had been almost 2 years between it and each earlier volume. The series came highly recommended from an author I love. I read this volume in a single sitting over a very large mug of tea; I could just not put it down. To quote C.S. Lewis
“No tea cup is big enough nor book long enough for me to be satisfied.”
But these stories are short. More novellas than novels. But either way they are excellent reads. Prior to reading that first book I had never heard of Martha Wells, but author Arthur Slade mentioned his on social media. And specifically, he mentioned that first book, which he had just finished. I have read a few books over the years that Art has plugged and have never been disappointed. And that was the case that time as well, with the first book and the series I have completed to date.
I bought and read book 1 while sitting in PICU after my son had spinal surgery. When I picked it up, I did not realize that it was part of a series. Let alone this long. A series, but it gives me several more books to look forward to that year, or at least that was the plan. It is in many ways a classic science fiction tale. It reminds me of stories I read a lot of in my youth but only pick up from time to time now. The description of this fourth instalment is:
“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?”
Our hero or anti-hero depending on your perspective was formerly property. But It has ties to certain humans. And in this one It realizes some of those humans are in danger and in part because of things It has done. It decided to do all it can to remedy the situation, even if that might mean sacrificing Itself
Again, there is some great action, and this time Murderbot has learned and grown a lot since hacking it’s governor module. It is now planning much further ahead, is building protocols and procedures, and factoring in many things. It is becoming much better at predicting human actions and designing countermeasures, both physical and digital. This one, like the whole series, reads like a space noir combine with Space Opera or action. There is some great character development, and it was great to catch up with some of the characters from the first story that started it all. This fourth instalment has a very strong story line, wonderful action, and excellent pace.
I said it before but this book and series remind me of James Bolivar diGriz, Slippery Jim aka The Stainless Steel Rat. And as you can tell from the first, it is a thinking book. Not just fluff to entertain. That feeling was even stronger with each offering in the series.
The story in some ways reminds me of the Stainless Steel Rat Series by Harry Harrison. And in other ways it reminds me of Starship Troopers by Heinlein. The action and mystery reminds me of the Rat. And the deep reflective internal dialogue of Rico. Another great read in an excellent series. I can easily recommend this book and series.
Books by Martha Wells:
The Murderbot Diaries:
0.1 Obsolescence
0.5 Compulsory
1.0 All Systems Red
3.0 Rogue Protocol
4.0 Exit Strategy
5.0 Network Effect
7.0 System Collapse
8.0 Platform Decay
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