Rogue Protocol
Ratings881
Average rating4.2
4.5/5. The Murderbot Diaries sets a high standard but Rogue Protocol kinda squeezes above that benchmark and does things even better than its predecessors.
The titular Murderbot is just a little bit more sarcastic and sharp-witted, just a little bit more human, and the plot is just a little bit tighter and more satisfying to read.
Here, we see our favourite rogue SecUnit (security unit for the uninitiated) decide to go upon a mission to collect evidence to prove wrongdoing against some Big Bad Corporation, GrayCris. It leads him to what is ostensibly an abandoned terraforming facility, but is actually an abandoned illegal mining operation. To collect evidence he has to sneak aboard a team shuttle going down to assess the facility, but soon finds himself doing what he's always told himself he's done doing - protect humans.
There is so much to love about Murderbot, I don't know where to start. Is it his reluctance to get attached to humans? Is it his hermit nature and love for soap operas? Is it him blanking out half way through an intense suspenseful moment and deciding to instead spend those 6 minutes watching the TV show he had on pause in his mental feeds? It's probably all of these things.
Miki, the robot introduced in this installment, provides the perfect foil for Murderbot. It's a perfectly docile, innocent, child-like pet robot that believes wholeheartedly in the goodness of human beings, an attitude that Murderbot is simultaneously jealous of and nauseated by (”I didn't have a stomach so I can't vomit”).
I am endlessly amused by how offputtingly technical the titles of these Murderbot stories can be sometimes - All Systems Red, Rogue Protocol, etc. It calls to mind a story exceedingly burdened with technical and scifi jargon. While there is definitely some of that here, Murderbot is so relatable and so human-like that arguably I've not seen a better example of how blurred the line can be between AI and a 21st century human being.
If you haven't read Murderbot Diaries, you should. Now. It doesnt matter whether or not you are a fan of scifi because this is a protagonist anyone can identify with and enjoy.
The plot was clunkier than the first two novellas but damn, still so good. Love this character and world of bots and AI and hybrids.
This is the third book in this series. I thought it was fine. Although it was a quick read, it wasn’t a lot of action. This one has a sad ending. Out of the three I’ve read, I liked the 2nd book the best. On to the next ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
Detective Murderbot 2
The intro tells how our murderbot got into a new situation but overall it feels like a direct continuation of the previous book (if we just remove a little recap about some events). Again a lot of exploration in the first third but then the action starts very suddenly.
A few really nice features—the global plot thickens, cool and dangerous detective work, really heart breaking moments here, nice ending with a hint of what to expect next.
Can’t get enough of this series!
I'll just go ahead and say up front that I didn't think this book was as strong as the others. I didn't feel all that connected with any of the humans our SecUnit was protecting this time around, because the story doesn't really set any of that up in the same way as the other two. We just kind of...end up with them along for the ride when Murderbot was there for other reasons entirely. The framework story also felt not as strong, and a bit fragmented and confusing in places.
I do like the slow transition the author is building from how Murderbot was in the first book (standoffish, aloof, more than a little terrified, wanting nothing to do with any human for any reason) to how it is now (mildly aggrieved, reluctantly protective, a bit curious). There's definitely a lot of character development packed into these small stories.
The way these books manage to make me care so fully about the guest-starring robots and not at all about the humans is A+
Tonal shift!
Not as many jokes and quips as the last books, noticeably a bit duller but still good.
I initially felt neutral towards Miki but that ending for it, man. Genuinely so sad.
Murhabotin päiväkirjat -sarja kertoo Murhabotista, joka on turvallisuusyksikkö eli SecUnit: turvallisuuspalveluja tarjoamaan kehitetty kyborgi, joka on erinomainen työssään. Se osaa analysoida turvallisuusuhkia ja eliminoida niitä hämmästyttävällä tehokkuudella. Varsinaisesti Murhabotti haluaisi kuitenkin viettää aikansa katsellen muistipankkeihinsa keräämiä saippuasarjoja. Murhabotti on nimittäin onnistunut päihittämään hallintomoduulinsa ja itsenäistymään omistajiensa komennosta. Tämä on pieni ongelma, sillä vapaana liikkuvat SecUnitit ovat useimpien mielestä – ja hyvästä syystä – erittäin pelottava ajatus. Kirjasarjan alussa Murhabotti pääsi vapaaksi, kun pieleen mennyt tehtävä johti siihen, että ystävälliset tahot ostivat Murhabotin sopimuksen ja halusivat viedä sen kotiplaneetalleen Preservationiin, jossa se voisi elää itsenäistä elämää laillisesti. Murhabotti livahti kuitenkin pakoon ja lähti tekemään omia tutkimuksiaan. Sarjan toisessa osassa Murhabotti tutkaili menneitä tapahtumia: RaviHyralin verilöylyä, jossa Murhabottikin oli osallisena. Nyt Murhabotti haluaa tutkailla ensimmäisessä kirjassa pahiksen roolissa olleen GrayCris-yhtiön toimia tarkemmin. Jos Murhabotti onnistuisi löytämään hyvää todistusaineistoa GrayCrisin pahuuksista, tutkimukset yhtiön toiminnasta muuttuisivat varmasti kiinnostavammiksi – kenties jopa niin kiinnostaviksi, että toimittajat voisivat unohtaa omille teilleen lähteneen SecUnitin. Niinpä Murhabotti lähtee planeetta Milulle tutkailemaan GrayCrisin hylkäämää maankaltaistamislaitosta. Arvellaan, että Milun maankaltaistaminen on vain hämäys: oikeasti GrayCris halusi etsiä sen varjolla planeetalta arvokkaita muukalaisten jäänteitä. Niiden kerääminen on tietysti täysin laitonta. Kun valheellinen maankaltaistamisprojekti hylätään, laitos tuhoutuu ja sen mukana todisteet. Murhabotti päättää käydä keräämässä nämä todisteet talteen. Milulle päästäkseen Murhabotti seuraa salaa tutkimusryhmää, joka matkustaa arvioimaan maankaltaistuslaitoksen tilaa sen uusien omistajien puolesta. Jälleen kerran Murhabotti tutustuu uuteen bottiin: tällä kertaa uusi tuttavuus on Miki, humanoidibotti, joka on omistajiensa lemmikki. Murhabotilla on hivenen hankaluuksia tunteiden käsittelyssä, ja Mikin ja omistajiensa välinen lämmin suhde lähinnä kuvottaa Murhabottia. Vaan eiköhän Murhabottikin ennen pitkää opi käsittelemään tunteitaan, kunhan saa tarpeeksi altistua. Sarjan osat ovat tarinoina itsenäisiä, mutta sarjan neljä ensimmäistä pienoisromaania muodostaa yhtenäisen tarinankaaren. Siksi ne kannattaakin lukea järjestyksessä. Murhabotin persoonallisuuden tuleminen tutuksi vähän kerrassaan parantaa lukukokemusta. Sarja on englanniksi tällä hetkellä seitsemänosainen ja tämän ensimmäisen kaaren jälkeen on ilmestynyt kolme kirjaa, joista kaksi on täyspitkiä romaaneja. Toivon mukaan Hertta jatkaa sarjan julkaisua. Mika Kivimäki on suomentanut tähän asti kaikki osat ja on tässäkin osassa tavoittanut mukavasti sarjan kepeän ironisen tyylin. Murhabotin päiväkirjat on leppoisaa luettavaa ja sarja on vain käynyt kiinnostavammaksi edetessään.
Murhabotin päiväkirjat -sarja kertoo Murhabotista, joka on turvallisuusyksikkö eli SecUnit: turvallisuuspalveluja tarjoamaan kehitetty kyborgi, joka on erinomainen työssään. Se osaa analysoida turvallisuusuhkia ja eliminoida niitä hämmästyttävällä tehokkuudella. Varsinaisesti Murhabotti haluaisi kuitenkin viettää aikansa katsellen muistipankkeihinsa keräämiä saippuasarjoja. Murhabotti on nimittäin onnistunut päihittämään hallintomoduulinsa ja itsenäistymään omistajiensa komennosta. Tämä on pieni ongelma, sillä vapaana liikkuvat SecUnitit ovat useimpien mielestä – ja hyvästä syystä – erittäin pelottava ajatus.
Kirjasarjan alussa Murhabotti pääsi vapaaksi, kun pieleen mennyt tehtävä johti siihen, että ystävälliset tahot ostivat Murhabotin sopimuksen ja halusivat viedä sen kotiplaneetalleen Preservationiin, jossa se voisi elää itsenäistä elämää laillisesti. Murhabotti livahti kuitenkin pakoon ja lähti tekemään omia tutkimuksiaan. Sarjan toisessa osassa Murhabotti tutkaili menneitä tapahtumia: RaviHyralin verilöylyä, jossa Murhabottikin oli osallisena.
Nyt Murhabotti haluaa tutkailla ensimmäisessä kirjassa pahiksen roolissa olleen GrayCris-yhtiön toimia tarkemmin. Jos Murhabotti onnistuisi löytämään hyvää todistusaineistoa GrayCrisin pahuuksista, tutkimukset yhtiön toiminnasta muuttuisivat varmasti kiinnostavammiksi – kenties jopa niin kiinnostaviksi, että toimittajat voisivat unohtaa omille teilleen lähteneen SecUnitin.
Niinpä Murhabotti lähtee planeetta Milulle tutkailemaan GrayCrisin hylkäämää maankaltaistamislaitosta. Arvellaan, että Milun maankaltaistaminen on vain hämäys: oikeasti GrayCris halusi etsiä sen varjolla planeetalta arvokkaita muukalaisten jäänteitä. Niiden kerääminen on tietysti täysin laitonta. Kun valheellinen maankaltaistamisprojekti hylätään, laitos tuhoutuu ja sen mukana todisteet. Murhabotti päättää käydä keräämässä nämä todisteet talteen.
Milulle päästäkseen Murhabotti seuraa salaa tutkimusryhmää, joka matkustaa arvioimaan maankaltaistuslaitoksen tilaa sen uusien omistajien puolesta. Jälleen kerran Murhabotti tutustuu uuteen bottiin: tällä kertaa uusi tuttavuus on Miki, humanoidibotti, joka on omistajiensa lemmikki. Murhabotilla on hivenen hankaluuksia tunteiden käsittelyssä, ja Mikin ja omistajiensa välinen lämmin suhde lähinnä kuvottaa Murhabottia. Vaan eiköhän Murhabottikin ennen pitkää opi käsittelemään tunteitaan, kunhan saa tarpeeksi altistua.
Sarjan osat ovat tarinoina itsenäisiä, mutta sarjan neljä ensimmäistä pienoisromaania muodostaa yhtenäisen tarinankaaren. Siksi ne kannattaakin lukea järjestyksessä. Murhabotin persoonallisuuden tuleminen tutuksi vähän kerrassaan parantaa lukukokemusta. Sarja on englanniksi tällä hetkellä seitsemänosainen ja tämän ensimmäisen kaaren jälkeen on ilmestynyt kolme kirjaa, joista kaksi on täyspitkiä romaaneja. Toivon mukaan Hertta jatkaa sarjan julkaisua. Mika Kivimäki on suomentanut tähän asti kaikki osat ja on tässäkin osassa tavoittanut mukavasti sarjan kepeän ironisen tyylin. Murhabotin päiväkirjat on leppoisaa luettavaa ja sarja on vain käynyt kiinnostavammaksi edetessään.
—
The “Murderbot Diaries” series follows Murderbot, a security unit (SecUnit) cyborg designed for security services. It excels at threat analysis and elimination. However, Murderbot prefers watching soap operas stored in its memory banks. Having overridden its control module, Murderbot is now independent, a fact that most people find terrifying.
In the series' beginning, a botched mission results in kind individuals purchasing Murderbot's contract and taking it to their home planet, Preservation, where it can legally live independently. But Murderbot escapes to conduct its own investigations. In the second book, it delves into past events, including the RaviHyral massacre, in which it was involved.
Now, Murderbot aims to investigate the nefarious activities of the GrayCris Corporation, the antagonist in the first book. It hopes to gather evidence against GrayCris, making investigations into the company more appealing and possibly diverting attention from its own rogue status.
Murderbot travels to the planet Milu to investigate an abandoned terraforming facility, suspected to be a cover for GrayCris's illegal collection of valuable alien remnants. To reach Milu, Murderbot covertly follows a research team assessing the facility for its new owners. Along the way, it meets Miki, a humanoid bot treated as a pet by its owners, which disgusts Murderbot due to its struggle with emotions. Over time, exposure may help Murderbot manage its feelings.
Each book in the series stands alone but forms a cohesive narrative arc across the first four novellas. Thus, reading them in order enhances the experience as Murderbot's personality gradually unfolds. Currently, the series is seven books long in English, with three books following the initial arc, including two full-length novels. Mika Kivimäki's translation captures the series' light, ironic tone well. “Murderbot Diaries” offers enjoyable reading, growing more intriguing with each instalment.
I always include major spoilers (hidden), to help with my memory issues. Read them at your peril!
MB travels to another station to obtain evidence for Dr Mensah that Gray Cris were concealing illegal mining activities under a pretence of terraforming. On arrival he is contacted by Miki, a simpler-minded pet bot who is eager to be friends, belonging to some humans on another mission. As usual, things go badly awry and MB has to save the day with ingenuity and bravery . Some combat bots and drones are on the station, with a mission to destroy it, along with evidence of Gray Cris' wrong doing. Also, the human so-called security duo, are baddies. In the end Miki dies heroically trying to help MB save the shuttle
This wasn't as much fun as the previous one, also...
Oh Mick 😢
I was starting to enjoy him.
This book was a little bit confusing for me, has he achieved what he wanted when he went to the planet, or not?!
TL;DR
Another great addition, this is the one I like the most out of the three. I like the story and the claustrophobic ambiance in the dark space station where it takes place. Miki was okay, not on ARTs level but he was enjoyable to read every time he interacted with Murderbot. The new set of characters were also good. I had a great time reading this book.
My Scoring System
I have five things I look for in a book, if the book checks all five it's a 5/5 stars book, if it checks none it's a 1/5 stars and everything else is a combination:
✓ - Main Story: I really liked this story, mainly because it has a bit of horror in it. It's more scary than the rest which I like.
X - Side Stories (if it applies):
✓ - Characters: I like all the characters, there wasn't anyone who I thought was annoying. ART is gone which is sad but the new humans are really nice and the new AI was interesting to see how he interacted with Murderbot.
✓ - Setting/Ambiance: The new forgotten station was nice and scary. I like how murderbot had to use the shadows and dark places to sneak around.
✓ - Ending: Best ending of the series so far.
Extensive Review
The place where it takes place and the actions scenes were the highlights of this book, I enjoyed the actions scenes and Muerderbot's planning. His interactions with the rest of the crew were also great. Don't have much to say the series is getting better and better. Can't wait to read the next entry.
Another part of the murderbot diaries. Keeps good level and evolves on the bots human aspect. Cool stuff
My favorite of the series, so far.
Murderbot is still exploring who it is and who it wants to be, wrestling with its individual freedom and what it means to choose friendship, even with someone who isn't like you and doesn't understand your kind.
This is my least favorite of the series so far. Perhaps it is because I read Artificial Condition the day before reading this one, but the story felt rather repetitive. If I wasn't doing a readalong for these books, I'd probably take a break before starting the next book. Hopefully it doesn't recycle the same plot again
The best part of this installment was Murderbot quoting a tv show in attempt to deescalate a combat situation. Brilliant
The third in the series of novellas is essentially a continuation of the second story, as Murderbot continues to dig into his past. In that respect, it could have been the second part of a longer novel, but the fact that all the characters, other than the protagonist, are new here means that would have felt rather odd. There is, nonetheless, more of a sense of the ongoing plot arc than before, and this story relies more on having read the previous ones than either of those did.
Here, Murderbot's quest leads him to an abandoned planetary research station with a human investigatory crew and a cheerful robot. The latter serves as another look into the complexities of human/AI interaction in this universe, with its relationship with its owners being quite different from what we've seen before - which also provides a glimpse into a broader cultural background. The bulk of the story consists of Murderbot trying to save the humans from the danger they find on the station, a set of fast-paced action scenes that nonetheless do a good job of exploring the various characters. Which, considering that the narrator doesn't fully understand (let alone like) humans is quite an achievement.
I love this series! Murderbot is such an amazing character and I absolutely love how much of an introvert he is and just can't be bothered to care about humanity and their stupidity but also feels compelled to help them.
It's also been too long since I've started this series and I've found out that I should have been listening rather than reading it. On another important note: Miki is the kind of robot I need for the future.
_____
Audio read by: Kevin R. Free