Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy Read for Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells starting September 20, 2023.

Yep, I'm starting early :)

Count me in.

Joining the early-birds club! Chapter 1--(view spoiler)[I love how the opening is setting up Murderbot rejoining Dr. Mensa & co. Following the news and worrying about them. Practicing being a security consultant with stupid humans. Watching media and reminiscing how it would be better with a heroic SecUnit and smarter humans... just like his last job.

But first, MB has to come to terms with what seeing Dr. Mensa & co would mean to them. What does "conservatorship" really mean? (hide spoiler)]

Re: Ch 1 - I thought the same (view spoiler)[It was nice to get a snippet of Dr Mensa again and see how MB responded. MB has feelings! It would probably be horrified (or at least embarrassed) to realize that lol

MB's laser focus on it's personal mission is interesting. I wonder what it plans to do after uncovering the bad actors. A little retribution or turning over to authorities? (hide spoiler)]

I love how MB always has to "have a feeling in private." Sometimes I have those needs too...

Finished! These go so quickly... (view spoiler)[I really feel like each of these novellas is a step in MB's development... they *need* to take these steps, before they can choose a life for themself....

Like, this has MB see that people actually CAN be friends to people like Murderbot (and I feel so much for Miki...)--MB's surprise at Miki's "owner" telling Miki to save herself--but also leaving Miki the freedom to make her own choices... and that she would choose to save Murderbot... that is so big an impact...

But tag on to that, that this group knows that MB is a SecUnit, and some know that they're a rogue one--but they didn't treat him unfairly... MB might not have stuck around to see if they would turn them in, but while they were with them, they didn't treat him like MB thinks people would react.

Both of those data points I think help MB think that maybe... if they do give Mensa a try... it wouldn't be a disaster.

Then, there's the whole... why is MB investigating GrayCris? I'm not sure if they've even fully brought this question to consciousness. But if MB finds evidence of GrayCris's malfeasance... then they have something they can bring to the table when they do return to Mensa. They aren't just relying on Mensa's charity, rather, they will have something to trade, and proof of their value. To be an equal partner. (hide spoiler)]

I too joined the early readers group, finished and these keep getting better, each builds on the last in such an interesting way.

(view spoiler)[Poor Miki, we hardly knew you but you were awesome. Murderbot once again finding a group of clueless humans and saving them seems to be a common thing in these stories. MB is evolving further and has to reunite with Dr Mensa at some point, they keep mentioning her, hopefully MB decides to stay with her and watch television all day lol (hide spoiler)]

Through Ch 3 (view spoiler)[Miki is so sweet. Very child like. I wonder if the human couldn't have a kid so "adopted" Miki instead. Poor MB doesn't know how to respond lol (hide spoiler)]

@Ann-Marie--I like your vision of MB (view spoiler)[sitting on a couch at Dr. Mensa's place watching serials all day.

It is interesting though, isn't it, how even though MB claims to only want to watch media all day, they keep putting themself in situations where they are forced to not only interact, but save naive humans... they really do want a purpose of some kind.

Plus, if they didn't have a job to take them away from their serial watching, they wouldn't be able to complain about it... (hide spoiler)]

@Narilka, re: Chapter 3--I really like your insight into (view spoiler)[the possible relationship between Miki and her human. That's a very interesting thought. (hide spoiler)]

I finished. This is my favorite Murderbot book so far. (view spoiler)[What a sad ending! Poor Miki, it was such a sweet bot and truly seemed to care about her human. Too bad that relationship wasn't further explained. Again, the pro and con of the novella format. That was quite a feat of writing to get us to care in 150 pages but also a tad frustrating because I want more :)

This character growth for MB is profound. It's learning it's has more in common with humans that it thought and also that it had some wrong assumptions about humans along the way due to its previous employment. Seems its discovering that being a rogue SecUnit has some wrong assumptions about it too. No murderous rampage yet.

I'm excited to think we'll be returning to Mensa's team next. Here's hoping GrayCrys get some comeuppance. (hide spoiler)]

so I started early too and I have finished. This is my first time read of this book but I loved it, my favourite so far too

(view spoiler)[ I am so excited for next book when Mirderbot will met Mensa, I bet it will be my favorite book of the series

The technological stuff lost me a bit here and there but I went with the flow and I don't mind if I don't entirely understand it.

I was sad Miki died and clearly Murderbot has feelings, it was shocked. And it was funny how Mikis interactions with her humans made Murderbot gag, he is jealous of how well its treated and valued

Nirkatze, I agree. Mikis decision at the end was truly impactful to murderbot. Maybe next book it will actually try to be friends with Dr Mensa. Nice thought! I like the partnership between it and Mensa with the information trade

Ann-Marie, yeah, Murderbot just ends up always helping clueless humans (and bots in this one). Regarding watching media, I find it funny murderbot watched six minutes of a series when the humans were intercepting the i-dont-remember-whats-it-called with the ship

Narilka, yeah, I hope GrayCrys gets what it deserves too (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze wrote: "I love how MB always has to "have a feeling in private." Sometimes I have those needs too...

Finished! These go so quickly... I really feel like each of these novellas is a step in MB's developmen..."

I liked that aspect to... I started a bit ago... these books are so short, it's inevitable you finish once you start...

Just purchased this. I expect to start today.

Yay! Graeme is joining too! And Iain!

Grats on finish, Narilka, Paula!

@Narilka--I really like your comments on MB's assumptions--(view spoiler)[like, how media has the assumptions of rogue SecUnits being rampaging murderers... but it never occurred to me that MB might have those same assumptions about themself. Perhaps part of their journey has also been to convince themself that they can safely coexist without boundaries... was their choice of name a form of guilty self-punishment? A warning? (hide spoiler)]

@Paula--(view spoiler)[I really liked how Murderbot reacted to Miki's death... they really had a hard time figuring out how they felt... I like the points you brought up there!

I also love it when MB talks about sneaking in xx minutes of media while waiting for humans to figure things out all the time... just imagine being able to use that power during staff meetings or classes etc... (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze (view spoiler)[yeah, the power to sneak in media in class or meetings would be amazing. Though I have watched it in a less advanced way. There was a guy in my class that watched in his phone some bicycle competition during class (but without sound, I guess he put subtitles). His phone was in his pencil case so the teacher couldn't see it (hide spoiler)]

23% in.

MB has just arrived at the (view spoiler)[Milu dock station near the abandoned terraforming facility, and was almost discovered by human-form bot Miki. (hide spoiler)]

Travel and worldbuilding set up for the first part.

I just read this, and maybe it's because I am in a compromised state, being laid out with horrible full body pain, but I actually (view spoiler)[ cried like a baby for Miki!!!! I have no idea why it touched me so deeply, but it did and now I want to jump into the next one just to see if maybe someone will bring it back to life!!! I am absolutely devastated for a character that we just met!

GrayCris need to get their comeuppance! The soonest!

MB definitely likes to be a protector, no matter how much they refuse to accept it about themselves... And they have feelings! A lot of them! And I love them for it so much! (hide spoiler)]

OK, so far the author has been able to have my heart stolen by the ART, MB and Miki in some ridiculously short time! I call that awesome!!!

Choko wrote: "I just read this, and maybe it's because I am in a compromised state, being laid out with horrible full body pain, but I actually cried like a baby for Miki!!!! I have no idea why it touched me so..."

It is awesome :)

Graeme wrote: "23% in.

MB has just arrived at the [spoilers removed]

Travel and worldbuilding set up for the first part."

If you just met Miki, you're in for some great heart-tugging...

@Choko--I hope you feel better soon!!! And you are not the only one--(view spoiler)[I totally bawled for Miki. (hide spoiler)]

@Choko, again--if you did want to know Miki going forward--(view spoiler)[I'm pretty sure MB leaves this group of humans behind, and I don't remember them being mentioned much in the rest of the series so far... so sadly, no Miki cameos to come. But her legacy definitely deeply affected MB, so I think of her as living on in the people she influenced... (hide spoiler)]

Also, I just finished Skyward #2 Starsight reread, and now realized the names: Murderbot... M-Bot... there will be crossovers in my mind.

Hi Nirkatze, I hope to read some more tonight.

53% in.

Smack into trouble that reminds me a bit of Aliens.

(view spoiler)[MB can't help but make friends. Friends they have to save. And they are up against a combat bot... (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze wrote: "Also, I just finished Skyward #2 Starsight reread, and now realized the names: Murderbot... M-Bot... there will be crossovers in my mind."

I had that problem when I read the first Skyward book as I'd read All Systems Red for the first time in close proximity. I kept calling M-Bot Murderbot in my head lol

Same about the two names, particularly since we are reading them together! And yes, this series is special! Touching on deep human emotions by way of robots:)))

Nirkatze, thank you for your spoiler! At least I will not be disappointed by waiting...

77% in.

There's a lot going on in a short space of time. Lot's of moving parts. I've gotta head off and get some sleep, otherwise I'd stick around and finish, but I reckon I'll enjoy it more if I'm well rested and can follow properly what's going on.

I think MB has been it bit lucky in this story with the combat.

@Graeme--I really like your Aliens comparison... there is definitely a lot in this book in particular that twinges into that classic SF-horror genre.

re: MB getting lucky in combat--(view spoiler)[the bit where they mentioned not having access to a repair module anymore made me pretty nervous... (hide spoiler)]

I would so love to see this series get a filmatic treatment... especially if they got a non-binary actor to play MB...

Started

Re: Chapter 1:
@Nirkatze: (view spoiler)[Watching media and reminiscing how it would be better with a heroic SecUnit and smarter humans... just like his last job.
Haha, I also liked that bit referencing All Systems Red. Clearly the better story. Aren't we lucky to have gotten to read a story with smart humans and an awesome SecUnit, instead of whatever lame show Murderbot has to put up with! (hide spoiler)]

@Narilka
(view spoiler)[MB's laser focus on it's personal mission is interesting.
I'm also glad that we get this snippet of Dr. Mensa, solidifying that the PreservationAux crew is still in the picture. Yes, ART mentioned "go find your crew," but we didn't have much on them. Here it's clear that Murderbot is still worrying about Dr. Mensah, looking at the bags under her eyes, going on this entire mission basically on her behalf. To get something on GrayCris so that Mensah can go home and get some rest and be safe. (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[So in my notes from a previous read all I have is "I'm not crying. You're crying."

This time I admit I didn't cry for Miki, but I also knew it was coming, so I'm not totally heartless. (But yeah, Choko, you're not the only one!) I had forgotten about the two security agents, but did remember that everything went to shit, so that did put me on my guard, and had me figure it out. (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze, I agree that each of these stories is a necessary step for Murderbot to mature and figure itself out on its own. Who it is. What it wants. Only then can it move forward.

Finished this one too. Its bittersweet that these go so fast.. (view spoiler)[ Really paid attention this time to how upset MB got whenever it saw Miki being treated well because the humans genuinely thought of it as a friend. Also there was that line about how SecUnits are depressed... Like its not just this rogue SecUnit that has personhood.. I want a total bot/hybrid uprising! lol
Oh man, it wasn't just Miki's death that got me, but MB's response to just completely run away from it... I just want MB to go back to its crew already! (hide spoiler)]

Yes, I remember I just kept on waiting for Murderbot to encounter another SecUnit! Okay, we've met with humans, with ships, with ComfortUnits, other bots... Can we get another SecUnit that *isn't* overridden with a Combat protocol?

Also, I'm totally here for the Bot Uprising! The only happy ending I want to see is a complete dismantling of the Corporation Rim.

Finished this and enjoyed it a lot.

I'll jump into the next book after mid October (gotta get paid first...).

Mel wrote: "Yes, I remember I just kept on waiting for Murderbot to encounter another SecUnit! Okay, we've met with humans, with ships, with ComfortUnits, other bots... Can we get another SecUnit that *isn't* ..."

So agree! I want a breakroom-style conversation with other SecUnits, where they can talk smack about their owners and share media favs.

Also willing to join the Bot Uprising. Sign me up.

Looking forward to wrapping up this cycle of novellas next week. We'll see you there when you get there Graeme!

OMG the SecUnit breakroom idea is such a hilarious omake idea!
Pouring coffee and bitching about Company X, or how the equipment is cheap as shit.

Unrelated, but it reminds me of anime "omake" bonus videos. Like, silly scenarios where the characters are on a talk show, or are commiserating at a bar. There's one for Fushigi Yuugi where the production company sends all the heros and villains on a bus vacation to the hot springs, and they make inside jokes about the actors, etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJNGY...

Ermagehrd... can you imagine a chibi Muderbot?? Because I just did. 😳😳😳 The desire to draw Murderbot in silly scenarios is... increasing... *goes to have an emotion in private*

Alas, I don't know if the the other SecUnits even can access media... can they? I mean, Murderbot opens with how it began binging media after it hacked its governor module. That's so sad. What do all the other SecUnits do when they are in their cubicles? No wonder they are depressed!

OMG I remember that video! That was a chunk of my childhood right there... chibi Murderbot would be amazing. For some reason chibi Levi from Attack on Titan popped into my head... probably just as an example of a grumpy character who already exists in chibi...

Oh gosh, that's such a horrible thing if SecUnits can't access media... how exactly did MB learn to hack its module? I know it was inspired by the event, but did we learn exactly how it even managed this feat?

Mel wrote: "Unrelated, but it reminds me of anime "omake" bonus videos. Like, silly scenarios where the characters are on a talk show, or are commiserating at a bar...."

I often reference characters when I write reviews. They always feel like they have something to say.