Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy Read for Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells starting October 15, 2023.

Nice! I don't have much to say about this one other than that it was interesting and funny.

I'm starting this one tonight :)

I'll be here soon! Really looking forward to it.

Be here soon as well!

I'll likely start tomorrow when I finish Catching Fire.

Ahh, a murder mystery for Murderbot! Ch 2 (view spoiler)[So how long is it going to take Security to realize that MB knows what it's talking about? lol

I do hope MB gets to upgrade Mensah's security set up at some point. Sounds like it's needed. (hide spoiler)]

Listened to this today and I loved it! (view spoiler)[MB has to interact with so many more people, much to it's chagrin lol The parenthetical asides are so funny, loved those. MB's interaction with the members of the original team are just the best! The mystery was solid and that fight at the end was done very well, loved that JollyBaby and the other little bots banded together to help MB defeat the CombatBot. And by the end MB had won over those who doubted it at the beginning, hopefully it feels more comfortable on Preservation. (hide spoiler)]

Narilka wrote: "Ahh, a murder mystery for Murderbot! So how long is it going to take Security to realize that MB knows what it's talking about? lol
"

An upgrade there is definitely needed!

Narilka wrote: "Ahh, a murder mystery for Murderbot!..."

Just started! I love the sort of traditional sleuthing feel from the start--and your comment (view spoiler)[made me think of all the insane requisition orders MB was sending Mensa during the short story Home. LOL (hide spoiler)]

LOL quote, chapter 1 (view spoiler)["I've never been on a contract on an uninhabited planet, because if I was on the planet on contract then we'd be inhabiting it." Can't fault that logic. ^_^ (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4, more lols (view spoiler)[

Misdirection, let’s try that. “I would have either disposed of the body so it was never found, or made it look like an accident.”

Indah frowned, and Aylen’s brow creased, and they exchanged a look. Eyeing me, Indah said, “How would you dispose of a body so it wouldn’t be found?”

I’m not the public library feed, Senior Officer, go do your own research. I said, “If I told you, then you might find all the bodies I’ve already disposed of.”

“It’s joking.” Ratthi managed to sound like he completely believed that. “That’s how it looks when it’s joking.” He sent me on the feed, Stop joking.

OMG I love that exchange. And I can just see Ratthi almost panicky jumping in between MB & Indah, while Guratin just watches and smiles without smiling. (hide spoiler)]

Finished! I didn't remember this one hardly at all, and didn't see the ending coming...

Nirkatze wrote: "Chapter 4, more lols

Misdirection, let’s try that. “I would have either disposed of the body so it was never found, or made it look like an accident.”

Indah frowned, and Aylen’s brow creased, an..."

My favorite quote this time around: (view spoiler)[

"All I wanted to do was watch media and not exist.”

Same, MB, same... (hide spoiler)]

This was a first time read for me, and I loved it...

Probably the one I paid the most attention to, of the 5 we've done this time around...

From the registration, to the investigation, to the twists and turns towards the end...

Nirkatze wrote: "Chapter 4, more lols..."

Yea, that was the best... that, and later on, (view spoiler)[when forced to call on assistance when breaking into the faulty ship... and they call both options to balance out 2 extremes s/he/it doesn't want to deal with :D (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze wrote: "Chapter 4, more lols ..."

Yeah that was pretty funny. (view spoiler)[MB has a ways to go before really understanding human humor lol (hide spoiler)]

Ann-Marie wrote: "My favorite quote this time around..."

It's funny. I was thinking about not this quote exactly but this desire of MB's that is stated from book 1 and expressed well in that quote and thought to myself that MB is my spirit animal lol Or is that spirit organic robot?? Is that a thing? If so, then yep, MB is mine lol

Narilka wrote: "Ann-Marie wrote: "My favorite quote this time around..."

It's funny. I was thinking about not this quote exactly but this desire of MB's that is stated from book 1 and expressed well in that quote..."

lol we share life goals with MurderBot! I imagine it would absolutely love the Real Housewives franchises. Actually ALL of the Bravo shows!!!!

LOL I love the idea of MB as spirit animal...

I finished. This was fun. (view spoiler)[I was also tricked into thinking it was a human murderer and surprised at the final reveal. I loved all the bots on the station going to defend/avenge one of their own.

Seems MB has made another friend or two whether it likes it or not :D (hide spoiler)]

I love your last sentence there Narilka. Seems like this "whether it likes it or not" happens a lot!

I'm late to the party as usual nowadays but starting today.

Started this tonight.

I like the 'murder mystery,' scenario.

An enjoyable read. I'm holding off starting the next book, aka the novel, until November.

Grats on the finish! The novel is a nice endcap while we wait for the new one...

Thanks, Nirkatze.

I just noticed the next book (#7) drops in mid-November. I figure we're reading that one then.

I don't think this one was as good as the rest, but it was still great! Really enjoyed it!

Choko wrote: "I don't think this one was as good as the rest, but it was still great! Really enjoyed it!"

Kinda my feelings too, but I still rated it 5.

Graeme wrote: "Thanks, Nirkatze.

I just noticed the next book (#7) drops in mid-November. I figure we're reading that one then."

Yes, System Collapse is set for 11/30, to let folks have time to get the book, etc...
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Choko wrote: "I don't think this one was as good as the rest, but it was still great! Really enjoyed it!"

Yeah, a sub-par Murderbot is still many par above many books! I think part of it is that the first four are just such a nice tight arc, and encompass Murderbot's personal journey... this is more like an extended epilogue... we don't get as many personal revelatory moments...

Nirkatze, I think that's a good point. While Murderbot gets into all kinds of action, it's also grounded in learning more about itself and there is this continued journey of self-actualization. It's been a minute since I've read this one, and I haven't reread it yet so the details are the most faded, but I also remember having a similar impression. Especially after the dramatic conclusion of Exit Strategy, I can see how this one could feel like an extended epilogue or interlude. We'll see what my 2nd impression turns out to be.

Hehe, love Murderbot's sass, combined with Mensah's looks.

(view spoiler)[ Indah faced me and asked, “You have experience at this?”

Watching her via the drones, I kept my gaze on the Starchy Foods!!! sign, which had little dancing figures around it which I guess were supposed to be starchy foods. I said, “With dead humans? Sure.”

Mensah’s pointed eyebrow was now aimed at me. (hide spoiler)]

A few highlights:

Mensah’s really smart, she can sort-of bribe me and tell Indah to fuck off simultaneously.

I replied query: identify, and attached an image of the dead human. A non-dead human walked into the lobby, one of the hostel supervisors.

I had an ID that Dead Lutran must have used...

I sort of love the running gag of the unapologetically blunt "Dead Human" and "Non-Dead Human" designations. 😂

Chapter 7
(view spoiler)[The historical story currently playing on the colony ship’s comm sounded interesting, so I set one of my inputs to record it as I carried the life-tender to the airlock.

Murderbot: On an urgent rescue mission to retrieve refugees
Also Murderbot: Ooh, interesting sounding media! *records*

I didn’t need as much air as humans did, but I needed some, and it was really cold out there, in the colony ship’s shadow. This meant that if the life-tender failed it would take me longer to die so I’d have longer to feel dumb about it than a human would. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 8
I sent acknowledgments/reply laters to all of them so they’d know I was still alive, because what I really needed to do was stand here and watch the beginning of episode 132 of Sanctuary Moon.

Me: I wonder what happens in episode 132...
Me: *looks down* Hahahaha!
It was at this point that I realized I am wearing my Sanctuary Moon T-Shirt.

She stopped abruptly at the top of the corridor and I didn’t run into her because unlike the humans who are usually following me I pay attention.
Such sass. :P

Mel, I'm loving your reactions :)

Narilka wrote: "Mel, I'm loving your reactions :)"

Ditto this--loving your reactions Mel, and the quotes you pull out--that last one made me think of all the books that *do* have people running into each other. More than not.

Also looking forward to seeing your final analysis!

Ah, I finished and wrote it up before, but I guess it didn't post. Whatever final quotes I may have pulled I've forgotten them. :/

Anywho... Yeah while this is a standalone interlude of sorts... I'm kind of okay with that? I think I appreciate it better upon reread. I read it publication order before, but I like how chronologically this way it functions as a sort of "breather" before the more ambitious storyline of Network Effect. The first time around I was disappointed that we weren't getting a continuation to find out what happens next, but now I can appreciate it for what it is - more Murderbot shenanigans! I mean, just think of how many series there are out there where the fans are rabid for more content, "Give us more of these characters just interacting with each other. Coffeeshop AU, I don't care. Just need more."

So yes. While not the main focus, we do get interactions with the Preservation crew again. We also see how Murderbot is dissatisfied with certain aspects of Preservation life, how it is perceived by humans, etc. So it leaves open still how Murderbot will resolve these issues either to settle down working with Mensa, or otherwise decide its path going forward.

Yeah, I definitely agree with you Mel--it's the real cosy Murderbot story we always wanted.... and I'm super glad to be reading it chronologically this time around...

I love Murderbot when Inda asks MB how it knows that ‘they’ aren’t listening to their personal chat right now and it’s first response is ‘because that’s how fuckers get permanently deleted’ I died. Ha ha!

Just finished. I loved it.

Felina wrote: "I love Murderbot when Inda asks MB how it knows that ‘they’ aren’t listening to their personal chat right now and it’s first response is ‘because that’s how fuckers get permanently deleted’ I died...."

LOL I love what quotes everyone pulls out of these books. It's like getting the best highlights over again. And grats on the finish!

Congrats on the finish, Felina!

Haha Nirkatze, those are like half my comments - ooh this bit! and this bit! and did you guys see this part when--!

See you guys in the Network Effect thread soon. And then before long...
*screams* System Collapse!!!

I love how we all pull out different quotes! I mean, really, the whole book is highlights right? But different ones call to different people.

So excited for the next two!! That's a great gif.

Agree about all the different quotes! Always appreciate what other people find funny/interesting :)