2025 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Fugitive Telemetry, the sixth book in the Murderbot Diaries series by Martha Wells.

Pages: 168 pages

Length: 1 month (October)

Participants: Caterina, Desiré, Rebecca, Beth

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Sheila from eastern NC. I’ve been looking for a group activity for Q4 challenge, and I have really enjoyed the other Murderbot stories, so I’ll gladly join you in this. I haven’t started reading it yet.

I’m hoping this being back down to under 200 pages will be a tighter story than the 300+ pager Network Effect.

Hmmm. Is it just me or is Murderbot not as snarky this time around? I live for his asides, and I was disappointed that the ones he made just weren’t, well, Murderbot-ish enough.

The story was ok. Definitely glad this was a novella. I don’t think there was enough to support a longer book.

I love these books but I am also glad we're back to novellas.

While I like Murderbot's snarkiness, what I love the most about the character is the introspection. I have so many quotes highlighted from each book! I also appreciate seeing Murderbot developing relationships with humans and learning to value itself beyond being a murdering SecUnit.

I liked the murder mystery. It made sense despite the culprit being a complete surprise. The most poignant moment of the investigation was when he frees the humans only to be shot in the back by one of them. This dichotomy of Murderbot's humanity being devalued while it's trying to find its place in a human world... it's so well crafted. And heartening!

Too many good quotes to pick just a few, but these stood out:

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

"Just remember you’re not alone here.” I never know what to say to that. I am actually alone in my head, and that’s where 90 plus percent of my problems are."

My favorite thing about these stories is Murderbot’s continued loyalty to Mensah and Mensah ‘s continued determination that others accept Murderbot as a sentient being.
Also, as others have mentioned, the snarky comments:
“….the stuff, humans always travel with stuff….”
“….good luck with that, trying to get humans not to touch dangerous things was a full time job…”
“…if I was going to be useless, I could at least be useless where something was going on…”
And continuous snarkiness!🙂