BoMay reviewed Exit Strategy by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #3)
Murderbot to the rescue
4 stars
Murderbot makes new enemies and finds old friends. Another quick read and entertaining episode in the Murderbot series.
172 pages
English language
Published May 25, 2018
"Martha Wells's Hugo, Nebula, Alex, and Locus Award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling series, The Murderbot Diaries, comes to a thrilling conclusion in Exit Strategy. 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?"--provided by publisher.
Murderbot makes new enemies and finds old friends. Another quick read and entertaining episode in the Murderbot series.
I always thought "All Systems Red" was an absolute standout. Funny, and relatable, and thought-provoking in somewhat equal measure. The remaining three novellas felt somewhat flat after that, but this re-read has significantly changed my opinion. The first is still much funnier than the other three, but I now see their strength in developing the depths of Murderbot's character, becoming, if anything, even more relatable.
I just don’t get tired of Murderbot as a character. Plus, now that the world building and characters are more established, it’s easier to follow the plot, which was something I found a little difficult in the first two books. I cannot wait to keep reading this series!
I picked up Exit Strategy, as it is something incredibly convenient and refreshing about these novellas. That being said, Exit Strategy adheres to a similar pattern to its predecessors, making it feel somewhat repetitive. Despite this, Martha Wells keeps the pacing and action engaging, ensuring I have a fun, entertaining read each time. While I wish there was more variation in the storyline or that the author explored new ideas, I can't deny that I still look forward to each novella in the series, and Exit Strategy was no exception.
A reunion with the characters from the first book & a satisfying conclusion that is still left open for sequels (which indeed there are).
And Murderbot concludes for now. I really liked this, especially as Murderbot became their own unique thing and this wasn't just another 'robot becomes human' boring SF. Again, I note the caveat about pricing but the whole series was very high quality and definitely recommended.
2022 Re-read
On this re-read this also seemed to be about Murderbot 'earning' their place to their own satisfaction. Previous review stands, this is just quality entertainment.
This series is a wild ride which I got hooked into from the first book. Murderbot is a character you can really get under the skin of if you're as sarcastic as I am.
Highly recommend getting all four books up front, you'll be reading them all!