Welcome friend! It’s been a few months since I shared a Murderbot Diaries review! Picking up where Rogue Protocol (review) left off, Exit Strategy brings Murderbot back in touch with characters we met in book 1, All Systems Red. This book was a fun ride.
Exit Strategy
By Martha Wells | Goodreads
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?
Exit Strategy – The Review
Exit Strategy is my favorite of the series so far! Murderbot has traveled around the universe, trying to understand itself and the chain of events that have happened in its life. Along the way it has made good friends but also experienced losses. In Exit Strategy, Murderbot continues to evolve to be more human, reconnecting with old friends and people it “cares” about. It realizes how its actions in the past months (books) have affected Dr. Mensah’s image and circumstances. As an android which has some self-preservation, it still decides to help Dr. Mensah as she has been an important influence in its life.
There were lots of plans and backup plans to make and implement, to fight with hostile entities and to make sure that its human friends survive. I suspect Muderbot’s time with Mickey and ART have been the building blocks of it being more open to people. I enjoyed the high stress situations in this book, the fighting with augmented humans and androids was full of tension and Murderbot is a great narrator when it comes to giving the full situation and action plan. It is not perfect either and carries with it the prejudices and impressions from the first time it worked with Dr Mensah’s team, making it sometimes challenging for it to work with people.
Ultimately, there wasn’t as much time to watch media in Exit Strategy. This felt like a spy and espionage style novel with political roots, speaking to the complex societal system. I liked getting to know Dr. Mensah and her team and I am excited to read about how Murderbot will collaborate with them. The next book is the longest in the series and I can’t imagine what is going to happen in it!
Honest truth: I haven’t picked it up yet.
Companion Short Story: Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory
This was a short story from the perspective of Dr Mensah. Dr Mensah is struggling with the recent threats to her team and all that they went through as depicted in Exit Strategy. We get a glimpse of her roles, responsibilities and dilemmas as a leader and captain.
The Murderbot Diaries are narrated from Murderbot’s point of view so it was nice to see that expanded here and to observe Murderbot around humans who have accepted its autonomy, intelligence and friendship. The interactions between Dr Mensah and Murderbot speak volumes and I am excited to see how this relationship further develops in the next book.
Have you read The Murderbot Diaries?
The world of the Murderbot Diaries is a vast one. There are many planets that humans have been able to reach and use for their own purposes. I adore the idea of scientists and androids working together and the technological advancements that we would have made as a species to get to this point… where we can jump wormholes and terraform and be able to investigate alien civilizations.
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