Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy

Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy | Martha Wells

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For comfort, I recently reread the entire Murderbot series.

I finished the last book and wanted to immediately start the first one over.

“I closed the story by reflex, like that would make it not exist. After three seconds of shock, I made myself open it again.“

“Disinformation, which is the same as lying but for some reason has a different name, is the top tactic in corporate negotiation/warfare.“

julesG There's another novella

System Collapse

1mo

random_michelle @julesG Yes! Read it! And also two short stories! Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory and Compulsory. 1mo

julesG Also

Fugitive Telemetry

1mo

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julesG If so, then you'll just have to do what I do, start over. 😁 1mo

random_michelle @julesG Yeah, but I try to only tear through an entire series no more than twice a year. :)

On the other hand, I don't think I have listened to the short stories (or even if there are audio versions of them).

I also saw there is supposed to be a Murderbot TV series. Not sure how I feel about that. I mean, a LOT happens in Murderbot's head. 4w

julesG I'm not sure about the TV series either. They cast a "viking" for the role of Murderbot and I would have preferred a more female looking person. Murderbot is caring, and one of its aliases is female, so a male actor came as a surprise. 4w

julesG I can recommend both, the audiobook read by RC Bray and the full cast GraphicAudio. The GraphicAudio versions play on loop in my car. Murderbot is narrated by a male actor. Not my preference, see above, but since GraphicAudio produced the audioplay with Wells' okay, I guess she was fine with the cast. 4w

random_michelle @julesG I've thought about this a bit.

Murderbot is NB and has a dislike of all gendered body parts.

1. But Murderbot was made to be a secunit, so the company would almost certainly have based sec units on a male form, to take advantage of the fact that most men are stronger than most women. So the secunit body would likely be a muscular male with short hair. 4w

random_michelle @julesG

2. Pronouns are presented in the feed, so people don't have to change their physical appearance to be addressed in their preferred pronouns. So it shouldn't matter how someone presents--their gender is what they tell you, not their presentation.

So I think it's likely Murderbot would present masculine to those around them (and to us) but in the universe, how they present isn't important--how they self-identify is. 4w

random_michelle @julesG I was initially startled by Kevin R. Free's narration of the Murderbot series, because, to be honest, I identified so very strongly with Murderbot a male voice was weird.

But Murderbot wouldn't bother to change their voice to sound less masculine, they don't want to be identified as male OR female--I think their selection of “it“ as preferred pronoun is important. Murderbot isn't human (doesn't want to be human) so human genders don't fit 4w

julesG I hear you!!! I agree with all of your points. It's just, for the TV series I wanted to see a character that's more Charlize Theron (somewhere between Mad Max Fury Road and Old Guard) than Alexander Skarsgard (who'll forever be Eric the viking vampire from True Blood for me). 4w

julesG Right, it was Kevin R Free, not RC Bray. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ 4w

random_michelle @julesG I get that! I just think a male actor portraying someone who refuses a gender classification feels more effective (?) in making the point of agender than a female actor. I feel like a sexist world finds someone born female not wanting to be identified as female as “sensible“ or perhaps “logical“ while not wanting to be seen as male (with all the power, real and implied that come along with being male) is more “shocking“. 4w

random_michelle @julesG I never watched True Blood. :) I think it came out after I had already gotten frustrated with the books.

Though I def. preferred Eric. Solely because of his gift to her of getting her driveway regraded. *That* was the gift someone struggling to make ends meet really needs. ;) 4w

julesG I wish I had never read the last book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. That ruined it all. 4w

julesG Yeah, not wanting to be seen as male might be shocking, especially to an audience that never read the books. The readers know MB doesn't want to be either sex and doesn't even have reproductive organs, cause it's not a sexbot. 4w

random_michelle @julesG I think not wanting to be male might be shocking to many. Period.

I've read multiple historicals recently w/ trans characters, but they're trans males, doing something women can't do (like becoming a doctor) which leaves the reader open to believe they are living as men so they can Do The Thing.

I can't think of trans female secondary characters portrayed in such a way, which is why I think having a manly man be Muderbot is good. 4w

random_michelle @julesG Yeah, I don't regret dropping out of that series early. :) 4w

6 likes18 comments

TheGothiqueLibrarian

Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy | Martha Wells

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I want to take the time to let everyone know that I am a huge science fiction lover. I love anything sci-fi. I have enjoyed many classics like Drowned World as well as movies such as Interstellar and Alien Romulus, and even videogames like Stray. I am longtime Trekkie and Star Wars fan and out of every single sci-fi story and character I have enjoyed. This franchise is by far the best science fiction story I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying.

2 likes

julesG

Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy | Martha Wells

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#20in4 #readathon @Andrew65

#SeriesLove2023 @TheSpineView

Had some errands to run so this reread came in handy. Especially since the #audiobook is free with Audible.de subscription at the moment.

julesG @TheBookHippie had to laugh and think of you when the big bad Murderbot asked the human "Did you eat?" 1y

TheSpineView This is a great series! 💙📖📚 1y

MaleficentBookDragon I LOVE Murderbot so much. I've read them all. I'm now listening to them on audiobook (just as good as reading them) in anticipation for the newest one (which I got a #netgalley #arc of). 1y

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julesG @MaleficentBookDragon You'll like book 7. I also got an ARC through NetGalley and practically devoured it. 1y

Andrew65 Excellent 👏👏👏 Will check out the audiobook. 1y

Andrew65 Strangely for me these aren‘t free to access on Audible but some other Martha Wells books are. 1y

julesG @Andrew65 Argh! Just like the 99p eBook deals, it's always different from country to country. Sorry it's not working for you. I'll change my post and mark that it's Audible.de 🙄🙄🙄 1y

Andrew65 @julesG No worries at all, because you helped me find out I can access some of her books free, even if not these ones. Strange how it varies. 1y

TheBookHippie @julesG SEE?!?! It‘s important 😂😂😂😂😘😘😘 1y

Larkken @julesG @Andrew65 so strange! The Amazon marketing and pricing defies comprehension as ever 😆 these were my binge read earlier this summer when I needed something easy to rest my mind on, too! 1y

82 likes10 comments

Centique

Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy | Martha Wells

So - bear with me while I explain. I‘m going to reread Murderbot because rereading is my #guiltypleasure (I don‘t really feel guilty but I know it‘s not reducing my TBR!)
Also Murderbot is a character with a guilty pleasure. Yes he‘s hacked his mind control but does he use his freedom to overpower his human masters? - no he uses it to watch 35000 hours of movies and soap operas. I get you Murderbot. And for my song, well you probably don‘t know⬇️

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

Centique Computer Games by Mi-Sex, it‘s a 1979 NZ hit, a heavy synth pop song about living in a world run by computers. A little bit prophetic for 1979! 😝 #titlesandtunes (edited) 2y

LeahBergen Who cares about your TBR when you‘re reading something you enjoy? Go, you! 2y

Centique You can see the music video here https://youtu.be/gsHYSs_qgmU it‘s kind of a vibe as my daughter would say 😂 (edited) 2y

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Centique @LeahBergen yeah! Rereading is fun 🙌 2y

CarolynM I like that rationale for the book an PERFECT song choice 😆 I think you‘ll like mine too😉 2y

BarbaraBB Such a cool explanation and I love the video! 2y

rwmg I think I might have to re-read at least “All Systems Red“ to check Murderbot's pronouns. In my head Murderbot is a she but I've seen quite a few people use he. 2y

Ruthiella @rwmg I also think of Murderbot as “she”. I‘m not sure why, but that‘s why I skipped the audio, because the narrator was male and it didn‘t line up in my head! 2y

willaful @rwmg @ruthiella I believe Murderbot is canonically “it“ but I also always think of it as she! (edited) 2y

rockpools Just brilliant. And I noticed last week that work had finally bought the Murderbot series - so I reserved the first one last night. Enjoy! 2y

julesG I have the same/similar guilty pleasure for the same reason. 😂😂😂😂 2y

julesG @rwmg @Ruthiella @willaful - yep, it's canonically "it". My son refuses to listen to the audiobooks, because they are read by a man. My son would be fine with a female narrator, he says to him Murderbot feels more feminine. I tend to say "he" when talking about Murderbot in German, but only because the German word for 'robot' is masculine and grammar is an inbuilt system that's very hard to overcome. 2y

julesG @rockpools Enjoy! 2y

batsy Yes to rereading faves! I love this ❤️ Not familiar with the song so looking forward to listening to this and the rest of the playlist 🎶 2y

Clare-Dragonfly @rwmg My book club read “All Systems Red” and we talked for several minutes about Murderbot‘s pronouns and gender! Some of us thought it felt more male, some more female. I thought I had its “it” pronouns firmly in my head but I still found myself saying “she” occasionally. Some book club members used “they.” (edited) 2y

Centique @rockpools I hope you enjoy it! 2y

Centique @Ruthiella yes I just started listening to it on an audio book with a male voice so I think I reverted to “he” without thinking. I could easily see Murderbot as any gender or no gender. 2y

Centique @CarolynM I‘m glad someone knows the song! Looking forward to yours! 2y

Centique @julesG @batsy yay to re-reading faves! 2y

Cinfhen I love your #GuiltyPleasure - i think the focus for all of us is on the pleasure 🥰 (edited) 2y

Bookzombie I love this! 💗 2y

Centique @Cinfhen @Bookzombie 😘😘 2y

Reggie There was a story today about how they programmed a drone to attack an enemy but there was a human operator to disable it if it went off track. Well when the human operator tried to correct it the drone attacked them because it viewed them as an obstacle to their mission. It‘s good to know there are bots like Murderbot in the future. Nice choices, Paula. 2y

Centique @Reggie thank you Reggie. Yes AI is freaking scary in real life. We are at the mercy of our own hubris when we think our design and programming can make decisions for us. 😫 (My theory is that Murderbot is an enhanced human, a zombie soldier you could say, I think it‘s their human brain that gives them a conscience) 2y

Rissreads I chose the same theme for guilty pleasure! And I loved this song! It brings back some great memories! I must get to this book! (edited) 2y

54 likes25 comments

BBooks

Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy | Martha Wells

Found this series on a recent trip and LOVE THEM ❤❤❤❤ so much fun to read, and first few are very short novellas.. I am holding off to read next one because new volume comes out this November and don't want to finish them while wanting to read all of them, if you know, you know 😀. I may re-read them and buy physical copies 📚📚📚

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Zuhkeeyah

Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy | Martha Wells

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These books are like popcorn. You can‘t read just one. I read the first last May and, for some crazy reason, didn‘t read the rest. Happy to say I have rectified this. I love Murderbot. Their observations on human behavior are the best. We are incredibly predictable creatures that are very fragile physically and emotionally.

My favorite of the series is pictured above. (It was really, really hard to pick a favorite.)

Patchshank Im also making my way through this series and loving it. 3y

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rwmg

Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy | Martha Wells

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Murderbot (aka SecUnit) is an android security guard constructed out of robotic and human elements which has managed to override its governor module, giving it the capability of independent action without having its circuits fried if it does not follow orders.
(1/3)

rwmg Having read the whole series one after the other, it is the narrative voice of Murderbot that really stands out: snarky and baffled by the motivations and reckless behaviour of human beings. Its strongest desire is simply to be left alone to enjoy the soap operas it downloads.
(2/3)

(edited) 3y

rwmg The actual stories are mostly only interesting as a vehicle for Murderbot to the point they have mostly merged together in my mind. The second novella in the series, in which Murderbot investigates the incident from which it took its name for itself, left me totally unclear as to what had actually happened. For me, the best story was the most recent one, “Fugitive Telemetry“, where Murderbot helps investigate a murder on a space station.
(3/3) (edited) 3y

Andrew65 Sounds great! 3y

AliCoo I am now a huge fan of these stories. I‘ve read five or six of them. They are just fun, fast and bit thoughtful. Martha Wells has created a wonderful hero in SecUnit Rin. 2y

18 likes4 comments

Lizpixie

Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy | Martha Wells

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Bks 10-11of May & 6-7 of #NutsInMay #readathon are done! Pretty crap day, I was supposed to go to our Medieval Fair with my family, all of us in costume(I was a squire)but of course my body sucks and I‘m in bed instead so they went without me😩Sorry for the whinge but I needed to vent. To cheer up I reread the first two of the MurderBot Diaries on audio on Scribd. #atleastimnotanagoraphobicconstruct😋

Andrew65

Andrew65 Awesome totals 👏👏👏🥳 4y

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imyril

Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy | Martha Wells

I'll definitely be catching up with Murderbot in April (it's a must-read for me for the #AllSystemsRead SF readathon next weekend), but lots of other books competing to be read at the moment so #BookSpin to the rescue to help me prioritise!

TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 4y

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CallMeIshmael

Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy | Martha Wells

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Loved the first one now on to the second one, who knew murderbot is what I needed in life.

@britt_brooke thank you for bringing this to my life

britt_brooke 🤗 So happy you‘re enjoying! 4y

CallMeIshmael @britt_brooke quick question to you see murderbot as male or female...I know gender isn‘t assigned but I see it as male, but that is because I identify with it. Wondering your point of view 4y

britt_brooke @CallMeIshmael Totally valid question and one I‘ve tried to research. As simple as it sounds, I‘ve been listening to the audiobooks, and the narrator is clearly male so that‘s reassured what I‘ve been picturing. BUT, I‘ve read a lot of reviews that refer to Murderbot as female. So, I‘m not sure. I personally see it as male. 4y

26 likes3 comments

CoveredInRust

Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy | Martha Wells

Y'all, I'm stoked to continue The Muderbot series! Can't wait to get more of the snark.

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Daisey

Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy | Martha Wells

Day 3 of great reads for this past year is the first 4 books of the Murderbot series. I didn‘t read these until this year and then read them back to back. I don‘t read a lot of science fiction, but these were so much fun and so good! Now, I just need to get ahold of the novel that comes next.

#12BooksOf2020

MsMelissa I really must get to this series next year! 4y

Andrew65 Stacked. 4y

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bookishbitch

Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy | Martha Wells

How much did I love the 1st Murderbot book? Enough to check out the next 3 in the series. Super glad my library had them available.

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Sweetkokoro

Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy | Martha Wells

I am so mad. I preorder this the day it went up. All the way back in freaking May, and on the 27th of last month when it was suppose to come out, I got a delayed notice. Now I have a cancelled notice?? Did anyone else preorder this and is this happening to you too? I‘m hella pissed right now.

Sweetkokoro This is through Barnes and Noble 4y

Heideschrampf That sucks! Is this the whole series? Isn‘t there one still missing? 4y

Sweetkokoro @Heideschrampf This is the first 4 novellas. The 5th book in the series was released earlier this year. So this was just a box set for the novellas rereleased in hardcover. 4y

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Heideschrampf @Sweetkokoro right! The latest was a full novel! I loved the first and never got round to continue the series... really need to catch up on that. 4y

Sweetkokoro @Heideschrampf Yes I love series and I have book 5 already. And I have read these but I wanted the full set so I could read them again. I‘m so annoyed. 4y

Heideschrampf @Sweetkokoro perfectly understandable! I ordered the new complete sandman editions in spring, which were supposed to come late september and I‘m still waiting. Really spoils the excitement 4y

Sweetkokoro @Heideschrampf It really does, what makes this more annoying is they are telling me it‘s out of stock and that‘s why they can‘t send it to me, but I placed my preorder back in May. I should have been at the top of the shipping list! 4y

Clare-Dragonfly That‘s ridiculous! It should at least have been straightforward for them to order enough copies to fulfill the preorders. 4y

Sweetkokoro @Clare-Dragonfly Thats what I thought the point of preorders were for you know! I just don‘t understand how I preordered it in MAY and they are telling me it‘s out of stock two weeks after it was initially released. This shouldn‘t have happen to my order, It was ordered before images were released. I know stuff is weird right now cuz of COVID, but this is just frustrating. 4y

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Gezemice

Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy | Martha Wells

1. The nearby park develops a tiny waterfall when it rains. It is very relaxing.
2. Tough - not many characters worth their salt are well-adjusted and lead happy, peaceful lives. Perhaps Hermione (pre-Ron); Captain Carrot; or Queen Elizabeth I.
3. I have been re-reading the Murderbot Diaries in preparation for Network Effect. SoMuchFun

#wondrouswednesday @Eggs
Thanks for the tag, @MariaW !

Eggs Beautiful pic!! Thanks for playing 👏🏻📚🤗 5y

Gezemice @Eggs Thank you for the game! 5y

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