Rogue Protocol

This is the Murderbot novella that feels the most forgettable to me. It's not bad, but partially it's that it has the most action in it, which is fine and good but isn't really what I'm here for. I do like that it establishes that there are still dangers out there for Murderbot, even as it is wildly competent in its own domain.

When I’d called it a pet robot, I honestly thought I was exaggerating. This was going to be even more annoying than I had anticipated, and I had anticipated a pretty high level of annoyance, maybe as high as 85 percent. Now I was looking at 90 percent, possibly 95 percent.

The best part of this book is Miki, the human-form bot that Murderbot can't help but be irritated by. Miki ends up being a great foil, especially around Murderbot's feelings of not-jealousy about Miki's relationship with its human Don Abene.

"Rogue Protocol" is the third entry in Martha Wells's remarkable series, The Murderbot Diaries. It stars our beloved human-like android, Murderbot, who keeps getting sucked into one adventure after another, despite its desire to be left alone, far away from humanity and small talk.

This instalment sees Murderbot investigating the supposedly abandoned Milu project, which it suspects GrayCris might be using as a front for illicit recovery operations involving alien remnants. As usual, Murderbot plans to handle this mission solo, but a group of humans in desperate need of help derails those plans, compelling our deeply introverted SecUnit to intervene.

Who knew being a heartless killing machine would present so many moral dilemmas?

I love the fast-paced plot, the endearing human side characters, and the sharp humour that permeates the series. There’s something especially entertaining about an AI making fun of how irritating humans can be. The more I read these books, the more I feel a kinship with Murderbot.

Murderbot’s interactions with the humans it encounters in this thrilling story prompt it to reevaluate its own relationships with people, especially Dr. Mensah, Murderbot’s legal owner. These introspective moments, combined with Wells’ masterful creation of a believable universe filled with advanced technology, compelling action, and Murderbot’s dryly humorous voice, make "Rogue Protocol" a science fiction novella that’s both fascinating and enjoyable.

This is a series worth diving into if you’re a fan of science fiction that blends action, humour, and thoughtful character development.