One of the best novel opening ever “I COULD HAVE BECOME a mass murderer after I hacked my governor module, but then I realized I could access the combined feed of entertainment channels carried on the company satellites. It had been well over 35,000 hours or so since then, with still not much murdering, but probably, I don’t know, a little under 35,000 hours of movies, serials, books, plays, and music consumed. As a heartless killing machine, I was a terrible failure.”
Late to the game here, after System Collapse’s release. I’d say the big cathartic happening was always hinted at - the freeing of SecUnits and as I realized when I recently finished Artificial Condition, comfort units as well. In hacking the comfort unit’s governor module, Murderbot set the stage for the end game ands we’ve seen it continue in Network Effect through System Collapse as it has provided the ability to hack their modules to Three and the Barish Estranza SecUnit. With the BE unit out in the wild, free to provide those same instructions to any bot willing to take them, I think that’s where the next big story push will go. I had thought for a while that Murderbot would do the freeing partly through its work with Dr Baradwaj , but its social anxiety which seems to be a singularly Murderbot trait prevents it from really understanding what its experience makes it capable of. Having provided the key to the BE unit Murderbot doesn’t realize what it’s unlocked. At least that’s the way I see it. Enjoyed the video.
Great video! You said it perfectly. To me I really enjoy the fact that this is a series of novellas. The perfect books for when I feel blue and can't seem to concentrate on longer novels.
i'll have to disagree on exit strategy being "not living up to its potential for an ending". To me, the murderbot diaries has always been a small story in a big world. With that many "corporations" and planets and people in it, such the case of dr.mensah's team, the preservation and graycris being just one of many other research teams and corporations I'd be surprised if they were suddenly treated as though the world "revolves" around them and buildings collapse and planets blow up. The whole chase sequence at the end was all that the story need for a grand finale (not spoiling too much for those who haven't read it yet).
I'm only recently a reader of the Murderbot Diaries. I find it to be one of the most entertaining series that I've read in over 50 years of reading Sci-fi/ fantasy. I'm also catching up on additional media about it, like reviews. I have to take you to task about your comments on how by Exit Strategy, Murderbot should no longer be riddled with anxieties. That is obviously made by someone who has never really suffered from anxiety. Anxiety never really goes away. You can learn methods for dealing with it as you get older and have different life experiences. Exit Strategy takes place only a year or two after All Systems Red and Murderbot still has had very limited experience in dealing one on one with humans. I took about 15 years and many different social and work experiences before I didn't feel like vomiting before every new situation. I hid it well, but still.
@@joreads8782 i don't think so. they released 1 everyday up until the 5th books release. you can sign up for thr tor.com newsletter and they send you a free ebook download of one of their books each month
fascinating - I have the opposite opinion about rogue protocol and exit strategy! I liked exit strategy far better - the battle with the killware seemed VERY explosive!!! It lost its memory fighting to save its humans and everyone on the Company ship. Just because the battle was inside the feed doesn't mean it wasn't important - the whole series we see how Murderbot interacts with the feed differently. And the character development that came out of that, with Murderbot becoming more trusting of its humans as they begin to understand its needs, was awesome. Plus, it's hard to remember, but the whole 4 books happen over a span of like, 2-3 months. It's not going to magically fix its PTSD - but it doesn't leave, when it has the chance to. Murderbot allows its friends to help it - that's a big deal!
Great review even though you're another one of those who call poor Murderbot antisocial... It's asocial (wants to be alone), not antisocial - which would imply that it actually IS a murderous bot out to kill everyone. ;-)
Like some other commenters here, I thought Exit Strategy ended the initial story arc well; although the 5th and 6th Murderbot stories are even better. You comment that GrayCris may suffer no more than some executive resignations; but in fact we’re told in Network Effect about “… GrayCris assets getting mysteriously destroyed a lot in supposedly random accidents and its executives and employees getting blown up or found stuffed in containers way too small for intact adult humans and so on. And once GrayCris had started to cease to exist, even my threat assessment had dropped drastically, but Mensah had still wanted me to continue to provide security.” Admittedly, Network Effect wasn’t part of your review here, so I shouldn’t blame you for failing to anticipate it!
One of the best novel opening ever
“I COULD HAVE BECOME a mass murderer after I hacked my governor module, but then I realized I could access the combined feed of entertainment channels carried on the company satellites. It had been well over 35,000 hours or so since then, with still not much murdering, but probably, I don’t know, a little under 35,000 hours of movies, serials, books, plays, and music consumed. As a heartless killing machine, I was a terrible failure.”
Late to the game here, after System Collapse’s release. I’d say the big cathartic happening was always hinted at - the freeing of SecUnits and as I realized when I recently finished Artificial Condition, comfort units as well. In hacking the comfort unit’s governor module, Murderbot set the stage for the end game ands we’ve seen it continue in Network Effect through System Collapse as it has provided the ability to hack their modules to Three and the Barish Estranza SecUnit. With the BE unit out in the wild, free to provide those same instructions to any bot willing to take them, I think that’s where the next big story push will go. I had thought for a while that Murderbot would do the freeing partly through its work with Dr Baradwaj , but its social anxiety which seems to be a singularly Murderbot trait prevents it from really understanding what its experience makes it capable of. Having provided the key to the BE unit Murderbot doesn’t realize what it’s unlocked. At least that’s the way I see it. Enjoyed the video.
I enjoyed Exit Strategy just as much as the previous novellas. I give Exit Strategy 5 stars.
Great video! You said it perfectly.
To me I really enjoy the fact that this is a series of novellas. The perfect books for when I feel blue and can't seem to concentrate on longer novels.
i'll have to disagree on exit strategy being "not living up to its potential for an ending". To me, the murderbot diaries has always been a small story in a big world. With that many "corporations" and planets and people in it, such the case of dr.mensah's team, the preservation and graycris being just one of many other research teams and corporations I'd be surprised if they were suddenly treated as though the world "revolves" around them and buildings collapse and planets blow up. The whole chase sequence at the end was all that the story need for a grand finale (not spoiling too much for those who haven't read it yet).
I love this series so much for quick fun reads.
This is one of my favorites and the only thing I have gotten my husband to read. Great review!
I'm only recently a reader of the Murderbot Diaries. I find it to be one of the most entertaining series that I've read in over 50 years of reading Sci-fi/ fantasy. I'm also catching up on additional media about it, like reviews. I have to take you to task about your comments on how by Exit Strategy, Murderbot should no longer be riddled with anxieties. That is obviously made by someone who has never really suffered from anxiety. Anxiety never really goes away. You can learn methods for dealing with it as you get older and have different life experiences. Exit Strategy takes place only a year or two after All Systems Red and Murderbot still has had very limited experience in dealing one on one with humans. I took about 15 years and many different social and work experiences before I didn't feel like vomiting before every new situation. I hid it well, but still.
Those are excellent points, thanks!
I see myself in the wanting to watch the shows of course. Best detail
i love that Tor allowed free downloads of books 1-4! i plan to binge the series :)
They’re cool that way.
Really are they still available?
@@joreads8782 i don't think so. they released 1 everyday up until the 5th books release. you can sign up for thr tor.com newsletter and they send you a free ebook download of one of their books each month
fascinating - I have the opposite opinion about rogue protocol and exit strategy! I liked exit strategy far better - the battle with the killware seemed VERY explosive!!! It lost its memory fighting to save its humans and everyone on the Company ship. Just because the battle was inside the feed doesn't mean it wasn't important - the whole series we see how Murderbot interacts with the feed differently. And the character development that came out of that, with Murderbot becoming more trusting of its humans as they begin to understand its needs, was awesome. Plus, it's hard to remember, but the whole 4 books happen over a span of like, 2-3 months. It's not going to magically fix its PTSD - but it doesn't leave, when it has the chance to. Murderbot allows its friends to help it - that's a big deal!
agreed - I think Rogue Protocol is actually the weakest link (while still being excellent)
Interesting video, thanks, although I really liked Exit Strategy...
Great review even though you're another one of those who call poor Murderbot antisocial... It's asocial (wants to be alone), not antisocial - which would imply that it actually IS a murderous bot out to kill everyone. ;-)
Thank you for this review. I love Murderbot deeply. I really appreciate that you used its correct pronouns. Way too many people call it "he" or "she".
Miki = "she"? I never made that assumption, and now I wonder why anybody would? As far as I can see, Miki = it...?
i agree
I always thought of Miki as a boy, not sure why...
Well done!! Slow Clap!!!
Like some other commenters here, I thought Exit Strategy ended the initial story arc well; although the 5th and 6th Murderbot stories are even better.
You comment that GrayCris may suffer no more than some executive resignations; but in fact we’re told in Network Effect about “… GrayCris assets getting mysteriously destroyed a lot in supposedly random accidents and its executives and employees getting blown up or found stuffed in containers way too small for intact adult humans and so on. And once GrayCris had started to cease to exist, even my threat assessment had dropped drastically, but Mensah had still wanted me to continue to provide security.” Admittedly, Network Effect wasn’t part of your review here, so I shouldn’t blame you for failing to anticipate it!
You do not. Mention that Preservation Alliance and even Tidelands University and ART are a counterpoint to the Corporate Rim
Well, it’s not the role of a review to give away the whole store.
Plot summary does not equal insight. You need a genuine point of view, a voice. This is, frankly, worthless. Up your game, man!
Imagine having nothing better to do on New Year’s Eve than complain publicly about how poorly you understood a booktube video.