murderbot – Made by Mikal

System Collapse

Post author:mikal
Post published:May 31, 2026
Post category:Book

Once again a relatively short but enjoyable Murderbot book. I think its endearing that Murderbot continues to develop as a character, even if some of the tropes are feeling a little worn around the edges. Yes they get injured, yes they do some combat, yes they're sarcastic. On the other hand I think this story line is both unique compared to the previous ones, and builds reasonably upon the previous book. Honestly though, this and the previous book probably should have been one volume.

Fugitive Telemetry

Post author:mikal
Post published:February 16, 2025
Post category:Book

This is the fifth murderbot book and it's a fun read just like the rest. Unfortunately, it's also really short just like most of the others and I find that the story is therefore just a bit simple and two dimensional. It is nice that the story isn't just a repeat of previous entries in the series, although I would say that this one is relatively free standing in that it doesn't progress the overall story arc. That said, no regrets reading this one.

Network Effect

Post author:mikal
Post published:January 27, 2025
Post category:Book

I'm not really sure why, but I found it harder to get going on this book than the others in the series. It might have been that I was also reading a particularly good non-fiction book at the same time, or it might have been that the premise for these books is starting to wear a bit thin. I'm unsure. That said, while the start of the book covers familiar territory, the overall story rapid diverges into new things and I found it quite readable once I build up some momentum. In the end, I enjoyed this book and would definitely read it again sometime.

Exit Strategy

Post author:mikal
Post published:September 8, 2024
Post category:Book

Another really good if a bit short book. My only real criticism of the first four books in this series is they really should have been one book.

Rogue Protocol

Post author:mikal
Post published:August 29, 2024
Post category:Book

The third installment in the murderbot series. Another fun if a bit short read. Honestly these books should all have been a single volume. That's the only way I don't enjoy these books -- they're super expensive for their length.

Artificial Condition

Post author:mikal
Post published:August 23, 2024
Post category:Book

Another short and fun sci-fi read. Our favorite anxious and depressed murderbot is off trying to solve the mystery of why in fact he murdered all those nice people. Along the way he meets a mildly annoying but actually kind of friendly AI transport ship with a lot of unexplained capabilities. Definitely worth a couple of winter evenings to read.

All Systems Red

Post author:mikal
Post published:August 5, 2024
Post category:Book

This book was a short but fun read. Sufficiently short in fact that perhaps it was a little over priced, but not outrageously so. It follows an adventure of a slightly rogue but generally nice cyborg SecUnit which has charmingly named itself MurderBot. That's confusing, because said cyborg is too busy being depressed and anxious to actually do much murdering. I will definitely read the sequels.