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2023: My deep sincere love for everything Murderbot shines as brightly as ever.
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2021: Yup, I read this again. “Murderbot Diaries�� for me are just as important as “Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon�� is for Murderbot. ‘Nuff said.
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“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.��

I loved this so much that I can’t shake off a sneaky suspicion that somehow inexplicably it was custom-written just for me. It’s like someone hacked into my brain and saw what kind of story makes me tick. So I don’t know whether to be happy about it or slightly paranoid.

“I don't know what I want. I said that at some point, I think. But it isn't that, it's that I don't want anyone to tell me what I want, or to make decisions for me.��

Murderbot is what our narrator, a cyborg that secretly has hacked its ‘governor module�� this allowing it to go rogue and free from company commands, likes to call itself. Its current job is being a Security Unit to a bunch of surveyors on a remote and seemingly unremarkable planet - while spending most of its time secretly binge-watching space soap operas and convincing itself that it only cares about its current bunch of weird humans (who insist on treating it as a person, not a high-functioning security system) only as much as the job requires. While being a pessimistic introvert and a murderous sarcastic grumpy snarky secret softie all at the same time.

“I’m always supposed to speak respectfully to the clients, even when they’re about to accidentally commit suicide.��

The plot takes off immediately as is necessary in a novella-length story and speeds along without faltering, making it impossible to look away from the page. And what’s amazing is that the tight plot in a short book in no way sacrifices characterization which is solid.

“That can’t happen. I have too much to hide, and letting one piece go means the rest isn’t as protected.��

This book manages to be funny and serious and touching at once, and seems to do all that effortlessly. I inhaled it in one sitting and it immediately carved out a permanent spot in my heart. Instant book-love - how can you argue with that?

“Gurathin turned to me. "So you don't have a governor module, but we could punish you by looking at you."
I looked at him. "Probably, right up until I remember I have guns built into my arms.��

5 stars.

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My review of the second novella, “Artificial Condition�� is here.
My review of the third one, “Rogue Protocol��, is here.
My review of the fourth one, “Exit Strategy��, is here.
My review of the fifth story (and the first full-length novel), “Network Effect��, is here.
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I think I’ve listened to this novella at least 6 or 7 9 or 10times now. I love Murderbot more and more each time. The narration by Kevin R. Free is perfect for how I envision MB’s inner voice. Best find of 2020 - so at least this godawful year had something good about it.