MAY 2021 - AudioFile
Kevin R. Free narrates the latest Murderbot novella, in which nothing is as straightforward as it seems. When a dead body is unexpectedly found on Preservation Station, Murderbot enters into an uneasy partnership with station security to discover who the victim was and why they were killed. Free leans into Murderbot’s description of itself as a “construct made of cloned human tissue, augments, anxiety, depression, and unfocused rage”—and adds a goodly helping of sarcasm to the mix—to create a deeply relatable portrait of an individual struggling to find their place in an often hostile and confusing world. While Murderbot would be aghast at the notion, Free offers an engaging and empathetic portrayal that highlights its inherent humanity. K.M.P. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
01/25/2021
Hugo and Nebula Award–winner Wells brings her solitude-craving, media-loving killer robot protagonist another step closer to independence in the entertaining sixth entry in the Murderbot Diaries series (after Network Effect). A dead body found in Preservation Station mall propels Murderbot, a SecUnit, into a new contract as a consultant in the murder investigation. Murderbot hopes to gain the refugee status that would enable it to stay in the Preservation Alliance, but it’s an uphill battle as rogue SecUnits are feared as unhinged killers—an unfounded fear in this case, as Murderbot wants nothing more than to catch up on its favorite soap opera in peace. Vexed by the illogical humans it’s forced to work with, Murderbot patiently explains its way through the clues it uncovers, and Senior Officer Indah can’t help being impressed with Murderbot’s investigative skills and surprisingly compassionate regard for life. Murderbot’s wry observations of human behavior are as humorous as ever and the mystery is thoroughly satisfying. This is another winning series installment. Agent: Jennifer Jackson, Donald Maass Literary. (Apr.)
From the Publisher
A Locus Award Finalist!
“Martha Wells' newest entry in her award-winning, nerd-charming, trope-bending Murderbot series, Fugitive Telemetry, is a lot of things that you probably don't expect. It is an unadorned whodunit. A cozy mystery garlanded with plasma cannons and spaceships... One of Wells' superpowers has long been her ability to pack an epic's worth of material into a very small package.” —NPR
“Wells... creates a main character who is addictive... Murderbot continues to bring intelligence and acerbic commentary on humanity to the forefront.” —Library Journal
“Murderbot’s wry observations of human behavior are as humorous as ever and the mystery is thoroughly satisfying. This is another winning series installment.” —Publishers Weekly
More praise for The Murderbot Diaries
“I love Murderbot!” —Ann Leckie
“The most heartwarming action-packed literally explosive space opera I've enjoyed in a long time. Martha Wells is the best writer of loveable snarky gender-subversive killing machines out there!”—N. K. Jemisin
“We are all a little bit Murderbot.”—NPR
Library Journal
03/01/2021
Preservation Station was supposed to be a low threat-assessment, but the SecUnit named Murderbot finds itself standing in front of a dead body, facing a mysterious murder. Mensah asks Murderbot to help investigate the death and find out if GrayCris was involved, even though both sides have little trust for each other. Murderbot attempts to work with Senior Officer Indah and her agents, but identifying the dead is the least of their problems. Deceptions and more deaths lead them to smuggling secrets that could expose Preservation to more problems, so of course Murderbot will have to help the humans deal with it. Except this murderer may be as smart as Murderbot, or—Murderbot would never admit—even smarter. Wells's (Network Effect) flair for balancing Murderbot's at-length internal monologues with its external voice and decisive actions creates a main character who is addictive. VERDICT Back in novella form for a sixth outing, Murderbot continues to bring intelligence and acerbic commentary on humanity to the forefront.—Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton
MAY 2021 - AudioFile
Kevin R. Free narrates the latest Murderbot novella, in which nothing is as straightforward as it seems. When a dead body is unexpectedly found on Preservation Station, Murderbot enters into an uneasy partnership with station security to discover who the victim was and why they were killed. Free leans into Murderbot’s description of itself as a “construct made of cloned human tissue, augments, anxiety, depression, and unfocused rage”—and adds a goodly helping of sarcasm to the mix—to create a deeply relatable portrait of an individual struggling to find their place in an often hostile and confusing world. While Murderbot would be aghast at the notion, Free offers an engaging and empathetic portrayal that highlights its inherent humanity. K.M.P. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
