The Murderbot Diaries #4
I enjoyed Exit Strategy more than the previous books in this series. Murderbot strives to evade detection. His new augments to disguise that he’s a SecUnit are tested, and he has to handle his emotions. I’m sitting at my desk, having a hard time finding a way to articulate just how much I love the way Murderbot feels about his feelings.
I listened to the audiobook for Exit Strategy. Typically, I stick to the format I start a series with. Still, the library had this audiobook available, and I needed a new one. The narration was top-notch, and Murderbot’s presentation is well-aligned with how I read him. Sometimes, there’s a big disconnect between the concept of a book in my head and how it’s narrated, and I cannot switch mediums. I’m very grateful this narration added so much to the story.
Exit Strategy was shorter than I expected. I expected once the first plot arc finished, there would be a second one that continued this story, but the book abruptly ended! The other books in the series felt longer, but I could recall that incorrectly. Exit Strategy was a well-contained story and didn’t need any fluff added.
I got caught up in the technical descriptions when reading the first books in this series. Having them narrated to me brought them to life. Murderbot gives many details about how he interacts with systems and hacks. Sometimes, it’s an overwhelming amount of detail. In this story, Wells built upon all of the details provided in prior books and kept this one a bit less technical. The choreography of the fight scene was exceptional. I didn’t find it dry, but it was too analytical for me to find it tense emotionally.
Exit Strategy showed Murderbot testing his limits with his new human “friends.” I especially enjoyed his honesty when utilizing the med bay. Dr. Mensah might be a bit too “stern mother” for me, but I’m sure her character will develop further.
The whole Murderbot series is a wonderful concept with great implementation. I’m so grateful that it’s kept improving, and each book is a complete story. Apple also recently announced that it was picked up as an Apple TV series with Alexander Skarsgård as Murderbot! That’s very exciting, and I have such high hopes.