Definitely a high note to finish my reading year on! I’ve missed Murderbot’s special deadpan voice. It remains one of the most relatable sci-fi characters ever for me, and I was delighted to read about the complex emotional reactions it’s been having. Particularly toward Dr. Mensah (can a robot have friends? particularly when the friend is actually technically their owner? but doesn’t seem to want them to be a robot?). Who happens to be kidnapped and in need of rescue, so here we go.

The pacing here felt really fast—faster, perhaps, than it actually is in terms of events progression. Like, there’s definitely some build-up to the action parts, but I still felt like I was dropped right in the thick of it from the first pages. I think that’s because this is so explicitly a series installment, building up on the problems and plot threads of the story before this novella, bringing in old friends and enemies. It kind of feels like I’ve just turned a page and landed into the next chapter leading up to an exciting plot point. A good thing, to be clear! Especially since in reality it’s been months since the previous installment for me. Maybe one day when I’m finished with the series I’ll re-read it in binge mode and see how it feels without breaks between books.

All in all, this continues to be an excellent space opera with a strong cyberpunk vibe, combining action and adventure with some discussion on (not) being human. It’s snarky, smart, and so, so engrossing. I pretty much inhaled it in one go.