Enthusiastically Ambiverted Hopepunk
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Book 40 of 2025: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another very short glimpse into the world around Murderbot. Brief as it is, I really liked the look at how Mensah is dealing with the trauma and PTSD of her experiences, and how Murderbot is integrating into its new situation. They way these two are relying on each other is really nice.
Book 39 of 2025: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(Collects Rogue Protocol and Exit Strategy.)
Brings the overall arc of the first four Murderbot novellas to a close, as Murderbot continues to investigate the circumstances behind the events of All Systems Red, and learns ever more about itself in the process. Really satisfying, and even as a neurotypical person (as far as I know, at least), it’s all too easy to identify with Murderbot’s confusion and irritation with human behavior.
Book 38 of 2025: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A short story in the Murderbot universe, but without Murderbot, instead following one of the other characters. Answers some of the outstanding questions about this character in very interesting ways, but I suspect there is much more coming later in the series.
Book 37 of 2025: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A very quick read (just a few pages). Chronologically comes before All Systems Red, but I’m glad I found out about it and read it after reading Artificial Condition, as it takes place at a time frequently referenced in that book. Just a tiny little glimpse into Murderbot’s past.
Book 36 of 2025: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(Collects All Systems Red and Artificial Condition.)
I’d read the first half of this back in 2018, when All Systems Red was nominated for the Philip K. Dick award, but until now, hadn’t gone any further into the series. Having Martha Wells as a Guest of Honor for this year’s Worldcon was a great reason to pick these up and read them all.
Definitely enjoyed All Systems Red as much as I remembered from the first time around, and Artificial Condition is just as fun, picking up almost exactly where ASR ends and exploring more of Murderbot’s past. Murderbot is such a great character.
Book 35 of 2025: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorites this issue were “When He Calls Your Name” by Catherynne M. Valente, “The Garden” by Emma Törzs, and “Whalesong” by Daniel H. Wilson.
Book 34 of 2025: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This one didn’t grab me as much as others in the series have so far. Not bad at all, and certainly has its amusing moments, but more of a “sure, this was fine” than a “I can see why so many people are so into this series” entry.
Book 32 of 2025: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you know much of anything about Heavy Metal, you know what to expect with this relaunch of the long-running comic anthology series. Sci-fi/fantasy/horror comics and art (often of the “muscle bound men and women wearing a whole lot of not very much no matter how impractical that might be” variety, of course). As the relaunch issue, this also has several short essays about the history of the magazine and some of the artists who have been involved, particularly Greg Hildebrandt, who died between painting the cover (of the edition I have) and when it was published. Though I was never a subscriber, I’d found the occasional issue, and certainly saw the movie (and have had it in my collection for years, even if it’s not a regular watch), and it’s good to know that the magazine is still going, and that it’s still exactly what your inner ’80s adolescent has been looking for.
Book 31 of 2025: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
My favorite this month was “In the Shells of Broken Things” by A. T. Greenblatt.
Book 30 of 2025: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In a fitting bookend for a series that began with a sci-fi romance between a military officer and a planetary surveyor, it ends with something essentially the same, even to one of the same characters. Much less adventuresome or military than others, this is more of a pleasant, comfortable wrap up for the series, bringing it back to where it started while checking in with many of the remaining characters. While the stories certainly good go on if Bujold chose to write more, this is also a very worthy ending to the series itself.
