Book review by Corey
Rogue Protocol
Rogue Protocol is the third novella in the Murderbot series and follows Murderbot as it investigates another GrayCris operation while trying to uncover evidence that could help Dr. Mensah. That mission brings it into contact with a team of humans, another security unit, and a very enthusiastic bot named Miki.
The story has the usual mix of action, sarcasm, and awkward human interaction, but Miki gives this one a slightly different emotional tone. Murderbot’s reaction to a bot that openly likes and trusts humans says a lot about how complicated its own feelings have become, even if it would rather not admit any of that.
The Goods
- Murderbot is as sharp as ever
- Miki is a memorable addition
- Good balance of action and humour
- Strong emotional undercurrent
- Moves the GrayCris storyline forward
The Bads
- Very short
- Some side characters get limited development
- The mission setup feels familiar
- A few tech details can get dense
- Works best if you know the earlier books
My Recommendation
This is a strong entry for readers already enjoying the Murderbot series, especially if you like seeing more of Murderbot’s emotional side without losing the dry humour. Miki gives the story a different kind of relationship than Murderbot usually has, and that makes the character work stand out even more. If you enjoy fast science fiction, AI characters, sarcastic narration, and stories where the main character is clearly changing even while insisting it is not, Rogue Protocol is another very good installment.