3 Stars

A different take on showcasing Murderbot through the eyes of Dr. Mensah, his quasi-protector and dare I say it? Friend?

Too short but lends further insight on the precarious status of Murderbot and his quest to maintain his independence.
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(3.0 Stars)

Interesting addition to the series... From a different perspective.
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The story does a nice job of adding a little depth to Dr. Mensah (taking place right after the events of Exit Strategy) and is worth checking out to add flavor to the Murderbot series, but definitely not necessary for enjoyment of the main novellas/novel. ( )

Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory .. - Wells
4 stars
A 19 page short story from the Murderbot series. It is told from Dr. Mensah’s perspective following the events in Exit Strategy. Annoying marketing again. In reality it would make sense as an opening chapter for Network Effect. Enjoyable reading for this fan of the series. ( )

Not as good as the novellas or the last book, but interesting to see things from a different POV. This was a 'blink and you miss it' short story. ( )

A very very very short story told from Mensah’s point of view. It was nice to take a look at the relationship between Mensah and Murderbot from that angle. Over too quickly :-) ( )

Series: The Murderbot Diaries #4.5

2023-12-02: I've read it before but I didn't rate it or log it here.

Se­cU­nit is look­ing down at her. “You can hug me if you need to.”

“No. No, that’s all right. I know you don’t care for it.” She wipes her face. There are tears in her eyes, be­cause she’s an id­iot.

“It’s not ter­ri­ble.” She can hear the irony un­der its even tone.
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So I immediately went into murderbot withdrawal, and failing having another novel right now, I settled for a short story. This is the only story I'm aware of in the series that is not from Murderbot's perspective ( )

Following on from Exit Strategy, a very short short-story about Murderbot and Dr. Mensah getting back to Preservation after the kidnapping.

Next up is Network Effect. ( )

This was a cute short story! Sad, but cute! Love it! ( )

Having not read any of the Murderdot Diaries this short story didn't make a lot of sense to me. I didn't realise until afterwards that this was #4.5 of a series (and not intended to be read in isolation) so with that context I really shouldn't have read it in the first place. ( )

Fun, short, read from Mensah's POV about the lull and aftermath that takes place just after Exit Strategy. ( )

A nice little short story from Dr. Mensa’s perspective. ( )

2801

A short story in the Murderbot universe but not from their point of view. The story is told from Dr Mensah and it drives home the fact that she is not over what happened to her in Exit Strategy. ( )

Very short and from Mensah's POV; very human. Delightful. My library had it, but these are very popular so I just got it today. Don't miss it! ( )

Free on Tor.com:
https://www.tor.com/2021/04/19/home-habitat-range-niche-territory-martha-wells/ ( )

All that begins well does not ends well. What was this?? I'm missing something? ( )

Not as good as the novellas or the last book, but interesting to see things from a different POV. This was a 'blink and you miss it' short story. ( )

Styled a short story, more precisely "Home" is a work of microfiction set after the events of Exit Strategy and before Network Effect. I appreciate that it wasn't made epilogue to the former, it works better as pendant.

Unlike all other Murderbot installments to date, "Home" is not narrated by SecUnit, instead adopting third person omniscient and restricted to Mensah's experiences, treating of SecUnit only when they are together. The vignette is principally concerned with Mensah's PTSD.

It’s about being treated as a thing, isn’t it. Whether that thing is a hostage of conditional value, or a very expensively designed and equipped enslaved machine/organic intelligence. You’re a thing, and there is no safety.

Even in so short a space, again Wells reveals additional aspects of SecUnit's world with notable analogues to the history of White Supremacy in ours. ( )

Shorter than I was hoping for, but a nice insight into Mensah and Murderbot’s relationship. ( )

A short story in the Murderbot Diaries told from Ayda Mensah's POV. Why won't she get the trauma support that has helped her crew members, just because someone might go poking around in her emotions? 'What is she worried about giving away, here among these people she trusts with her life.'
And now I'm looking forward to the next book even more. ( )

I missed Murderbot :( ( )

This short story was given away as a bonus to readers who preordered the Murderbot novel, and later published for free on Tor.com, and for $0.99 on Amazon. It's basically an epilogue to Exit Strategy, showing Murderbot settling into its new status quo; for the first time in the series, the perspective isn't Murderbot's own, so we get a sense of how it is perceived by others. I remember thinking it was fine enough, but it's not really a story, just some scenes that feel like set-up for a longer work, and by the time I read the next book a week later, I'd already forgotten anything that happened here.

This is why I love Murderbot and apparently the reason why I gave every book in he series 5 star.

SecUnit is still looming over her, radiating warmth. It must be able to do that at will; normally its presence is cool. She’s trembling, which is idiotic. Nothing happened, the journalist meant no harm. It could have been a hotel guest or a hungry visitor or the person who stocks the pantry or—

SecUnit is looking down at her. “You can hug me if you need to.”

“No. No, that’s all right. I know you don’t care for it.” She wipes her face. There are tears in her eyes, because she’s an idiot.

“It’s not terrible.” She can hear the irony under its even tone.

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