eBook, 32 pages
English language
Published April 18, 2021 by Tom Doherty Associates.
“Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory” is a short story set in the world of Martha Well's Murderbot Diaries. This story was originally given free to readers who pre-ordered Network Effect, the fifth entry in the series. The events of “Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory” occur just after the fourth novella, Exit Strategy.
Short story set just after Exit Strategy, showing a tiny slice of Ayda Mensah’s life as she struggles with the traumatic events she’d just lived through.
In a break from the rest of the series so far it’s seen from Mensah’s point-of-view, with Murderbot’s interactions mostly, but not exclusively, via the feed.
Though succinct, it brings added depth to the burgeoning friendship between Mensah and Murderbot. I really liked it.
"Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory" is a brief but impactful short story set between "Exit Strategy" (Book 4) and "Network Effect" (Book 5) in Martha Wells’s acclaimed The Murderbot Diaries series. This short story, only a chapter long, is not a stand-alone tale but serves as a 50-page exploration into the inner workings of Preservation Station and the Alliance.
Written from Dr. Mensah’s perspective, this story provides a unique vantage point. We get to see Murderbot through the eyes of another, allowing us to contrast Murderbot’s self-perception with how it is perceived by those around it. This narrative shift offers fresh insights, especially as we witness Mensah grappling with her post-traumatic stress disorder following her kidnapping. The rest of Preservation struggles with the tension of having a highly dangerous Security Unit—Murderbot—on their peaceful planet, where the term "killing machine" is often thought, if not outright stated.
One of the story’s …
"Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory" is a brief but impactful short story set between "Exit Strategy" (Book 4) and "Network Effect" (Book 5) in Martha Wells’s acclaimed The Murderbot Diaries series. This short story, only a chapter long, is not a stand-alone tale but serves as a 50-page exploration into the inner workings of Preservation Station and the Alliance.
Written from Dr. Mensah’s perspective, this story provides a unique vantage point. We get to see Murderbot through the eyes of another, allowing us to contrast Murderbot’s self-perception with how it is perceived by those around it. This narrative shift offers fresh insights, especially as we witness Mensah grappling with her post-traumatic stress disorder following her kidnapping. The rest of Preservation struggles with the tension of having a highly dangerous Security Unit—Murderbot—on their peaceful planet, where the term "killing machine" is often thought, if not outright stated.
One of the story’s strengths is its deep dive into the emotional and psychological aftermath of the previous events. It enriches the overarching narrative by adding layers to Dr. Mensah’s character and highlighting the broader implications of integrating a Security Unit like Murderbot into a society that values peace and safety.
While this short story left me wanting more, it also sparked a desire to hear from other characters like Ratthi, Pin-Lee, and Gurathin. Their perspectives could add even more depth to the story and the universe Wells has created. Despite its brevity, "Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory" is a compelling addition to The Murderbot Diaries, offering fans a tantalizing glimpse into the complexities of Preservation Station and its inhabitants.
A short, interesting look into the mind of Dr. Mensah who's understandably struggling with all the things that happened to her in the 4 previous novellas. We also get a tiny look into the inner workings of Preservation station and the alliance. Should best be read right after "Exit Strategy" as it's more of an epilogue. Could have been longer and explored some of the themes a bit more but I assume that'll happen in "Network Effect".
A sweet episode, but all too brief. It would have been better to add this into one of the other stories.
Love the rest of the series but this is not good
Yes, hi. Murderbot would (and has) kill(ed) for Dr. Mensah, and I would kill for Murderbot.
That's all.
Chronologically set between the Murderbot books "Exit Strategy" and "Network Effect", this short short story is told from the viewpoint of one of Murderbot's clients. After having being held hostage, Mensah is suffering from mental and emotional issues from that episode, yet is unwilling to admit to anybody; except perhaps Murderbot, who can see what is happening and encourages her to seek help. This is also a prelude to one of the story threads told in "Network Effect".
Not much happens, but it does serve as a reasonable recap of the major themes of the Murderbot Diaries.
4.5 Hard to rate a short-story in a larger story, especially if it's really more of a side-story to the fifth book. It is well-done, however, and Dr. Mensah's perspective carries with it a wholly different level of emotional involvement. What I liked especially was that we see Muderbot's humour is not all confined to pithy remarks. Also I am a sucker for stories with psychological consequences and those come across much better with Mensah's perspective.
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
It was a fine 50 page little story.
I’ll just point y’all to my review of Fugitive Telemetry, shall I?
I think I read the books a bit out of sync and I wasn't really aware where this story fit in with the timeline so I was a bit confused. But hey ... it's Murderbot, so it's always awesome.
One of the best trauma coping things I've read outside fanfic, and as well put together as the novellas.
