Network Effect

I only discovered the Murderbot diaries a few weeks ago, but since then I've eagerly waited for this full length novel to release because what's better than a longer book with Murderbot. I started listening to the audiobook as soon as it dropped on my tablet and it's been such a wonderful experience.

After having gotten to know this world and characters in four novellas, I didn't think we could get to know them even better but how wrong I was. The author takes the extra number of pages here as an opportunity to give us more knowledge about the working of colonists, corporations and their hostile takeovers, alien remnant contamination, and the various legal and political intrigue across different systems. I also found the author's AMA very revelatory in which she mentioned that through the series, she wanted to talk about the exploitative nature of corporations, and how they get to decide who are treated as humans and given rights, and who are not. I think this theme came across much more clearly in this novel and I loved it.

I absolutely adore the conversational writing style of these books and I think it was more pronounced here, especially in the audiobook. The narrator also does a marvelous job giving unique voices to everyone, and also letting us feel that unique sarcastic tone of Murderbot which is so symbolic to this series. There is also plenty of action, suspense and thrill throughout this story, which kept me engaged and entertained and I never wanted to stop listening.

And now coming to the best part of this series, the eponymous Murderbot. Irrespective of what was happening in the plot, I thought this was a great character study and we got to know so much more about how Murderbot feels about its various humans, it's developing relationship with each individual and how much it wants to deny that ART is its friend. I was absolutely delighted to see how much it worried about Dr. Mensah's mental health, it's overprotective nature towards Amena and how absolutely mad it got when it realized that ART was in trouble. Murderbot has changed so much through the series and sometimes, it's hard to fathom that it's not just a socially anxious human.

ART is snark personified but it brings so much more entertainment and energy to the proceedings. And however much they both try to behave antagonistically towards each other, it's undeniable that they share a special bond and will do anything to save the other from harm. Their conversations and some of their reactions were so endearing and funny, that I couldn't help but laugh and delight at them. I don't think I'm ever going to forget ART's “Operation Rain Destruction” plan and how overwhelmed Murderbot was when it got to know about it. All the other human side characters and a very surprise addition to the crew are absolutely wonderful and I can't even say whom I like more. They are all a symbol of compassion and kindness, and the perfect companions/teammates for Murderbot.

To conclude, this was so charming and fun and brought me so much joy during these bleak times. If you have never read this series, but love sci-fi and want some positive entertainment, and would love to get acquainted with a socially awkward AI construct who enjoys binging very unrealistic tv shows but has to save pesky humans instead - then go ahead and pick this series up immediately because I promise, you are missing out. My only hope is that we get many more books in this series in the future and ART always makes an appearance.

Oh, Murderbot, when you have feelings it makes me have feelings. I hope you and Peri are very happy together. The review of this on Smart Bitches Trashy Books called it “an ace/agender romantic suspense novel,” and while I wouldn't have thought that definition fit any of the novellas in the series, it definitely does apply here. I would read the novellas in order before reading this, because they really give so much depth to the backstory and relationships and characters. I didn't love the beginning section of this because I find written action sequences somewhat hard to follow, especially with newer characters that I'm not as familiar with yet (and also, I just find a lot of action sequences boring in general, written or on-screen). I loved the new human and construct characters and very much enjoyed this, but it's 4 stars for me because the beginning was a bit of a slog.

(2021 Summer Romance Bingo: “bodyguard,” would also work for “friends to lovers,” or loosely for “scientific pursuit.”)

This is the best book in the series so far! Murderbot just keeps having one breakdown after another, emotionally and physically.

Spoilers

Favorite scenes:

- Ameena and SecUnit bickering!

- Hiding in the toilet because you're having an emotional response.

- SecUnit realising ART has been deleted.

- SecUnit and ART bickering over and over till they decide to rescue ART's crew.

- SecUnit intentionally playing Worldhoppers knowing that it's ART's favorite show and that'll lure them both into a conversation.

- Ameena saying that writing a code together is like having a baby

If the novellas were each a TV episode, Network Effect is the two-hour season finale. With a full-length novel, the plot has a little bit more room to breathe and develop. At times, the adventures with alien adversaries feel a little too drawn out, but mostly, this room is good to allow somewhat of an emotional arc for Murderbot's complex relationships with ART and Mensah's daughter to develop. The series has always leaned hard on the ideas of identity and how this interacts with hard-wiring, and the plot really let those themes shine.

Network Effect was also the book in which Wells' full setting comes into focus: the conflicts between the corporate ring and Mensah's independent planet, and the university that owns ART. What does a corporation really want and what can unchecked capitalism develop into as the governing system for a solar system?

Fun stuff, as always, but requires prior knowledge

I'm a big fan of the Murderbot Diaries the first story was so fresh and unlike anything I had before so I was particularly excited to read the full length novel by Martha Wells.

I was actually looking forward to recommending it to friends, but the one thing that surprised me and with mild disappointment is that you would definitely need to read the previous novellas. There's a lot of references to prior adventures, characters, outcomes and learnings - which makes it hard to jump straight into this book (I wouldn't recommend doing so actually).

However, I have read all the prior novellas and was able to pick up from where I left off, and SecUnit continues to be lovable, grumpy and extremely uncomfortable with emotions.

What was a real delight was the return of ART. We met ART in Artificial Condition (book 2) and I remember being disappointed that we didn't meet it again, but in this story, ART plays a main character - and it's beautiful.

I do also love how Wells writes about these characters. Firstly they're respectful of pronouns - somehow whenever I've thought of a robot, I've referred to them as “he” yet robots have no gender. Wells makes it pretty clear that a) this has never been an issue to the constructs, and b) always makes sure we're using the right pronouns, including always referring to SecUnit's mushy clients as “humans and augmented humans”.

If you're a Murderbot fan, then I definitely think you'll enjoy this. If you've not read Murderbot before, then I highly recommend it!

Pages ‘n Pines Grading Scale:

5 - Amazing
4 - Really liked it
3 - Liked it
2 - Okay
1 - Didn't like

During my reading, I thought the pacing had a few lulls in it but looking back, I'm glad there were calmer moments here and there. As the first (and so far only) full length novel in the Murderbot Diaries, I loved Network Effect and I think it (or maybe Exit Strategy) is my favorite in the series so far.

Oh also, ART IS BACK BABYYYYY!!!

The shift from the super fast pacing of the novellas to the medium pace of the novel took a second to get used to but it was all very enjoyable even during that adjusting period. The length of the novel allowed for more emotional interactions than usual, longer action scenes, and more attention to the atmosphere buildup.

One of my favorite parts was the bits and pieces of HelpMe.file interspersed throughout the story and having to piece it together and wonder why the heck it's being shown to me. I also really adored the multiple POVs towards the end I thought they were used really well, particularly the contrast between SecUnit and SecUnit 3! Oh yeah did I forget to mention? THERE'S A NEW SECUNIT!!

A great addition to the story and fantastic first novel length book. Looking forward to seeing where SecUnit goes in this sort of “second season” it feels like Wells is setting up.

This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: Network Effect

Murderbot is on its first contracted job for itself. And while it might still be doing security, the key part is that it actually wants to do the job. But while providing security on a Preservation research trip, the team suddenly finds themselves under attack. Quick to action, Murderbot does all it can to rescue the crew. And ok, it might actually like these humans a little bit and be extremely angry if they came to harm. But nothing goes according to plan and Murderbot finds itself brought aboard a vessel that seems oddly familiar. As Murderbot and its team begin to dig deeper into the mystery of their capture they will uncover a host of problems. The least of which is being kidnapped.

Oh, Murderbot the trouble you find yourself in.

Network Effect brings back an old friend of Murderbot's, Asshole Research Transport, A.K.A ART. Although Murderbot has a hard time admitting to having friends, we all know ART and Murderbot enjoy sharing quips and media. If you've never read about two highly intelligent A.I.s trading comebacks while working together towards a common goal, you're missing out. ART and Murderbot working as a team ups the ante and brings a healthy dose of tension and action. They pair so well together, even if they don't always agree with the other's approach. But between the two of them, anyone who stands in their way will have no idea what hit them.

Each of Murderbot's stories gravitates around human experiences and learning how to process them. Anger is one of the first emotions Murderbot became familiar with, and it still remains its first response. But Murderbot will be forced to come to terms with a new emotion it never thought it would experience. While it may be made of both machine and organic parts, able to do amazing technological feats, its processing is about to be put to the test as it comes to terms with grief.

Murderbot also faces the stark reality of being trapped in one's own head. We've all been there, being surrounded by people yet still feeling alone. While the humans around Murderbot do all they can to comfort it, Murderbot knows they cannot fully understand what is going on as it processes emotions. But of course, that's where ART comes in and I love the support and friendship Murderbot has from a fellow A.I.

When I first saw Murderbot had a full-length novel, my immediate thought was to wonder if the story would hold up. But you know what? I shouldn't have worried. This snarky robot's adventure is just as entertaining as the novellas. And I can't wait for the next one!

Even better than a season of Sanctuary Moon.

An action packed page-turning novel that managed to fit in a pretty good whodunnit mystery, a big dose of humour along with some rather serious philosophical pondering on free will and the nature of ethics, all without slowing the pace down. I thought about calling this a rollercoaster, but it's more like being strapped to a high-speed rocket weaving through a star wars style asteroid field . It's totally unrealistic, and if you've read the book you'll understand why that's a compliment.

In its first full-length novel adventure, Murderbot is thrust right back into the fire on a rescue mission that immediately goes awry. Expanding from the usual novella length of previous installments, this was a bit all over the place for me and I can't say that it benefits from the extra room. The story is similar to previous, tighter Murderbot tales, but the proceedings get so bogged down by technical mumbo jumbo that I had a difficult time following the action.

Murderbot is at its best when the characters and their complicated relationships are at the forefront. In that respect, I really enjoyed the return of my favorite character, ART, Murderbot's snarky sparring partner from a previous novella. This relationship, coupled with Murderbot's dealings with some new (but familiar) allies makes for a compelling new wrinkle. Qualms aside, I'll happily join up on Murderbot's next mission, setting sail next year with a new novella.

A full length novel for Murderbot! My main complaint through the novellas was that each story was just too short and finally I got an uninterrupted full length story to sit in MB's passenger seat. I love reading from MB's perspective, I love how we never leave its side and all the information we receive is coloured by its particular brand of paranoia. Of course it's not paranoia if they're really out to get you.

It's fun to see Murderbot grow as its own conscious entity and giving it a full novel to interact with some of its favorite humans (and its favorite ship) has done a lot to enhance the human element of their character. This is not the same Murderbot from All Systems Red, its growth has been subtle so far and in this novel we see how these new relationships have made their impact. But make no mistake, this story at its core is basically the Brave Little Toaster gets downright murderous. I eagerly await the next full length novel in this series, I am curious to see Murderbot evolve even further.

Being a novel, this has a story of some length and complexity, more ambitious than the novellas in the same series. New characters of various kinds are introduced, in addition to the characters we already know; and Murderbot's relationship with ART is pursued and explored in more depth.If you like to be kept on the edge of your seat throughout a novel, with constant crises and action, then this is a book for you. The story is not boring.It sometimes reminds me of novels by other writers. The alien remnants and their effects remind me of [b:A Fire Upon the Deep 77711 A Fire Upon the Deep (Zones of Thought, #1) Vernor Vinge https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1728332458l/77711.SY75.jpg 1253374], and some of the software details remind me of [b:ME 421800 ME Thomas T. Thomas https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1330101028l/421800.SY75.jpg 410918].I'm a bit uneasy about the alien remnants because they operate by science-that-we-don't-understand, which is not far removed from magic. I have no objection to fantasy stories, but fantasy tends to feel out of place in an sf story. However, after some dithering I've decided to give this one 5 stars. There's a lot packed into it: plenty of value for money.