System Collapse

Audiobook

Published by Recorded Books.

ISBN:
978-1-7050-4102-4
Copied ISBN!
ASIN:
1705041027
(126 reviews)

Everyone's favorite lethal SecUnit is back in the next installment in Martha Wells's New York Times bestselling Murderbot Diaries series.

Am I making it worse? I think I'm making it worse.

Everyone's favorite lethal SecUnit is back.

Following the events in Network Effect, the Barish-Estranza corporation has sent rescue ships to a newly-colonized planet in peril, as well as additional SecUnits. But if there’s an ethical corporation out there, Murderbot has yet to find it, and if Barish-Estranza can’t have the planet, they’re sure as hell not leaving without something. If that something just happens to be an entire colony of humans, well, a free workforce is a decent runner-up prize.

But there’s something wrong with Murderbot; it isn’t running within normal operational parameters. ART’s crew and the humans from Preservation are doing everything they can to protect the colonists, but with Barish-Estranza’s SecUnit-heavy persuasion teams, they’re going to have …

3 editions

reviewed System Collapse by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #7)

Goodreads Review of System Collapse by Martha Wells

System Collapse feels like a tightening of the Murderbot Diaries formula that really paid off. Despite some of the same issues that have gotten in the way of my enjoyment of previous installations, I really liked this one and it's reinvigorated my love for the series.

It wouldn't be accurate to say that Murderbot is back at it again, because it hasn't been away from the action in a few books now. We left off on a planet with a few colonies that were being ravaged by a strange alien contaminant that had the ability to jump between humans and artificial systems, making both act erratically. Murderbot, along with a gaggle of "its humans" continue to help the colonists on this planet, but are soon met with a corporate exploration team from the company Barish-Estranza (B-E) who they suspect is scouting the planet to assess whether they can take advantage …

reviewed System Collapse by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #7)

💗 Murderbot 💗

I continue to love the Murderbot series. By this point, the action parts have lost impact because there's too much precedent for how they're going to turn out, so I think it's wise of Wells to play that part down a bit in this book, in favour of a story more about persuasion and trust building. And the ongoing saga of Murderbot learning about both its limits and capabilities continues to be one of the most relatable arcs in SF/F.

reviewed System Collapse by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #7)

Another satisfying Murderbot treat!

This seventh Murderbot story is a direct sequel, a part 2 even, to Network Effect, which was not actually the previous book published. So if it's been a couple years since you read Network Effect, it's worth doing a quick reread before starting this one as there are a lot of references to the events in that book which will be hard to keep track of unless it's fairly fresh in your memory. Or at least read a plot summary somewhere.

That said, Network Effect did seem to leave a lot of questions unanswered at the end, so getting a part 2 is wonderful and learning a bit more about ART and the organization ART is part of were an extra treat. I ended this book wanting an entire side series about Three and where they end up. Another satisfying Murderbot treat!

reviewed System Collapse by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #7)

Review of 'System Collapse' on 'Storygraph'

The continuation of the story from Network Effect but handled poorly. You probably need to reread NE just before starting this because there's absolutely no explanation or context for anything. Also this book brings nothing new to the table.

reviewed System Collapse by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #7)

S.E.C. unit continues to grow into what it means to be both human and free

This one picked up right where the last one left off. I always enjoy Martha Wells, this one is no different.

I defs needed that deadpanned Murderbot wittiness in a detailed world build... It's what keeps me reading this series!

reviewed System Collapse by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #7)

Better than Sanctuary Moon and World Hoppers

Content warning Mild hint at the story's outcome

reviewed System Collapse by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #7)

System Collapse

I deeply enjoyed System Collapse--it was a nice followup book to the events of the previous one and I don't think could stand alone. Murderbot has certainly been through a lot, but the last book was particularly intense and it makes sense that there's lasting effects from it. It felt like a smaller and more internally-focused book with less snark and more trama, but I am here for that.

To me at least, Murderbot and its series feels like the embodiment of vulnerability avoidance: handwaving, the first few books seemed like Murderbot coping with learning it cared and people caring about it; Network Effect was about """relationships"" (with ART and 2 and 3); this book in particular explored the vulnerability of trauma and being partially human (or at the very least having some fleshy parts). I think it helps to better situate Murderbot as a construct--not a bot, not human, …

reviewed System Collapse by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #7)

Slow burning trauma

Looks like Murderbot got caught with some trauma that it couldn't ignore, after all. Also made it hesitant to partake in any shenanigans (well who wouldn't when one is in a vulnerable state of mind?), which is the slow burner part of half the book. It ends with a sudden explosion of murderbot action and "fuck you" banter.

Found it quite interesting how 'Bot is forced to interact with other SecUnits outside of combat, there's always a hint of fear of other Units even when said Units have been unshackled from their corporate bonds.

Having just finished this book I got the news that these books have been picked up for a TV series adaption, oh boy!

reviewed System Collapse by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #7)

A great followup to "Network Effect".

An enjoyable episode in the Murderbot Diaries, this one continues from where "Network Effect" left off, with a colony left on a world contaminated with alien material that can infect both humans and AI and constructs. In the book, Murderbot and its friends continue to talk to the colonists, hoping to convince them that life with the corporation that is coming to claim their planet is not good (think bonded slavery). Then they learn that there was another colony established and now their job just got twice as tough (or harder).

As if this wasn't enough, Murderbot is suffering from a personal "redacted" problem that is affecting his efficiency. It is only later in this story that the nature of the "redacted" problem becomes clear, and it is something that can also affect humans, which makes Murderbot feel more human (ugh).

The first half of the book is more about …

reviewed System Collapse by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #7)

Another fun novel in the Murderbot Diaries universe

Overall, this was a fun book, albeit a bit shorter than it's predecessor. It's still a fun ride with the usual cast of characters we've come to enjoy. A relatively simple plot with plenty of action and high-stakes moments and a recognizable setting with hints of more complexity in Murderbot's psyche. I recommend it for folks that are already reading the Muderbot Diaries at it continues its story.

For a full spoiler-free review, check out my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2023/12/book-review-system-collapse-by-martha.html

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