paperback, 352 pages
English language
Published March 29, 2021 by Tor.com.
4 stars
(279 reviews)
Murderbot returns in its highly-anticipated, first, full-length standalone novel.
You know that feeling when you’re at work, and you’ve had enough of people, and then the boss walks in with yet another job that needs to be done right this second or the world will end, but all you want to do is go home and binge your favorite shows? And you're a sentient murder machine programmed for destruction? Congratulations, you're Murderbot.
Come for the pew-pew space battles, stay for the most relatable A.I. you’ll read this century.
Eduardo Santiago reviewed Network Effect by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #5)
Review of 'Network Effect' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
A little syrupy, but still enjoyable, much more so than the previous book. Wells put effort and creativity into this one: the story is complex, with interesting twists and even some plot developments. (It also helps that I took an eight-month break between books; I recommend doing so.)
The characters are pretty flat, and so's the dialog, and Wells's Neuromancer view of nonhuman consciousness ("I saved a backup copy of myself in hidden storage space"; "I felt myself falling as, just before the spaceship blew up, I beamed myself down to the planet") was cringey even back in the 80s. But this is comfort food now: Wells is milking the franchise, and (if we ignore #4) I'm now okay with that.
If you're a Murderbot fan hesitating to read this one because of #4: read it! It's fun, sweet (perhaps a little too much so), intriguing in good ways, and, …
A little syrupy, but still enjoyable, much more so than the previous book. Wells put effort and creativity into this one: the story is complex, with interesting twists and even some plot developments. (It also helps that I took an eight-month break between books; I recommend doing so.)
The characters are pretty flat, and so's the dialog, and Wells's Neuromancer view of nonhuman consciousness ("I saved a backup copy of myself in hidden storage space"; "I felt myself falling as, just before the spaceship blew up, I beamed myself down to the planet") was cringey even back in the 80s. But this is comfort food now: Wells is milking the franchise, and (if we ignore #4) I'm now okay with that.
If you're a Murderbot fan hesitating to read this one because of #4: read it! It's fun, sweet (perhaps a little too much so), intriguing in good ways, and, well, comfortable. Not as funny as the first, or as ethically satisfying, but that's no longer what this series is about.
If you're not a Murderbot fan: read [b:the first one|32758901|All Systems Red (The Murderbot Diaries, #1)|Martha Wells|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1484171189l/32758901.SY75.jpg|53349516]! Then, over time — seriously: do not binge — the second and third. Skip the fourth, and read this one.
cargide reviewed Network Effect by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #5)
Review of 'Network Effect' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Que bien le ha sentado a la larga doblar la duración. Más historia, más personajes y mucha más acción.
Además, es un intermedio perfecto para tener entre arcos.
En resumen, deja con ganas de más Matabot, y eso siempre es bueno.
Noisy Deadlines reviewed Network Effect by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #5)
Review of 'Network Effect' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
Such a delight to be back inside the mind of this cyborg. Sarcastic but righteous, Murderbot is a fantastic character and we get to experience its thought process all the time. Status updates, Simultaneous parallel dialogues with humans and AI's, Performance Reliability Ratings. And also, how not to like ART, the transport ship AI that loves talking to human teenagers?
Jameson reviewed Network Effect by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #5)
Review of 'Network Effect' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Murderbot’s humanity (albeit artificial), sarcasm, ennui, and intense social anxiety make it an enjoyable and relatable narrator through an adventure plot that never gets bogged down by the technical minutiae it serves up so generously. It’s too busy barreling ahead, making a mess, and, yes, racking up a body count.
loppear reviewed Network Effect by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #5)
Review of 'Network Effect' on Goodreads
3 stars
Adventures and last-minute-blasting-our-way-out escapes continue, suitably ramped up to novel length and expanding view.
Lord of Candy reviewed Network Effect by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #5)
Review of 'Network Effect' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Murderbot.. I love you.. It's ok.. you don't have to look at me.. I know it makes you uncomfortable.
They are the wryest asshole I know but they crack me up every time I read them.
Neat episodic journey continues with crappy friend-clients, targets, and our favorite sidekick ART.
If you're this deep just continue, it's a great read and will have you chuckling a few times. Just try not to leak.
outofrange reviewed Network Effect by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #5)
Review of 'Network Effect' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Any resistance I might have had has been worn away. Good characters get deeper, the action never lets up, and a sense of wonder pervades.
Wetdryvac reviewed Network Effect by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #5)
Review of 'Network Effect' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Hand-waves a few things, but in a good way. Really well put together and fun.
Rainer reviewed Network Effect by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #5)
Review of 'Network Effect' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
I love the Murderbot series. Than you Martha Wells!
settingshadow reviewed Network Effect by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #5)
Review of 'Network Effect' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
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?
daNanner reviewed Network Effect by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #5)
Review of 'Network Effect' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
The best construct
I love the Murderbot stories. Exploring feelings and self-examination is never easy, especially when you’d rather not deal with people at all.
Libbum reviewed Network Effect by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #5)
Review of 'Network Effect' on 'GoodReads'
4 stars
This was fun, as all the Murderbot books have been. Quite happy to see a novel this time! There were no novella related shortcomings, although perhaps Wells' forte indeed lies in the thinner format. This book had multiple places where things were explained for the 15th time, or a joke was told over and over again. Don't get me wrong; this dry, smirk-worthy humor is what I came here for, but it got repetitive.
I certainly enjoyed the plot. It dug into the lore of the universe Murderbot exists within, and expands upon a number of old character arcs that were very welcomed. Murderbot itself begins to find a place in the world, even though it cannot be too sure of that.
The series now has a solid footing, with the characters ready to explore on their own terms, rather than being on the back foot all the time. Looking …
This was fun, as all the Murderbot books have been. Quite happy to see a novel this time! There were no novella related shortcomings, although perhaps Wells' forte indeed lies in the thinner format. This book had multiple places where things were explained for the 15th time, or a joke was told over and over again. Don't get me wrong; this dry, smirk-worthy humor is what I came here for, but it got repetitive.
I certainly enjoyed the plot. It dug into the lore of the universe Murderbot exists within, and expands upon a number of old character arcs that were very welcomed. Murderbot itself begins to find a place in the world, even though it cannot be too sure of that.
The series now has a solid footing, with the characters ready to explore on their own terms, rather than being on the back foot all the time. Looking forward to the next installment!
AndySoc1al reviewed Network Effect by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #5)
Review of 'Network Effect' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Oh, Murderbot, how I have missed you!
Wells explores what it means to be human while also giving the reader a fantastic action adventure. Rogue elements of possibly alien-contaminated abandoned colonies, indestructible alien armor, impossible physics, and cloning a machine intelligence - the story has no shortage of incredible ideas, and yet it remains very touching and human in the end.
I certainly hope another novel is forthcoming, because while the story told here is complete, there are clearly more stories to be told as Murderbot explores the galaxy.
Jack Baty reviewed Network Effect by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #5)
Review of 'Network Effect' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Who doesn't love Murderbot? I love Murderbot.
