System Collapse

For the first half of the book I was a bit confused, perhaps because it is really a sequel/continuation of Network Effect (and it's been a while since I read that). In the end I did enjoy it, particularly the middle part, where Murderbot does something completely unmurdery to save the day.

this one is my least favourite of the series, probably because of how slow and almost boring it's at the start, but somehow the second half is actually quite good.

It's hard to believe that this is already the seventh book we've had to spend the time together with Murderbot. As a direct follow-up to Network Effect, System Collapse has a lot of the personal development and processing that we saw in that book, which I really appreciated.

I just love the added layer of complexity that Murderbot as a less reliable narrator provides. And who could say no to more Murderbot fighting with ART?

... and I'm not satisfied and now keep waiting for a new book in this series. What is so fun is the always hard strategical thinking Murderbot and ART and their humans have to do, which always happens because they are always in dire straits because of buccaneering megalarge companies doing their power grabs over humans, other companies, even planets.

Also, because it's fun because Murderbot got rid of its governor module, so it can be free. But the governor module also manages anger, and since it's down, the anger is always up. Beware of ART, who is much bigger than Murderbot, and so he's got much bigger amounts of anger, you know.

And also because it feels like Murderbot is freeing lots of other SecBots everywhere and this might lead to a full stop revolution of SecBots and larger bots as well.

I enjoyed this Murderbot outing, which is a direct follow-up to the events of "Network Effect" and could almost be seen as a "part two" of that book in the same way "Exit Strategy" could be seen as an extension of "Rogue Protocol." There's a lot to like here for fans of the saga and I had fun with it but for me, the story never really got going or had much punch to it. I think a big part of that is because the stakes and threats this time around sort of pale by comparison to the full-tilt madness that was basically front and center throughout the duration of "Network Effect." That's not really a problem as it makes for a more intimate, introspective, and "personal" story for Murderbot and the reader to experience together but I find myself at a point where some of the tropes of the series have started to wear a bit thin and lose their luster in a way that leaves me hoping it'll nicely wrap up and Murderbot will get to gracefully fade off into the sunset in another book or two. Bottom line: Still having a good time. Still here for whatever comes next. Just not as enthralled as I was by some of the other entries, which is absolutely fine, and admittedly a great place to be as a reader after seven books.

This was largely enjoyable, although the turn from Murderbot feeling alienated from everyone to Murderbot feeling cringey about how much its humans care for it is a little less engaging. This story largely focused on Murderbot's trauma response to Network Effect - Martha Wells and its relationship with ART and the humans. Didn't really play out any of the threads about alien contamination from Network Effect, which is feeling like kind of a big tease at this point.

Not quite as good as Network Effect, perhaps because ART is less involved this time. The first couple of chapters also confused me a bit -- I felt like I'd been dropped into the middle of a book and had missed the build-up -- but once I got past that it was a ton of fun.

System Collapse, the seventh book in Martha Wells' Murderbot Diaries, picks up right where Network Effect left off. As a direct sequel, this volume is the second full-length novel in the series and is the least stand-alone of them all. If you’re thinking of jumping in fresh here, think again—you'll want to start at the beginning to fully appreciate the depth and development of the story and characters.

Murderbot has endured a lot, from violent battles and betrayals to emotional hardships. It has witnessed filthy-rich corporations committing heinous crimes with no regard for human life. As Murderbot slowly becomes more "human-like" and grapples with emotions it would rather ignore, it’s about to face one of the most human experiences of all: trauma.

A few months after the events of Network Effect, Murderbot and ART's crews are still stuck, waiting for reinforcements to fix ART's hyperspace drive. Meanwhile, Perihelion's crew works tirelessly to thwart Barish-Estranza's (B-E) attempts to sign the population into corporate slavery.

A mysterious, redacted past event has Murderbot stressed out, making it hard to perform its usual security tasks. Despite its desire to seclude itself in one of ART's closets, B-E's increasingly aggressive efforts demand Murderbot’s reluctant attention.

Murderbot’s journey continues to be a fascinating exploration of what it means to be human. Its development as a character is marked by a blend of dry humor, reluctant heroism, and poignant introspection. Wells expertly balances action and emotional depth, making this latest installment as compelling as its predecessors.

The plot is fast-paced and filled with tension as Murderbot navigates the challenges thrown its way. The interactions between Murderbot and the crew members are as engaging as ever, highlighting Wells' talent for creating rich, relatable characters.

If you’ve been following the series, System Collapse is a must-read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s a brilliant continuation of Murderbot’s story, blending action, emotion, and humor in a way that only Martha Wells can deliver.