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Network Effect (The Murderbot Diaries, #5)

Martha Wells

Start date: May 1, 2025

Finish date: May 31, 2025

Discussion: BotM Discussion - SCI-FI

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BotM Discussion - SCI-FI

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What Members Thought

May 08, 2020 Meera rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 5000-books, bookmarks-magazine, science-fiction, 200-up-to-date, bought2020

Re-read 8/11/21:
While I didn't love it as much as the first time I read it because the element of surprise was gone, it was still very good. I had forgotten what happened at the end so now I'll have to re-read the next book before book #7, which sadly doesn't seem to be happening any time soon.

Original read:
I had been so looking forward to this book, I read this as slowly as I could. It felt so good to be back in this snarky SecUnit’s world with its friends and clients. I was so excited to see ...more

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May 04, 2021 Natalie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: science-fiction

Rating 5 stars. To make this a full length novel, Wells adds more characters and a more complicated problem for Murderbot. While a few elements of the plot seem vague to me, Murderbot's combination of anxiety, annoyance at others, and efficient handling of situations made for an enjoyable read.
Murderbot finds itself with Thiago, Arada, Overse, and the spirited Amena. Amena is a teen and wants some freedom but trusts Murderbot throughout the adventure. The group's ship is attacked and they bring Rating 5 stars. To make this a full length novel, Wells adds more characters and a more complicated problem for Murderbot. While a few elements of the plot seem vague to me, Murderbot's combination of anxiety, annoyance at others, and efficient handling of situations made for an enjoyable read.
Murderbot finds itself with Thiago, Arada, Overse, and the spirited Amena. Amena is a teen and wants some freedom but trusts Murderbot throughout the adventure. The group's ship is attacked and they bring aboard Eletra and Ras. We learn that colonies on various planets are run by corporations who may invest in them, abandon them, or sell them to other corporations, making for unstable situations for colonists. Eletra and Ras prove to be hostile, but then Murderbot discovers they have crude implants controlling their behavior. Ras dies, after declaring he is afraid of Murderbot but believes the other humans need to force it to their will. Eletra survives, after having the implant removed.
The crew then come upon ART or Perihelion. When they board the ship, they find hostile, blue skinned people Murderbot calls Targets. ART's crew is gone and the Targets declare they deleted ART. Then, on a fluke, Murderbot discovers it can restore ART. As ART comes online and tries to rebuild itself, it declares it intended to kidnap Murderbot to get help protecting itself and finding its crew. Throughout this ordeal, Murderbot experiences a range of emotions: grief at the loss of ART, fear of what could happen, then irritation that ART would force it to help the ship; all of which are relatable and funny.
The group agree to help ART get his crew back. They discover that a nearby colony, formerly run by Adamantine Explorations, is in danger of a corporate take over while the remaining colonists seem to be aggressive and protective. The question is what has happened to the colony and its inhabitants and where is ART's crew. Murderbots crew goes down to the colony, after battling the Targets. After some investigating, Murderbot concludes the colony was infected with Alien contamination, which seems to include a strange growth that affects humans biologically, and a nasty computer virus, contained in Targetcontrolsystem. Murderbot bravely goes about the colony, guessing it is impervious to the infection. But, it does pick up the nasty virus and must rely on ART to be rescued. During this, Murderbot convinces a colony SecUnit to destroy its governor module and join it as a free agent. This SecUnit (known as 3), helps Murderbot at a couple critical points.
The change brought about to the colonists, as well as the ruthless Targetcontrolsystem provide formidable challenges to the crew. (view spoiler). Murderbot combats them with shutting off systems and creating code to wreck havoc.
Murderbot is offered a chance to help ART and its crew in a future mission. And Dr. Mensah lets it know it is welcome as part Preservation also.

Rating 5 stars. (4/12/21) This works as a full length novel after 4 books that were novellas. The main character comes out of her/his shell more and must rescue humans once again. This time they go to a planet and encounter strange lifeforms. The pacing is good and the action interesting. I'm looking forward to more from this author. ...more

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Jul 02, 2021 Lynn rated it it was amazing

Reread via audio Sept 2024 - MURDERBOT & ART!!!! I am making heart-eyes at them from a respectable distance, which is more than I can say for several of their combined humans who were making heart-eyes at them in full view of ART & Murderbot.

I don't know how many more times I'm going to say this, but I LOVE MURDERBOT & it needs to be shouted from the rooftops. This one is a full length novel, so there's even MORE Murderbot!! And ART is back! We get to see more ART & Murderbot interactions & it' ...more

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