Wednesday, 5 August 2020

Network Effect - Book Review



Network Effect (The Murderbot Diaries #5)
by Martha Wells

What is it about:
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.



I’m usually alone in my head, and that’s where 90 plus percent of my problems are.

When Murderbot's human associates (not friends, never friends) are captured and another not-friend from its past requires urgent assistance, Murderbot must choose between inertia and drastic action.

Drastic action it is, then.


What did I think of it:
I was a bit apprehensive when I started on this book, as it seemed a lot of people who loved the novellas were disappointed with this novel.

Turns out I'm not one of those people and I loved it!

I will say I can see why some people loved it less. The novellas are packed with action and have lots of internal Murderbot monologues. If those two things are why you love Murderbot, this book might indeed disappoint.

I myself enjoyed the slower pace of the story. It gave room to explore things that didn't get a lot of room in the novellas. I loved seeing Murderbot interact more with humans and to see how they react to it. And there might have been fewer internal monologues, there were lots of scenes where I got to know Murderbot in new ways, and where Murderbot was forced to talk and think about its feelings.

And there was ART!

All in all I loved this book and I'm eager to get my trotters on the next novella as soon as it releases.

Why should you read it:
ART!!!
Ehm... It's a really awesome SF read.




No comments: