Network Effect (Murderbot Diaries, #5)

by Martha Wells

[Quirky Cat]

Network Effect is our fifth foray into the world of Murderbot – and yet it is the first full-length novel of the series. That being said, new fans could easily jump in at this point if they so choose to. Though I cannot recommend the novellas enough, I do make a point of checking them out.

Since gaining its freedom, Murderbot has allied with a bunch of humans. These humans are doing their best to make a connection with Murderbot. All while getting themselves into situations that require a SecUnit to save the day.

That brings us to Network Effect. It started as an ordinary mission to protect the humans while they surveyed the area, but it became much bigger. Now, there are humans to be saved, relatable (well, mostly) AIs to contend with, and more.

"This would have all been a lot easier if I wasn't so worried about the stupid humans."

I can easily summarize my reaction to Network Effect in one sentence: I want more. I absolutely adored this novel. I did the best I could to savor it, but at the end of the day, I just wanted to read it all. I've already resorted to rereading it and am still craving more. That's how firmly Network Effect has wormed into my head.

This novel was, simply put, fun. It was exciting and hilarious, giving me all that Murderbot goodness I have come to love. It was everything I had hoped for from a full novel and so (so) much more.
One of the highlights of this novel is the sheer amount of fantastic quotes to be found. My digital copy is full of lines I highlighted because I enjoyed them so much. That isn't an exaggeration either – there have to be dozens of quotes I saved. Ranging from intense to hilarious and back again.

"I didn't really feel like negotiating. I have a module on it, somewhere in my archive. It was never much help."

If you've read and enjoyed the previous novellas, you have to dive into Network Effect. You'll love it. If you haven't read the novellas, you can still dive into this novel, as it puts effort into introducing the characters all over again. But you will miss some of the context and weight of what is happening. So go back and read the novellas; you won't regret it (I might be slightly biased here, as the Murderbot Diaries is one of my favorite series).

The development of Murderbot's character was phenomenal, as was the development of all the secondary characters (human and machine). It added layers to an already fascinating story and made me love it all the more. Likewise, the pacing was perfect, as was the comedic timing, if I may say so. Murderbot's way of thinking is highly amusing, so of course, I loved their exasperation to the extreme.

Best of all? Network Effect sets up for future Murderbot adventures, a fact that I couldn't be happier about. Give me all the delightful Murderbot you can, Martha Wells, because there is no such thing as too much, as far as I'm concerned.

Highlights:
Cyberpunk meets Solarpunk
Rogue Android/SecUnit
Sarcastic Characters
Space Adventures
Artificial Intelligence

Thanks to StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Graphic Audio Review:

I'm impressed by how quickly Graphic Audio is getting through The MurderBot Diaries. Admittedly, I still don't love all the choices for the voices, but I am thrilled with yet another version of MurderBot to dive into.

Network Effect marks the fifth adventure in the series – it's also the first full-length novel. That means this is the longest Graphic Audio for MurderBot (so far, who knows what the future will hold for MurderBot?).

There are a lot of characters in Network Effect, and I mean a lot! We have the Preservation Crew, ARTs crew, and even a few characters from the corporation sectors. I will say that Graphic Audio's methods work well here, as the various voices make for a richer experience. There were bits I loved about the voices (3! I've been waiting to hear how its voice would sound) and things I would have changed (I do feel like they made Amena sound a little too young).

All things said and done, one highlight for me is how David Cui Cui emphasizes MurderBot's exasperation, sarcasm, and panic. While I do love the more sardonic version brought to us by Kevin R. Free, this take also feels...right.

You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reeds