Network Effect - Martha Wells

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⭐ 9.0/10

(Originally written by Magdalene)

This is the first full-length Murderbot novel after the previous four short novellas, plus it's been nominated for both the Nebula and Hugo! So that's pretty exciting.

I continue to love Murderbot so much, and this novel-length book worked just as well as the novellas. Murderbot is a member of Dr. Mensah's team, and they're just going to a routine survey when its ship gets attacked, and Murderbot and Mensah's daughter get taken. Now Murderbot needs to proctect this annoying adolescent, reunite her with the rest of its humans, and also figure out how this ship can travel through wormholes so fast. And also the ship is Murderbot's best friend ART (Asshole Research Transport), but it got taken over by other software, oh no!

I will admit that because I lack even a basic understanding of software, computers, robots, space travel, and most technology, I could get lost sometimes and not know exactly what was going on, and I had a hard time imagining the action. And there are lots of action scenes. Pretty sure that's just a me problem, though. They're always making escape plans and strategies, and as long as I could get the general gist I could move on and enjoy. Murderbot is still its anxious, snarky self, but also now fiercely protective of its humans. This book explores topics of artifical intelligence and personhood and free will in very interesting ways, plus it's just so funny. Those are my favourite aspects of the series and why I'm still reading, but there's even more to love for others who like action and technology.

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