Network Effect

After a string of novellas that were, frankly, brilliant, the fifth book and first full-size novel in The Murderbot Diaries, Network Effect stormed the science fiction scene when it was released, winning the holy trinity of Hugo, Locus and Nebula awards for best novel. As I write this the first (in hopefully a long line) of the Murderbot TV series is playing on Apple TV (and yes they've nailed it too).

We're back with Murderbot, fresh from its Mensah rescue, ostensibly trying to get on with its life of media consumption and minimal human interaction. You know, the dream. Naturally, that lasts about five minutes before everything goes to hell. A hostile takeover of a research vessel, people get snatched, and our favourite SecUnit is, once again, dragged into another rescue mission it doesn't want to be on. It's a familiar setup, but it still works. Standard operating procedure for Murderbot, then, just with higher stakes and more annoying humans.

Having read the first 4 books, I liked that they were minimal, concise affairs that you could read quickly, and I was a bit unsure about expanding that into a full-size book and the potential for a slower, more fluff-filled read. But what truly works here is the expansion. We get more of the universe, which is always welcome. More of the corporate politics, the intricacies of the various factions, and crucially, more ART. That research transport is more than just a ship; it's a character in its own right, with its quirks and a surprisingly deep (and often hilarious) connection to Murderbot. The dynamic between them is still a highlight, a perfect blend of exasperated tolerance and genuine affection. The relationships with Mensah and the other humans also get some much-needed depth. Despite Murderbot's best efforts to remain aloof, to maintain that impenetrable wall of disinterest, the evidence of its growing attachments keeps piling up. It's funny, it's awkward, and it makes you almost believe Murderbot might like these humans. Almost. It certainly tries hard to pretend it doesn't.

The plot’s got pace, plenty of action sequences that are well-choreographed and easy to follow, and the corporate intrigue is engaging enough to drive the story forward. All the bits you’d expect from a good sci-fi thriller are present and accounted for. But the real draw remains Murderbot's internal monologue. Wells nails that voice. The dry wit, the pervasive social anxiety that manifests in constant internal screaming, the desperate desire for peace, and the constant battle between wanting to curl up with a show and having to save people. It's all there, and it's as sharp and relatable as ever. Some moments genuinely crackle with humour, forcing a proper laugh out loud, and others hit you with a surprising amount of emotional weight for a book about a security construct that claims to have no feelings. You find yourself rooting for this grumpy, self-aware machine.

If you're already on board with the Murderbot Diaries, devoured the novellas or even just seen the TV Show, then Network Effect is a solid continuation. It takes the core elements that made the earlier, shorter works great and stretches them out, mostly successfully, proving the concept can work in a longer format. It doesn't lose its way, and it doesn't dilute what makes Murderbot, well, Murderbot. If you haven't started, then you've got some catching up to do. Seriously, go read All Systems Red, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy and Artificial Condition, then come back to this. You'll probably enjoy it quite a bit