NETWORK EFFECT By Martha Wells

Despite the murky cover artwork, this latest full-blown Murderbot novel by Martha Wells expands the character of the rogue SecUnit when it’s kidnapped by a familiar space transport. The transport goes through a wormhole in record time (later revealed as assisted by an alien remanent) to an abandoned colony on a forgotten planet.

Murderbot juggles several conflicting missions: protect the team he’s associated with including a difficult adolescent girl, defend the transport from the raiders, restore its pilot, and discover why it was kidnapped in the first place.

As in the previous four Murderbot novels (you can read my reviews here, here, here, and here) there’s plenty of action. But the attraction of these books–for me at least–is the attempt of an Artificial Intelligence to adapt to a human environment. Martha Wells does a masterful job capturing the strangeness and the frustration of a robot trying to protect its clients while trying to solve the mysteries of the situation.

My only quibble with Network Effect is that Martha Wells assumes you’ve read the previous four books and remember the characters and details she’s provided in those novels. Starting with Network Effect might cause confusion for some readers. I can’t wait for the next book in this series! GRADE: A

20 thoughts on “NETWORK EFFECT By Martha Wells

  1. wolf

    George, thanks for this!
    I was thinking of her only as a Fantasy author – maybe a problem of no longer being able to visit the SF stores in London and NYC …
    And right now traveling even in Europe is still problematic, or better said a no-go.
    Deliveries from the USA to Hungary are way too expensive if possible at all.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Wolf, ebook versions of the Murderbot series are available. I enjoyed Martha Wells’ other SF and fantasy novels, but these Murderbot SF mystery novels are unique.

      Reply
      1. wolf

        I’m the old fashioned guys – can’t stand ebooks while my wife is happy, real books were to heavy for her.
        I still remember cutting one volume of Game of Thrones in 4 pieces for her …
        Generally I can’t stand those small screens – and I need a real keyboard, my fi ngers are too thick …

      2. george Post author

        Wolf, I read some ebooks with my Apple iPad (usually books that are only in ebook format). I know what your wife is going through as my arthritis slowly gets worse. Big Fat Books are a challenge for me to hold. I have to lay them on a table and read them that way.

    1. george Post author

      Jeff, I’m guessing the longer length of NETWORK EFFECT was an editorial decision. I’ve heard that Martha Wells wanted to stop the Murderbot series after three or four short novels, but the sales and critical acclaim changed that plan.

      Reply
  2. Michael Padgett

    It’s been so long since I read a new SF novel that the names are no longer familiar to me but I still keep half an eye on the field. Two writers who have attracted my attention recently are Wells, with the Murderbot novels, and N. K. Jemisin. If my county library system were open I might have tried one of them by now, but it’s not. Not only is the system still closed, the process of reopening is shrouded in a fog of secrecy that would do the CIA proud. My patience with the people running the show is completely gone.

    Reply
      1. maggie mason

        they say our library will have curbside pickup for people who placed holds on books sometime no date set yet. Sadly, I never had holds on books or books on cd so not sure when they’ll do it for new holds. And I don’t think my local one is on the list (which is sad because this is not an affluent area).

      2. george Post author

        Maggie, rumors here claim Libraries will be opening up in June. But, if the covid-19 cases and deaths increase all bets are off. Of course, I have plenty of books to keep me occupied.

    1. Rick Robinson

      Library: same here in Multnomah County in Oregon, Michael. Adjacent counties are starting to open, but while salons open up the libraries there stay closed. What?

      Reply
      1. george Post author

        Rick, I’m guessing when our Libraries open, they’ll control the number of patrons who can be in the building at one time (just like TARGET does).

  3. Patti Abbott

    I wonder why they can’t include a synopsis up front to tell you what happened in previous novels. It is almost arrogant to assume you have read (and remember) them.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Patti, I agree. It’s annoying to start reading a book in a series that assumes you remember the details from previous books you’ve read years ago. A synopsis would be helpful. I always loved the older mysteries that included CAST OF CHARACTERS descriptions. I just finished a PERRY MASON mystery with some witty descriptions of the characters.

      Reply
  4. Jeff Smith

    Tor.com recently gave the four novellas away for free, one per day, so I have them on my iPad. I don’t generally read ebooks, but I pick them up sometimes. At the moment, all I’m reading is Ann Cleeves, so Murderbot has to wait.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Jeff, I’ve downloaded several TOR free ebooks. A few days ago I downloaded Jo Walton’s new ebook. I think you’ll enjoy the Murderbot novels.

      Reply
  5. Carl V. Anderson

    This is in the pile of books I am currently reading. I started it mid-week last week and am enjoying it thus far.

    I’m a big fan of this series and am glad there is another novel already on the way.

    I actually appreciate the fact that she doesn’t rehash things from the previous book (because let’s be honest, those four novellas are really just the equivalent of one novel, as far as time commitment goes). If it encourages people to grab the novellas, that is a good thing, because those four “books” are really great fun.

    Reply

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