Book Review: Network Effect (The Murderbot Diaries, #5) by Martha Wells
Cover art by Jaime Jones
Network Effect by Martha Wells
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: The Murderbot Diaries (Book #5)
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 346 pages (Kindle Edition)
Word count: 112,000 words
Published: 5th May 2020 by Tordotcom
I can say with ease that Network Effect, the fifth title and the first full-length novel in the series, is the best book in The Murderbot Diaries so far.
“Oh shit, my media!…No, wait, I had access to some of it.”
Higher stakes, satisfying character developments, and expansion to the story and world-building. I have always wondered what a full-length novel in The Murderbot Diaries would read like, and Martha Wells delivered everything I wanted more out of the series in Network Effect. As the first full-length title in the series, Network Effect took everything that has been laid out in the previous four books—making sure the story continues organically and the key characters from the preceding installments return while introducing a few new important characters—and initiates the narrative with a great action sequence. The key aspect that hugely differs in the quality of this action sequence, compared to the action scenes in the previous novellas, is that all the action scenes in Network Effect are imbued with the long-missing higher stakes battle straight from the beginning.
“Just remember you’re not alone here.” I never know what to say to that. I am actually alone in my head, and that’s where 90 plus percent of my problems are.
One of the main reasons why the action-packed beginning works so strongly in Network Effect is owed to the inclusion of one of my favorite tropes in storytelling, the Badass and the Child Duo trope. As the trope states, this is when a badass goes out of their way to protect a child due to their virtue or circumstances beyond their control. Both reasons fit Network Effect. Well, Amena isn’t technically a child, but the dominating strengths of the Murderbot and Amena’s dynamic remain the same. Murderbot—against its reluctance—has to protect Amena at all costs against unforeseen dangers. The appearance of the Targets and the confrontation with them was exciting to read, and I had a blast reading every interaction between Murderbot and Amena. But as compelling as the chemistry was for Murderbot and Amena, they were not the singular reason why Network Effect stood out from the other Murderbot novellas.
Picture: Murderbot and Amena by Tommy Arnold
There is another big reason why Network Effect was so engaging to read. As you can see from the cover art of the novel by Jaime Jones, our beloved Periphelion, or ART as Murderbot calls it, is back! I have always wondered why in the first four novellas we did not see more of ART, especially considering how good it was to read Murderbot together with ART in Artificial Condition. Worry no more. The duo of Murderbot and ART is back, if you can call it that, and the mystery and situation they’re faced with was intriguing to say the least. With the return of ART, we also get to see Murderbot developed further as a character. Murderbot’s stoic and shy behavior is being peeled more and more with each book. It is one of the integral progressions of the series. Some would argue Murderbot’s progression from a supposedly violent, emotionless, and brutal SecUnit to a reluctantly caring and emotional “individual” is why the series is worth reading. What dangers and missions does Murderbot and ART encounter in Network Effect? What is the ebb and flow of their friendship? You have to read and find out for yourself.
ART said, “I want an apology.”
I made an obscene gesture at the ceiling with both hands. (I know ART isn’t the ceiling but the humans kept looking up there like it was.)
ART said, “That was unnecessary.”
In a low voice, Ratthi commented to Overse, “Anyone who thinks machine intelligences don’t have emotions needs to be in this very uncomfortable room right now.”
If you have enjoyed The Murderbot Diaries before Network Effect, more likely than not, you will have a wonderful time reading this novel. It is easily the best installment in the series for the reasons I mentioned above. And if I may be honest, I also think the build-up leading to the appearance of a new character named Three near the end of the book was so well done. After the CombatBot in Rogue Protocol, Wells also introduced the terrifying, at least physically, Agricultural bot in this book.
Picture: Three Climbs the Plateau by Tommy Arnold
Network Effect is the most fun I’ve had reading The Murderbot Diaries so far. Believe it or not, I read this one faster than I read some of the novellas. Ever since All Systems Red, I have always found the short episodic nature of the first four novellas leaving something to be desired. Each novella was quite fun and readable. However, they failed to give me that big satisfaction upon completion. If it weren’t because of The Murderbot Diaries TV show adaptation, I doubt I would’ve continued past All Systems Red. Now I am glad I did. The full-length novel format of Network Effect allowed Wells to develop the plot, characters, and world in a single installment more effectively. And I sincerely hope there will be more full-length novels in the series post Fugitive Telemetry, which chronologically is the prequel to Network Effect.
“If I got angry at myself for being angry I would be angry constantly and I wouldn’t have time to think about anything else.) (Wait, I think I am angry constantly. That might explain a lot.)”
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