TITLE: Network Effect.
Series: The Murderbot Diaries #5.
Writer(s): Martha Wells.
PUBLISHER: TOR.COM.
FORMAT: HARDCOVER.
RELEASE DATE: May 5th 2020.
PAGES: 350.
GENRE(S): SCIENCE-FICTION.
ISBN13: 9781250229861.
My Overall Rating:
PREVIOUSLY IN THE MURDERBOT DIARIES SERIES:
ALL SYSTEMS RED BY MARTHA WELLS.
ARTIFICIAL CONDITION BY MARTHA WELLS.
ROGUE PROTOCOL BY MARTHA WELLS.
Exit Strategy by Martha Wells.

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Awesome, real glad to see you enjoyed this one, as did I. I may one day tire of Murderbot, but thankfully that day isn’t today, and may it never arrive. I’ve been very happy with the novella length of the previous stories but I also found myself very much enjoying the story as a novel with that extra time and space to develop characters and plot. And I didn’t feel the time and space was wasted. Can’t wait to read Fugitive Telemetry (though I don’t have that one yet).
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Same here. I don’t think this series could and should go on forever but, for the time being, the doses of Murderbot we’re getting were appropriately entertaining. I can see it getting redundant in the near future but we’ll hope for the best for this robot’s sake! Hope you get around to trying Fugitive Telemetry soon, especially once it’s released, my friend! Thanks for reading! 😀
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Great review, Lashaan! I really enjoyed this one, too, Murderbot being beyond itself with snarkiness and exasperation seems to be just my thing! 😁
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Thanks, Ola! Its personality is quite fun in the doses we’ve been getting them so far and, hopefully, Martha Wells won’t run out of steam for the upcoming titles (although it seems like Fugitive Telemetry might have missed its mark for you already hahaha).
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Excellent review, I am convinced I have to read this one. The question is whether, I have to work my way through all the novellas first? Never got further than the first one, but I’m keeping an eye on, whether the audiobooks come up on sale (no luck so far). It’s funny, that the reason we all love Murderbot so much is, it’s oh so human…
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Thanks for reading! I would strongly recommend going through the novellas first, especially the second novella which contains the “old friend who returns” here. It’s quite misleading that they mention in the blurb that this is a stand-alone full-length story if you ask me. As for audiobook sales… Gosh, I hope those aren’t too rare. I’ve seen the prices of those audiobooks and they are quite insane! Maybe your library has them for you!
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Glad to see you enjoyed Network Effect! It was one of my favorite SFF titles from last year, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next one. Annnd… Tor announced today that Wells signed a contract for another six books– three more Murderbot stories, and three new fantasy novels in a new world.
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I saw that announcement! While it’s great that she’s got more ideas for Murderbot, the new fantasy trilogy definitely caught my attention. I’m curious to see what she’s got in store for us! Thanks for reading, Kim.
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Sounds like great action packed and a bot complex sequel. Fantastic review, Lashaan!
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Fans of this series will definitely enjoy this book. Thanks for reading, Yesha. 🙂
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Glad it worked so well for you. For your sake I hope the series keeps going 🙂
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I actually hope it’ll come to an end on the right note rather than over-extend itself to its death!
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Just a pity that the follow ups of this series seem to lose steam on innovation with a tendency to degrade into some repeating pattern books.
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Are you speaking of Fugitive Telemetry? That’s a shame. It is exactly what I fear for this franchise, especially now that more books have been confirmed…
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Delightful – and very heartfelt – love letter to Murderbot! 🙂
You certainly nailed the comparison when you spoke of MB and ART as an old couple’s dynamic steeped in grumpiness that hides the deep reciprocal caring affection: I hope we will get more of it in the next installments…
Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks for reading, Maddalena! I do hope that ART can make another appearance in the near future. Such a deceptive yet awesome character hahah I did seem to hear that Fugitive Telemetry wasn’t really set after Network Effect though but I’ll soon find that out for myself! 😀
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Yes, it’s no spoiler if I tell you that Fugitive Telemetry is set before Network Effect, but it hardly matters because of the huge amount of Murderbot snark you will be able to enjoy 😉
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Well one more very positive review for that series! I swear you all will wear me out one day and I’ll give it a chance LOL Wonderful review as usual lashaan!
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Hahah don’t do it because of peer pressure! 🙂 I hope you try it out out of pure curiosity or interest someday though. Thanks for reading, Sophie. 😀
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Oh my gosh! I seriously need to catch up on this series. Glad to see you rate this highly.
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Thanks, Zezee! I hope you catch up soon. So many installments out, and even more to come! 😀
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Wonderful review Lashaan. Glad this was everything you were hoping for.
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Thanks, Carla! I appreciate it a lot! 😀
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