Network Effect by Martha Wells [Review]

Network Effect (The Murderbot Diaries #5) by Martha Wells
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: June 3, 2025

The Murderbot Diaries
1. All Systems Red
2. Artificial Condition
2.5. Rapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy
3. Rogue Protocol
4. Exit Strategy
4.5. Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory
5. Network Effect - Paperback | Kindle
6. Fugitive Telemetry
7. System Collapse

Martha Wells
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

I’m usually alone in my head, and that’s where 90 plus percent of my problems are.

When Murderbot's human associates (not friends, never friends) are captured and another not-friend from its past requires urgent assistance, Murderbot must choose between inertia and drastic action.

Drastic action it is, then.

Thoughts on Network Effect: Ohmigoodness. This book killed me dead in the best way. Murderbot was in an incredibly messy situation thanks to a call for help (which our favorite construct isn't aware of) that comes at a very inconvenient moment. So now Murderbot is having an emotional breakdown on a ship on the far end of nowhere with several members of Dr. Mensah's extended family and THINGS ARE A LITTLE CHAOTIC.

First off, Murderbot and its humans have to figure out why they've been abducted. And where they are. And how they can rescue themselves since it looks unlikely anyone else is going to show up in time to help them. Plus, Murderbot is dealing with some pesky emotions at a time when it needs to not be incapacitated since there's a whole lot of protecting/rescuing that needs to happen.

And in typical Muderbot fashion, it thinks outside the box so hard it nearly deletes itself in the process. Which would be unfortunate since Muderbot is amazing.

By the by, one of the things I really like about the humans who Murderbot has (sometimes reluctantly) gathered around it, is how aware they are of its quirks. Murderbot isn't a fan of touching, so its humans go out of their way to make sure they don't touch it. No lie, I find that endearing and deeply respectful and I absolutely love it.