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The Murderbot Diaries [Dramatized Adaptation] #2
Artificial Condition [Dramatized Adaptation]
Artificial Condition is the follow-up to Martha Wells's Hugo, Nebula, Alex, and Locus Award-winning, New York Times bestselling All Systems Red.
It has a dark past—one in which a number of humans were killed. A past that caused it to christen itself “Murderbot”. But it has only vague memories of the massacre that spawned that title, and it wants to know more.
Teaming up with a Research Transport vessel named ART (you don’t want to know what the “A” stands for), Murderbot heads to the mining facility where it went rogue.
What it discovers will forever change the way it thinks…
Adapted from the novel and produced with a full cast of actors, immersive sound effects and cinematic music!
It has a dark past—one in which a number of humans were killed. A past that caused it to christen itself “Murderbot”. But it has only vague memories of the massacre that spawned that title, and it wants to know more.
Teaming up with a Research Transport vessel named ART (you don’t want to know what the “A” stands for), Murderbot heads to the mining facility where it went rogue.
What it discovers will forever change the way it thinks…
Adapted from the novel and produced with a full cast of actors, immersive sound effects and cinematic music!
Audiobook
Published September 7, 2023
6 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Martha Wells
98 books25.6k followersMartha Wells has been an SF/F writer since her first fantasy novel was published in 1993, and her work includes The Books of the Raksura series, the Ile-Rien series, The Murderbot Diaries series, and other fantasy novels, most recently Witch King (Tordotcom, 2023). She has also written media tie-in fiction for Star Wars, Stargate: Atlantis, and Magic: the Gathering, as well as short fiction, YA novels, and non-fiction. She has won Nebula Awards, Hugo Awards, Locus Awards, and a Dragon Award, and her work has appeared on the Philip K. Dick Award ballot, the British Science Fiction Association Award ballot, the USA Today Bestseller List, the Sunday Times Bestseller List, and the New York Times Bestseller List. She is a member of the Texas Literary Hall of Fame, and her books have been published in twenty-five languages.
She is also a consulting producer on The Murderbot Diaries series for Apple TV+.
She is also a consulting producer on The Murderbot Diaries series for Apple TV+.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
September 26, 2024
I enjoyed reading Artificial Condition earlier this week so much that I decided to spring for this dramatized edition and re-experience the story with a full cast and sound effects. I've gotta say, once I got used to separating the narrator's voice from the background noises, the sound effects became a nice addition to a lot of scenes. Since the story is told in first person and there isn't that much dialogue, the addition of a full cast didn't really have a major effect, but it was nice to hear the different voices nonetheless.
One big exception to the pleasantness of the audio for me was the fighting, of which there isn't much, thankfully. In the full text, the action felt a bit like it was written as a point-by-point log of events rather than your typical vivid violence. That might sound dry to some of you, but I actually really appreciated this approach - it fit right in with the protagonist's personality and saved me from picturing gore.
But this audio adaptation included fight sounds that made me squirm and take my headphones off. So that's a warning for those who might be sensitive to gore-type sounds.
-------
This isn't part of the adaptation itself, but the audio file opens with the slogan for the GraphicAudio brand:
(dramatic voice) "A MOVIE... IN YOUR MIND."
Come on friends, it's either called an imagination or radio. Let's not be patronizing to the listeners.
One big exception to the pleasantness of the audio for me was the fighting, of which there isn't much, thankfully. In the full text, the action felt a bit like it was written as a point-by-point log of events rather than your typical vivid violence. That might sound dry to some of you, but I actually really appreciated this approach - it fit right in with the protagonist's personality and saved me from picturing gore.
But this audio adaptation included fight sounds that made me squirm and take my headphones off. So that's a warning for those who might be sensitive to gore-type sounds.
-------
This isn't part of the adaptation itself, but the audio file opens with the slogan for the GraphicAudio brand:
(dramatic voice) "A MOVIE... IN YOUR MIND."
Come on friends, it's either called an imagination or radio. Let's not be patronizing to the listeners.
November 13, 2023
Continuing my re-read in the audiobook graphic audio edition, I loved slipping back into the Murderbot world. The full cast, music, and sound effects make for a full color listening experience. This time, I didn't have the adjustments to the change in narration voice from the older audio edition other than one big one. A.R.T. is one of my favorite series characters and wasn't that interesting to have it given a female voice for this go around. I'm still adjusting to the idea, but the voice work was done well.
Picking up right where All Systems Red leaves off, Artificial Condition has Murderbot hitching a ride on a ship captained by a bot with the mining planet where he participated in a mass murder as his destination. Murderbot is trying to make his way among humans so that no one figures out they have a security construct walking among them. The ship turns out to be something of a surprise as well as the new adventure Murderbot finds himself on all while trying to get the answers to his past that were purged from his memory.
It got off to a slower start than the first book, but once it got going, things got intense and exciting with a few good surprise twists. The wry humor of the Murderbot character along with his consternation over human behavior was, again, some of the best parts of the story. I am fast falling in love and definitely want more Murderbot Diaries.
Picking up right where All Systems Red leaves off, Artificial Condition has Murderbot hitching a ride on a ship captained by a bot with the mining planet where he participated in a mass murder as his destination. Murderbot is trying to make his way among humans so that no one figures out they have a security construct walking among them. The ship turns out to be something of a surprise as well as the new adventure Murderbot finds himself on all while trying to get the answers to his past that were purged from his memory.
It got off to a slower start than the first book, but once it got going, things got intense and exciting with a few good surprise twists. The wry humor of the Murderbot character along with his consternation over human behavior was, again, some of the best parts of the story. I am fast falling in love and definitely want more Murderbot Diaries.
March 15, 2026
Searching for the Truth Behind the Malfunction
The following ratings are out of 5:
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 😎☺️😁😛
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Solo Narration
Character Background and Plot Dynamics
Murderbot, the SecUnit who hacked his governor module and freed himself from Company control, still prefers to spend his time watching entertainment media. He loves shows and movies, although he avoids the news whenever possible. While out shopping and pretending to be an ordinary augmented human rather than a terrifying SecUnit, he catches a news feed about himself. The image shows him in his augmented human disguise with Pinli and Rati at the Station Hotel. The story lists him as a bodyguard and casually mentions that Dr. Mensa purchased the SecUnit who saved her.
The opening chapters focus heavily on political fallout from the previous book. Various companies and governing bodies are arguing about the events that took place, and the sheer number of unfamiliar names makes the situation confusing at first. It is not immediately clear why Murderbot is no longer with Dr. Mensa, although he does mention that he left her on his own. Since he is posing as an augmented human, it becomes obvious that he is trying to stay hidden. The answers eventually come together, but the early information can feel overwhelming.
All Murderbot wants is a quiet place to hide and binge his entertainment feeds. He decides to book a long transport trip so he can secure himself in a private compartment and watch his downloads in peace. The bot driven transport he chooses will take twenty one cycles to reach its destination, which sounds perfect for lying low. He tells the transport that he is a free bot and pays for the trip with downloaded media files.
It does not take long for Murderbot to realize that the transport is far more intelligent than he expected. The sentient bot knows he is a rogue SecUnit with a hacked governor module, and it is not shy about pointing out that it is smarter than he is. It warns him not to attempt hacking its systems. Since the vessel is a research transport, its internal systems are extremely private and there are very few cameras on board. Murderbot begins to wonder if he has walked straight into a trap.
Strengths
• Murderbot remains incredibly likable. His desire to simply relax and watch his shows makes him relatable and endearing. His intelligence and sentience give him depth, although I still wish he had a real name instead of SecUnit or Murderbot.
• The transport bot, whom Murderbot nicknames ART, is a standout character. ART watches entertainment with him and reacts emotionally to certain scenes. She even replays episodes multiple times when she enjoys the outcome.
• The storyline involving ART helping Murderbot uncover the truth about his governor module is compelling. The question of whether he killed his clients due to a malfunction or hacked his module afterward adds a strong mystery element.
• Murderbot eventually takes a job as a bodyguard for a group of humans who are traveling to the same location he needs to reach. ART assists him along the way. The dynamic between ART and Murderbot is one of the highlights of the book, and I hope the rest of the series continues with this pattern of new jobs and new adventures.
Limitations
• The novella format is not my favorite. I am eager to reach the longer books in the series, although I do not want to skip anything because the background information is important. This installment is less than three hours in audio and around one hundred sixty pages in print. I both read and listened for a fully immersive experience.
Narration
The dramatized adaptation from Graphic Audio features a large cast that includes David Cui Cui, Elena Anderson, Alejandro Ruiz, Bradley Foster Smith, Carolyn Kashner, Eric Messner, Jeri Marshall, Ken Jackson, Marni Penning, Michael John Casey, Rayner Gabriel, Scott McCormick, Shanta Parasuraman and Yasmin Tuazon. As always, these productions feel like a movie inside your mind. The sound effects, music, and variety of voices create an incredibly vivid listening experience.
Final Assessment
Artificial Condition delivers another engaging chapter in Murderbot’s journey. The relationship between Murderbot and ART is the heart of the story, and their dynamic adds humor, tension, and emotional resonance. Although the political details can feel dense at first and the novella length leaves me wanting more, the mystery, character development, and outstanding audio production make this installment a strong and memorable continuation of the series.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 😎☺️😁😛
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Solo Narration
Character Background and Plot Dynamics
Murderbot, the SecUnit who hacked his governor module and freed himself from Company control, still prefers to spend his time watching entertainment media. He loves shows and movies, although he avoids the news whenever possible. While out shopping and pretending to be an ordinary augmented human rather than a terrifying SecUnit, he catches a news feed about himself. The image shows him in his augmented human disguise with Pinli and Rati at the Station Hotel. The story lists him as a bodyguard and casually mentions that Dr. Mensa purchased the SecUnit who saved her.
The opening chapters focus heavily on political fallout from the previous book. Various companies and governing bodies are arguing about the events that took place, and the sheer number of unfamiliar names makes the situation confusing at first. It is not immediately clear why Murderbot is no longer with Dr. Mensa, although he does mention that he left her on his own. Since he is posing as an augmented human, it becomes obvious that he is trying to stay hidden. The answers eventually come together, but the early information can feel overwhelming.
All Murderbot wants is a quiet place to hide and binge his entertainment feeds. He decides to book a long transport trip so he can secure himself in a private compartment and watch his downloads in peace. The bot driven transport he chooses will take twenty one cycles to reach its destination, which sounds perfect for lying low. He tells the transport that he is a free bot and pays for the trip with downloaded media files.
It does not take long for Murderbot to realize that the transport is far more intelligent than he expected. The sentient bot knows he is a rogue SecUnit with a hacked governor module, and it is not shy about pointing out that it is smarter than he is. It warns him not to attempt hacking its systems. Since the vessel is a research transport, its internal systems are extremely private and there are very few cameras on board. Murderbot begins to wonder if he has walked straight into a trap.
Strengths
• Murderbot remains incredibly likable. His desire to simply relax and watch his shows makes him relatable and endearing. His intelligence and sentience give him depth, although I still wish he had a real name instead of SecUnit or Murderbot.
• The transport bot, whom Murderbot nicknames ART, is a standout character. ART watches entertainment with him and reacts emotionally to certain scenes. She even replays episodes multiple times when she enjoys the outcome.
• The storyline involving ART helping Murderbot uncover the truth about his governor module is compelling. The question of whether he killed his clients due to a malfunction or hacked his module afterward adds a strong mystery element.
• Murderbot eventually takes a job as a bodyguard for a group of humans who are traveling to the same location he needs to reach. ART assists him along the way. The dynamic between ART and Murderbot is one of the highlights of the book, and I hope the rest of the series continues with this pattern of new jobs and new adventures.
Limitations
• The novella format is not my favorite. I am eager to reach the longer books in the series, although I do not want to skip anything because the background information is important. This installment is less than three hours in audio and around one hundred sixty pages in print. I both read and listened for a fully immersive experience.
Narration
The dramatized adaptation from Graphic Audio features a large cast that includes David Cui Cui, Elena Anderson, Alejandro Ruiz, Bradley Foster Smith, Carolyn Kashner, Eric Messner, Jeri Marshall, Ken Jackson, Marni Penning, Michael John Casey, Rayner Gabriel, Scott McCormick, Shanta Parasuraman and Yasmin Tuazon. As always, these productions feel like a movie inside your mind. The sound effects, music, and variety of voices create an incredibly vivid listening experience.
Final Assessment
Artificial Condition delivers another engaging chapter in Murderbot’s journey. The relationship between Murderbot and ART is the heart of the story, and their dynamic adds humor, tension, and emotional resonance. Although the political details can feel dense at first and the novella length leaves me wanting more, the mystery, character development, and outstanding audio production make this installment a strong and memorable continuation of the series.
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December 24, 2023
1. All Systems Red ★★★
“Fear was an artificial condition. It’s imposed from the outside. So it’s possible to fight it. You should do the things you’re afraid of.”
Artificial Condition is another enjoyable installment in which Murderbot tries to uncover an event from its past that led to the deaths of several humans. I liked how this novella is about Murderbot trying to find what it really wants to be, with finding an answer to its past being the first step. I wasn’t all that invested in the quest, but it was very fast-paced and I enjoyed how Murderbot gets involved with another group of humans, as well as its interactions with the bot-piloted research vessel.
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October 18, 2025
I felt this second book in the series was missing some of the “wow” factor Book 1 had.
It is pretty short, but doesn’t recap very well, so I was kind of confused about where Murderbot was going and why he wanted to search for info there. Finally, like almost halfway in, I remembered about the massacre he was blamed for that was mentioned in Book 1. So if you’ve been busy since reading “All Systems Red” you might want to find a recap/summary to review first.
I do like that we get introduced to a new character who is a total badass (ART), and you certainly don’t have to wait too long before action/murdering starts happening. Murderbot is so wry and judgemental and funny in his own unique way. Such a unique character.
It is pretty short, but doesn’t recap very well, so I was kind of confused about where Murderbot was going and why he wanted to search for info there. Finally, like almost halfway in, I remembered about the massacre he was blamed for that was mentioned in Book 1. So if you’ve been busy since reading “All Systems Red” you might want to find a recap/summary to review first.
I do like that we get introduced to a new character who is a total badass (ART), and you certainly don’t have to wait too long before action/murdering starts happening. Murderbot is so wry and judgemental and funny in his own unique way. Such a unique character.
May 22, 2025
Okay, I’m buying in a little more. For some reason I found this one a bit more fun than the first one. Maybe it had to do with the graphic audio version I listened to this time, but it was more compelling. I’ll keep going with the series.
April 14, 2025
This was such a good sequel and the dramatised adaptation was pretty cool! I enjoyed seeing more of Murderbot’s independence and development in this one. Murderbot is just a big softy really, and despite not wanting to make connections with humans, seems to keep collecting human friends anyway. I loved the addition of ART as a sentient spaceship and how bossy it was. Also the idea that a spaceship can emulate rolling its eyes and that Murderbot learned how to *sigh* was very funny. I was a bit confused with the story once or twice, but overall just loving this series. I listened to this one as the dramatised adaption, which was fun with the little sound effects and different voices for characters, but I think I’ll switch back to regular audio for the next. The only gripe I have generally is that it can sometimes be hard to differentiate between Murderbot’s inner monologue and the actual speech in the audios. Not a biggie but a little annoying.
April 25, 2025
Sometimes a well-crafted conversation can be the tensest drama. We start off this book with a bang with Murderbot being confronted with ART. Is ART a friend, a foe, or something else? This time, Murderbot faces his most stressful challenge yet, pretending to be human.
This series continues to be a joy to read. Though not human, Murderbot's psychology and personality are so strongly portrayed that it's hard not to find him relatable. He's an extraordinary entity used to dealing with extraordinary situations, but what's fun is seeing him navigate the everyday stresses of meeting and dealing with other people.
Again the pacing is perfect. The conflict is there to move the story along, but it never overstays its welcome. Also 3 hours, so it's another quick read. Murderbot is a robot, but he can be more human than some stories I've read from less deft writers.
This series continues to be a joy to read. Though not human, Murderbot's psychology and personality are so strongly portrayed that it's hard not to find him relatable. He's an extraordinary entity used to dealing with extraordinary situations, but what's fun is seeing him navigate the everyday stresses of meeting and dealing with other people.
Again the pacing is perfect. The conflict is there to move the story along, but it never overstays its welcome. Also 3 hours, so it's another quick read. Murderbot is a robot, but he can be more human than some stories I've read from less deft writers.
June 9, 2025
Really liked the robot sarcasm and how he talks to the reader. In this one he gets a computer to talk to and idk it’s really funny to see them watch TV serials together but then cool when they can access the systems and info they need for quick-paced action sections.
I got the graphic audio version bc that was what was available, but the extra sound effects didn’t add much value to my experience tbh but it wasn’t bad either
I got the graphic audio version bc that was what was available, but the extra sound effects didn’t add much value to my experience tbh but it wasn’t bad either
January 2, 2025
Oh this was really good. Murderbot's inner narration was as hilarious as the previous book and I really liked the premise of it trying to discover more about its past. ART was such a delightful addition! I hope we get more of them in the future!
January 22, 2024
I am wholly obsessed with this series. Murderbot is quite literally the best. So so so delightful.
January 17, 2025
4.25 stars.
So short. 😭 More Murderbot hanging out with ART pls (I can't remember if this happens in later novellas/novels... But given that I'm rereading, I'll find out!)
So short. 😭 More Murderbot hanging out with ART pls (I can't remember if this happens in later novellas/novels... But given that I'm rereading, I'll find out!)
July 23, 2025
4.5🌟
FUN again!!!
Art, my G 🙂↕️🙂↕️🙂↕️. These graphic audios are so fun, I giggled, I was shocked, a little nervy, but murderbot’s just so smart. On to the next!
FUN again!!!
Art, my G 🙂↕️🙂↕️🙂↕️. These graphic audios are so fun, I giggled, I was shocked, a little nervy, but murderbot’s just so smart. On to the next!
July 19, 2025
I will always read this for Art and Art alone.
March 25, 2026
These are so good!! I totally get why they’re considered “diaries” and I’m loving how you get to know Murderbot little by little. This one also answered some questions I had after book 1 and gave more of his backstory. I also really loved A.R.T. and their interactions. I listened to this on graphic audio and normally the background noise bothers me but this was good and the full cast was fun!
May 28, 2025
Quick and Dirty: more Murderbot and even more relatable. The anxiety of being in public spaces, and having to interact when all you want to do is watch media and be your introverted self. I enjoyed how Murderbot forces themselves to make that interaction, especially with ART, that seems to semi-blossom into a friendship, even if Murderbot doesn't want to admit it. I am curious as to what happens next, and who done it?!?! (Done what?!? Read the book to find out!)
Murderbot Diaries ratings so far:
All Systems Red (#1): ★★★★☆
Artificial Condition (#2): ★★★★☆
Murderbot Diaries ratings so far:
All Systems Red (#1): ★★★★☆
Artificial Condition (#2): ★★★★☆
August 16, 2025
Jag tycker verkligen att man får lära känna ”The Murderbot” bättre i denna boken! Här får vi se mer av hans mjuka sidor, som han så gärna påstår att han inte har hihi!
Fast denna också var ganska kort tycker jag berättelsen ändå har substans. Murderbot vill ta reda på varför han på ett mission mördade så många oskyldiga han gjorde, och på vägen stöter han på ett annat mission!
Vi får ta del av hur faktiskt mänsklig denna robot kan vara, och hur faktiskt omänskliga vissa människor kan vara.
En så bra del i serien, och är spänd på nästa bok!
Fast denna också var ganska kort tycker jag berättelsen ändå har substans. Murderbot vill ta reda på varför han på ett mission mördade så många oskyldiga han gjorde, och på vägen stöter han på ett annat mission!
Vi får ta del av hur faktiskt mänsklig denna robot kan vara, och hur faktiskt omänskliga vissa människor kan vara.
En så bra del i serien, och är spänd på nästa bok!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2025
Yes! I finished an audiobook and loved it. The dramatized reading is so much fun. The voice for the main guy took some time but the different voices for the other characters really helped me. I kept track of everyone and the noises made scene changes easier to understand. It also just helped me focus on the audio with interment sounds. Of course, the characters were all excellent. The author always excels at that. I did wish the plot was a bit stronger but I felt like it was better constructed than the first. Surprisingly, I think the series only got better.
May 20, 2024
My favorite Murderbot is back .... and is on a mission to figure out what caused itself to go on a murderous rampage and kill all of the humans on a previous mission. The Murderbot has no memories of the event because they have been wiped, but wants to know what happened. I loved the introduction of "Art" as a new character ... can't wait to dive into the next Murerbot episode!
June 17, 2024
I really enjoyed this new audio edition with Michael Cui Cui as Murderbot. This was brand new to my library and was able to check it out through Libby. It was a thoroughly enjoyable listen on my way to and from work.
October 14, 2023
Enjoyment 10/10
Concept 10/10
Execution 10/10
Writing 10/10
Plot & Logic 10/10
Pacing & Structure 10/10
Atmosphere 10/10
Characters 10/10
Intrigue 9/10
World Building 9/10
Audio Performance 9/10
Rating: 4.86/5
Concept 10/10
Execution 10/10
Writing 10/10
Plot & Logic 10/10
Pacing & Structure 10/10
Atmosphere 10/10
Characters 10/10
Intrigue 9/10
World Building 9/10
Audio Performance 9/10
Rating: 4.86/5
March 5, 2024
I loved this even more than the first one which is rare. I was so sad to see ART go!
UPDATE ALSO LISTENED TO THE GRAPHIC AUDIO, the chosen voice actor for ART & Murderbot was not my favorite but I still love the series. I
UPDATE ALSO LISTENED TO THE GRAPHIC AUDIO, the chosen voice actor for ART & Murderbot was not my favorite but I still love the series. I
August 28, 2025
Marginally better than book 1, but leaves much to be desired. Are these books meant to be so short that none of the characters or settings can be fully fleshed out? No catharsis, no relatability. As the protagonist constantly reiterates… I don’t care.
November 1, 2023
I didn’t find this more entertaining than the original audio read. In fact, I found all the ancillary noises to be distracting.
October 1, 2024
4,5 stars rounded up to 5 ⭐️
I loved the continuation, and will start the next book as soon as possible.
I loved the continuation, and will start the next book as soon as possible.
July 21, 2025
ART & Murderbot together remains as fun as always.
February 11, 2026
Just as good as the first one. I am going to be continuing the series.
March 11, 2024
This is review is for the version from Graphic Audio.
This is the second in the Murderbot series and this time around the SecUnit is trying to figure out what to do with his freedom and on his voyage in space meets a friend ART. In the midst of these conversations Murderbot decided it is time to inquire and learn about what happened during his potential rampage before he hacked the governor module. Along the way he picks up his first choice client and there is a new adventure.
This story is not as fast paced as book one and I found I did not mind.
As an audio book I so enjoyed all of the different voices and background. Even though this book had a much slower pace I found I was able to enjoy the conversation and self reflection. Murderbot has an interesting conundrum on one hand he is a heartless killing machine on the other he is incredibly has not idea how to manage moral dilemmas and instead watches television. It is interesting to witness his thought process and actions in his contact with new groups of people, other BOTS and of course ART.
This is the second in the Murderbot series and this time around the SecUnit is trying to figure out what to do with his freedom and on his voyage in space meets a friend ART. In the midst of these conversations Murderbot decided it is time to inquire and learn about what happened during his potential rampage before he hacked the governor module. Along the way he picks up his first choice client and there is a new adventure.
This story is not as fast paced as book one and I found I did not mind.
As an audio book I so enjoyed all of the different voices and background. Even though this book had a much slower pace I found I was able to enjoy the conversation and self reflection. Murderbot has an interesting conundrum on one hand he is a heartless killing machine on the other he is incredibly has not idea how to manage moral dilemmas and instead watches television. It is interesting to witness his thought process and actions in his contact with new groups of people, other BOTS and of course ART.
July 18, 2024
I am loving this series & this is only the 2nd book. Each of them are very short but the writing is so good. I look forward to getting through the whole series.
Each of these books deal with their on story but they each push the ultimate story arch along.These books are obviously Sci-Fi but there is also an element of mystery to the ultimate story.
The title “The Murderbot Diaries” caught my attention & intrigued me enough to check out the first book. But if the title concerns you, let me explain that he is not an assassin robot. This is about an android who has hacked his programming & has freed himself from human control. However, there was an incident in his past where something happened with his programming & he supposedly killed the entire team he was to be protecting. However, someone wiped his memory of the incident so he doesn’t really remember what happened but the guilt of whatever happened lead him to name himself “Murderbot.” The overarching story is of him trying to figure out exactly what happened.
Each of these books deal with their on story but they each push the ultimate story arch along.These books are obviously Sci-Fi but there is also an element of mystery to the ultimate story.
The title “The Murderbot Diaries” caught my attention & intrigued me enough to check out the first book. But if the title concerns you, let me explain that he is not an assassin robot. This is about an android who has hacked his programming & has freed himself from human control. However, there was an incident in his past where something happened with his programming & he supposedly killed the entire team he was to be protecting. However, someone wiped his memory of the incident so he doesn’t really remember what happened but the guilt of whatever happened lead him to name himself “Murderbot.” The overarching story is of him trying to figure out exactly what happened.
November 3, 2023
I liked this book quite a bit. Heads up though, I listened to the dramaticized version and not the straight read through.
Why does that matter? I’ll tell you.
When I read the first book, I saw Murderbot as a female because the author is a female. I don’t think there was ever a gender marker so I made an assumption. Yes, I know it’s a robot-ish, but it has cloned material as well, so I made assumptions. How that plays out is that, in the dramaticised version, the narrator is a male voice. Just threw me off a little.
In the grand scheme, however, it doesn’t matter, because the story was really good for being so short. The stakes were high and connected me to the overall arc that started in book 1, the characters mattered to me (not just Murderbot but her clients too), and the plot moved efficiently. I was quite impressed.
This book is better than book 1. We’ll see what I think about book 3 soon.
Why does that matter? I’ll tell you.
When I read the first book, I saw Murderbot as a female because the author is a female. I don’t think there was ever a gender marker so I made an assumption. Yes, I know it’s a robot-ish, but it has cloned material as well, so I made assumptions. How that plays out is that, in the dramaticised version, the narrator is a male voice. Just threw me off a little.
In the grand scheme, however, it doesn’t matter, because the story was really good for being so short. The stakes were high and connected me to the overall arc that started in book 1, the characters mattered to me (not just Murderbot but her clients too), and the plot moved efficiently. I was quite impressed.
This book is better than book 1. We’ll see what I think about book 3 soon.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews