Artificial Condition [Dramatized Adaptation]

The Murderbot Diaries [Dramatized Adaptation] #2

by Martha Wells, Nathanial Perry (Director), David Cui Cui (Narrator)

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!

Genres: Science Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction, Novella, Adventure, Adult, Space

Audiobook

Published September 7, 2023

About the author

Martha 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+.

Reviews

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Raquel Flockhart · Rating 3 out of 5]

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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[Hannah Schumacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will always read this for Art and Art alone.

[Ellie Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Ken Yuen · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Alix · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Reenie's Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am wholly obsessed with this series. Murderbot is quite literally the best. So so so delightful.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

ART & Murderbot together remains as fun as always.

[Bryce Kessler · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Tana · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Daria · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!)

[Richard Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason volumes in the Murderbot series never cost less than £8, which for a digital book is a bit steep. (The pricing of digital books makes no sense to me.) Happily this audiobook was available in my Spotify feed. The story is quite technical with lots of cyberpunk dooflangs but then we are talking of a pretty cyberpunky world. Poor Murderbot is 'forced' once again to forsake his beloved space-soaps and help out another group of hapless humans: only this time he has help!

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Artificial Condition picked up where All Systems Red left off. Murderbot travels towards a distant mining facility where something terrible once happened. It wa so horrible that all traces have been erased and his memory was removed. The tragic events made him feel that he had done something terrible and he gave himself the name Murderbot. I loved listening to Murderbot and his interactions with A.R.T. the research vessel he travels on. Excited for the next book!

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Murderbot, where have you been all of my life? I love you!!! Listened to this on audio using my Libby app. Only thing I didn't like about this was it was hard to listen to in the car driving down the highway on my way to work - footsteps added, breathing sounds for the humans, music piped in, distracting and had to re-wind it a lot to catch the words.

[K D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this quirky series. Especially with the GA version this is like an episodic tv show.
We explore the AI condition as murderbot explorer it's history, it's agency, and interacts with other AIs who are not free and have only limited agency.

[Leeks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gave this series a second chance but it's just not for me

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the graphic audio edition and enjoyed it. Another quick novella about our murderbot trying to figure out what he wants to be. I really enjoyed his interaction with the ships AI.

[Elaine Fultz, Teacher Librarian, MLS · Rating 3 out of 5]

This 2nd Murderbot book was enjoyable, but I still feel like I need to read the actual book in case some great stuff was cut out of the adaptation.

[Sarah Hillocks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so interested to see what the second book would entail for Murderbot. Great wit and character development for Murderbot, and fleshed out performances by the narrator and voice actors!

[Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

love murderbot. love ART. don’t love fight scene sound effects but we endure.

[Sarika Kazi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Graphic Audiobook.

Cool how the story pans out. I just dunno if sci-fi is my cup of tea.

[Anya · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75⭐️

This series just gets better and I really enjoyed this second instalment into Murderbot’s story! Loved the interactions with ART and found them so entertaining and endearing!
Very excited to continue and follow more of his journey.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Diana T-C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun - this Graphic Audio full-cast version stayed close to the actual book.

But the reader for SecUnit/Murderbot has only one speed - fast. Therefore all the meaningful pauses that indicate irony or sarcasm or a significant observation don't happen. Kevin R. Free narrates a story much better - he understands that even an empty space between words can convey meaning.

Mispronunciations are usually caught and fixed in production, for example "dingy" (as in a room was dingy) should be pronounced with the "j" sound and not a hard "g") - but the SecUnit reader reads his lines so fast that mispronounced words can be missed in production/editing.

But, I enjoy the Murderbot series very much, have listened to the books multiple times, and this is a variation to listen to. It's not as good as Kevin R. Free's narration, but it's entertaining.

[Miriam Kahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun. Murderbot turned rogue, posing as a Sec Unit, and interacting with the computer he dubs ART (affectionately shortened from "A-Hole Research Transport"). There's plenty of action to sustain this somewhat talky novella as the Murderbot 1) takes on a protection job for a team of researchers who want their research back, and 2) returns to the mining facility he possibly destroyed.

I love the internal dialogue / narrative as the Murderbot talks itself into changing, spying, conniving, fooling humans and protecting them, and dealing with a variety of computers.

The full cast of this novella (mostly David Cui Cui and Elena Anderson) make the story come alive. Three cheers for GraphicAudio http://graphicaudio.net and their vocal talent.

For more on this exciting audio performance, see AudioFile Magazine http://www.audiofilemagazine.com