ARC Review: The Murderbot Diaries #7

System Collapse by Martha Wells

Publication Date: November 14, 2023

Summary from NetGalley:

Am I making it worse? I think I’m making it worse.

Following the events in Network Effect, the Barish-Estranza corporation has sent rescue ships to a newly-colonized planet in peril, as well as additional SecUnits. But if there’s an ethical corporation out there, Murderbot has yet to find it, and if Barish-Estranza can’t have the planet, they’re sure as hell not leaving without something. If that something just happens to be an entire colony of humans, well, a free workforce is a decent runner-up prize.

But there’s something wrong with Murderbot; it isn’t running within normal operational parameters. ART’s crew and the humans from Preservation are doing everything they can to protect the colonists, but with Barish-Estranza’s SecUnit-heavy persuasion teams, they’re going to have to hope Murderbot figures out what’s wrong with itself, and fast!

Yeah, this plan is… not going to work.

ARC provided by Tor Publishing via NetGalley for an honest review.

Confession:

Murderbot has returned in another full length novel that will leave you with all of the emotions that the others have given you. This book takes place right after the events of book 5, Network Effect and Murderbot is in trouble.

Murderbot, or Secunit as it is known to the humans, is struggling. After the events of Network Effect, it is essentially suffering from PTSD, and not managing it well. Murderbot is feeling inadequate and not it’s usual self. Murderbot finds that is second guessing all of the decisions and thinks it is putting the humans in danger. There are things that have happened that make Murderbot afraid that something is very wrong, but it is just emotions and their lack of understanding that is making it feel all of the feels. It can no longer hide in a corner and watch its serials in quite. Even ART wants to help and feels protective of Murderbot as do all of the humans around him. It is not easy for Murderbot right now, but with help it manages to get everyone to safety.

Murderbot is such an interesting character. It is through its voice and emotions that this book explores trauma and the aftermath of powerful emotions that even many humans struggle with. This story is a further exploration of what it means to be human and how those concepts lead to understanding ourselves as well as others.

But don’t despair, this book is not all about emotions. There is lots of action, fighting and snark from all of the characters that keep this a very fast paced and exciting read. I was a bit confused at the start, as I struggled with trying to remember the events of Network Effect, but once I got past that, it was just as good as the other books. The writing is as always suburb and I just love all of the banter between the characters and Murderbot’s thoughts are just priceless.

This is a great addition to the series. It has been fun following Murderbot’s exploits and watching the emotional development of a very endearing character. If you have enjoyed the other books in this series, then this is a book you will not want to miss.