Network Effect Book Review

Today, we will be reviewing Network Effect by Martha Wells, the fifth book in the Murderbot Diaries. Keep reading to find out what we thought of this novel and if you should right away or not!

Network Effect Summary

Murderbot is sent to help Dr. Mensah’s daughter Amena with a research expedition along with other members of Preservation. While on expedition, their ship is attacked by a hostile transport vessel that Murderbot recognizes as ART. Murderbot and Amena are forced to board the hostile vessel. 

The vessel goes through a wormhole as Murderbot starts hunting grey-skinned humanoids who are in charge of the ship. She isolates Amena and the two human captives and tries to get to the bottom of the mystery and why ART isn’t here.  

Now, Murderbot has to save its humans while also trying to grasp the situation at hand. Who are these grey-skinned humanoids and what is their goals. How can Murderbot escape and can it save its friends?

Commentary

Network Effect was released in 2020 and went on to win the 2021 Hugo Award for Best Novel, the 2020 Nebula Award for Best Novel, and the 2021 Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel. This was the first full length Murderbot novel and it surpassed all expectations.

Book five in the Murderbot Diaries is the beginning of a new arc and one that reintroduces ART. After Murderbot, ART is the next best thing in the series and I know many fans were excited to see its return. 

We also get to meet more members of Preservation and Murderbot handling new people in its life. With the inclusion of ART’s crew, the number of people Murderbot interacts with and tries to protect increases and we see new dynamics being created.

Wells does a wonderful job in writing her first full length Murderbot novel and I was over the moon with a 300 plus book of Murderbot. This new arc is fantastic and we see Murderbot deal with new challenges and watch new shows as it is reacquainted with old friends as well as making new ones.

Conclusion

Few authors can surpass expectations, especially after writing award winning novellas in a series. After four novellas, we finally get a full length novel and it was everything fans of the series could have asked for. 

We were reunited with old characters and saw the stakes rise in this new arc. Wells has set up a lot of future plots with his novel and I am eager to read the next installation in the series. Happy reading!

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