A USA Today bestseller The “I love Murderbot!” –Ann Leckie 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, … 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…
At the Publisher’s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
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Better than the first? Yes! And the first one was excellent!
Our murderbot has left his “adopted” crew and is striking out to find out what exactly happened in his past. On the way he grudgingly befriends an AI and the two work together to help out another group of humans who have gotten themselves in a bind.
The action is done to a T, never being overboard and never going too long, the humor is perfectly snarky without getting annoying, and if you were rooting murderbot after reading book 1, you’ll be wishing him all kinds of good fortune after this one.
I started Martha Well’s Murderbot Diaries with this book, which is #2 in the series. It was in the Hugo packet, so I read it as part of my survey of the finalists before I vote. This is where awards reading brings the best kind of serendipity, because this is SO not a book I’d normally pick up. It’s about robots (not really), has no romance (but is hugely emotionally satisfying), and it has “murder” in the series title (which turns out to be ironically used). I was able to leap into book #2 easily without having read #1 – the backstory is deftly interwoven with a fast-moving plot – but then I went immediately to book #1 and read that. Then I proceeded to buy and read #3 and #4 (even paying $10 each for the Kindle editions – why TOR, why???). The series is JUST THAT GOOD. Each book is truly a novella, and the four together make for a massively satisfying arc.
These books are in essence about being human – and not – and are wonderfully fresh in ideas about what AI/robot/cyborg beings might be like. Highly recommend!
Artificial Condition by Martha Wells continues the story where book one left off. Our murderbot gets a job helping and bring in security, something comfortable for it. Things go sideways. Awesome story, awesome narration.
I have a crush on Murderbot.
I love this series!
Murderbot is determined to find out the truth about its past. It’s heard about the horrific tales of a mining massacre but thanks to the company wiping its memory, can’t remember what happened that day. Was the mining incident an accident, or did it want to kill all those humans? Posing as an augmented human, Murderbot takes on a security job for a group of researchers in order to reach the mines. But helping them claim their stolen research isn’t going to be easy. And as Murderbot searches for answers in the mines, it will discover a lot more than it’s past.
Artificial Condition picks up right where the previous novel left off. Murderbot is trying to pass for an augmented human while it plans a route to the mines. Along the way, it encounters a sentient transport bot that it deems ART. If you thought All Systems Red was hilarious, wait until you read about ART and Murderbot trying to figure out humans. Between Murderbot’s knowledge from watching TV and ART’s ability to run searches and compound data quickly, they help each other understand human social cues and body language.
The evolution of Murderbot as a character is so clever. Bit by bit Murderbot’s outlook of the world and those within it is expanding. And it’s not only humans it’s learning about, but other AI as well. Murderbot is guilty of putting AIs into categories based on type, even though it’s a unique individual. Of course, that is until ART comes along and rewrites how Murderbot views its own kind.
An introvert after my own heart, Murderbot is a character I cannot get enough of. I am eager to see how else Murderbot will evolve as the series progresses. If you haven’t tried the Murderbot Diaries yet give them a try. They are fast-paced sci-fi reads that are filled with action, sarcastic humor, and great storylines.
Book 130 towards my goal of 290! 4/5 stars for this scifi novella continuation! I think I’ve got a better grasp for what’s happening in the story now! Great cover! Love the personality emerging from Murderbot. Excited to see where the 3rd novella takes us. Really enjoyed meeting ART and hope to see them in the future!
Murderbot continues to question their existence and how they became such a specific bot. While on their mission, they meet a character named Art who assists Murderbot and becomes friends. I am enjoying this series and cannot wait to see how Murderbot’s journey continues.
It’s official, I can’t get enough of Murderbot. From its weary acceptance of the awful choices humans make, to its accidental growing list of friends (though clearly never let Murderbot hear you calling ART a friend), this book is non stop action and perfection. A genre of its own that I can’t get enough of.
(Reread #3) Murderbot has become the best comfort read over the past year. I think this is probably my favorite out of the series solely because ART comes on scene and Murderbot just doesn’t know what to think of it.
In Artificial Condition, Murderbot is on a self-imposed mission to discover the truth about it’s origin story. Hitchhiking back to the mining station where it allegedly murdered a heap of humans it stumbles across a transport ship, ART (Asshole Research Transport). Of course, that’s not its official name but Murderbot does have good reason to nickname it as such.
This installment of The Murderbot Diaries is the perfect combination of wit, action, and humor. Also re-readability is extra high so. If you are looking for a lighter, quick read with some action, quips, and a longsuffering SecUnit attempting to keep humans from making too stupid to live decision, then this is your series!
I really enjoyed this one. Murderbot is still just awesome. Sarcastic and funny! Murderbot tries to be indifferent to humans but really cares about them. There was a lot of action in this one especially towards the end. I will be continuing the series.
I adore this so much! I love the relationship between Murderbot and ART. I love that Murderbot just cares so much but really doesn’t want to. This is one of my favorite series and I always forget how much I love it.
Murderbooooooooooooooooooooooooooot is my favorite thing in the world! Sorry, coffee and cats and kids. Heh.
I recently read (and loved) book one of Martha Wells’ ‘The Murderbot Diaries’ titled ‘All Systems Red.’ In the series opener we’re introduced to Murderbot, an augmented human security being who has hacked their own governor model and walks the line between letting their personality show while remaining as machine-like as possible.
I couldn’t wait to dive into book two.
Saying that – this is a hard sequel, meaning you most definitely need to have read book one to know what is going on and as such, while I still remain as spoiler proof as possible – this review will allude to events in book one that may be a spoiler. I suggest you don’t read this review unless you’ve read book one.
What I liked: Where book one followed our Murderbot grappling with their feelings towards the crew they were purchased to protect, book two picks up following the events of book one and we see our sarcastic bot heading towards the scene of their own personal turmoil. Boarding a ship by hacking the security system and interacting with the mechanical beings that make up the various programs of each ship, before ending up in a cargo style ship.
It’s here that Murderbot strikes up a tentative friendship with the program that controls the ship, dubbed ART.
Wells does a great job of having these two characters develop a friendship and when Murderbot shares their reason for heading to their destination, ART becomes a partner/aide to help our bot get to the end goal.
Wells writes with such an ease that the story whips by, aided by the quick wit and sarcastic nature of our main character.
This entry really summed up how much Murderbot craves companionship, even if they are dead set on remaining as far away of being human as possible.
What I didn’t like: While the main aspect of this story is Murderbot and ART becoming friends, I found it was a bit of a slow slog near the start as we get to see them tentatively interact and ensure neither are there to hurt the other.
Why you should buy this: If you loved book one you’ll love book two. Wells has crafted a truly classic character and I really can’t wait to see what happens next. I’ll be starting book three soon and it looks like book six is about to be released. If you love sci-fi/horror and witty banter, this is a perfect series for you to discover.
I’m thoroughly in love with the way this story is narrated. I know I’m going to burn through this entire series this year!
I love this character! Martha Wells packs all the good stuff into this series, action, mystery and a fabulous main character. You’ll want to read it in one sitting.
Almost as good as the first one (though the humans are just as troublesome).
Artificial Condition Sept. 2020
I really love this series, this the second book I’ve read. There is something about the murderbot who loves watching space operas in its spare time that is intriguing. The voice of the murderbot is always consistent and the writing craft is excellent. This book started off a little slow. The conflict wasn’t set until page 37 and during the 37 pages there is very little forward motion in the story. But once I got over that hump the story really took off. The plot reminds of some of the best action books by Mark Greany, and Kyle Mills. Maybe even a little of Jack Reacher. The murderbot keeps the reader updated on everything that is happening in clean concise prose. I’m moving on to the next book. I highly recommend this one for readers of well written Sci-fi.
David Putnam author of The Bruno Johnson series.
I just utterly enjoy this series. Murderbot’s relatability and the gratuitous scifi setting is just the cure I need for my scifi cravings. This book is just long enough to scratch the itch. It can be read in a couple of hours. I recommend this series to anyone who loves hard science fiction.
One has to remember to be specific when speaking to an android. When ones tells an android that he has free will and can do whatever he wants, one should not be surprised when said android decides to go on a walkabout. At least Murderbot has a goal – he wants to find out what was wiped from his memory banks. However, we cannot expect an antisocial android to understand social niceties like telling his guardian that he is leaving. Maybe he will learn a few of those niceties from his new friend. Ms. Wells, you created an amazingly interestingly different character, one I have to follow to see what happens next. Well done!