Who doesn't love Murderbot? I'm serious - I have recommended these books to so many people and everyone has loved them!

This was another solid chapter in the Murderbot series. If you read these as soon as they come out, you may need to go back. The books happen right after the last one - it reminds me of the stories that were published in magazines piece by piece (serial novels?? I don't know, my brain is glitching). There's a mystery here, and Murderbot and their crew are going to figure it out, and then things go crazy because of course they do, and they have to figure it out. It seems formulaic, and maybe it is, but it 100% works because these books are so fun! Tor continues to publish incredible authors.

Incredible read. I love this series and this one did not disappoint! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

As always, Martha Wells delivers! I absolutely love seeing Murderbot grow as an individual and navigate its relationships with others. This novella runs a bit longer than the others, which gives us even more Murderbot to enjoy.
This installment feels like a shift in terms of pacing, with what felt like fewer "action-packed" sequences and more time spent with characters. I like this shift which feels like we're seeing more character development for the series itself as Murderbot begins to take charge of its direction/life.

Our favorite SecUnit returns for another installment of the Murderbot Series. In the previous novel, SecUnit is caught up in alien intrigue, causing them to face their biggest challenge and, as a result, cause them to doubt their abilities. This PTSD carries over into this novel and is a main background focus. Gone is the overconfident SecUnit who can seemingly defeat foes almost by magic. Now, SecUnit second-guesses their every move.

The story begins when a pre-corporation rim colony is discovered, only to have a corporation swoop in and attempt to woo them to their side. The University is only interested in their freedom and self-choice rather than a lifetime of slave labor to a faceless corporation. It would seem to be a straightforward decision that one would not want to be a corporate slave, but this is a pre-corporation rim colony, and they are unaware of the troubles. After taking out a chaotic agricultural bot, SecUnit, a copy of ART, and his human companions venture to the other side of the planet to look for more survivors. When they find the colony, the corporation has gotten their first. Can they convince them of the horrors of Corporation life? If anyone can show the damage a corporation can do to an individual, SecUnit can.

Another fun installment. The PTSD suffered by SecUnit was heartbreaking. Normally, they would be able to hack, blast, or talk their way out of situations, but here, they are vulnerable, compromised, and not feeling confident. For a robot, their experiences are always very relatable.

Fantastic! I LOVE this series and recommend it to so many readers at my library. Even though I've gotten an advance reader copy from Netgalley, I've still purchased a copy for my own shelf as well as my high school library. Recommending the snarky, grumpy Murderbot is easy in a high school library.

The Barish-Estranza corporation has sent rescue ships and a load of SecUnits to a newly-colonized planet in danger. Unfortunately the B-E version of rescue is shipping the colonists off to become indentured labour. Murderbot, the rogue sec-unit/cyborg who dismantled its own governor chip to become autonomous, is developing some kind of fault akin to PTSD. Can it figure out what's wrong with itself in time to help save not only the colonists they know, but also the separatists who haven't a clue what's happening? Murderbot ad some of its humans travel halfway around the planet hoping to reach the separatists before a Barish-Estranza extraction team can whisk them away. Unfortunately, B-E beats them to it, and they not only have more fire-power but they also have more sec-units, killing machines that will do exactly as their humans tell them to do. Murderbot's quirky voice is what makes these books so good. I've always been a sucker for self-deprecating dark humour.

Still in love with Murderbot…

I started the Murderbot Diaries series with Fugitive Telemetry, which was, back then, the latest book in the series. But I fell in love with Murderbot anyway, even though starting at the end can be, and in that case was, problematic. However, having started with Fugitive Telemetry, which really WAS a murder mystery set on a space station, I assumed that that the whole series would be like that. So, when I received a review copy of the newest book in the series, System Collapse, I kept waiting for the dead body. But there wasn’t one! Once I figured that out, though, and also learned that System Collapse more directly follows the second previous book, Network Effect, rather going in strict publication order, I loved System Collapse too.

On its surface, System Collapse is an adventure/thriller set on a “possibly-alien-contaminated lost colony planet”. (We all know how much Murderbot loves planets…) And it can be read simply on that level and be a lot of fun.

But in my opinion, a couple of the best things, one trivial and one not, about this series are Murderbot’s fine touch in snark (unserious, but awesome), and Murderbot’s ongoing growth as an independent actor with feelings (serious stuff). Emotions can be both good and bad however, and therein hangs a good chunk of the real story as Murderbot works through events from the past – and also shows a fine touch of avoidance from time-to-time with its media consumption habit. And, of course, also simultaneously fighting the bad guys and keeping its humans/friends alive. In the end, things work out for the good guys, the nasty Barish-Estranza corporation gets a major boop on the nose, and Murderbot may or may not have started a Sec Unit revolution.

If I had any complaint about System Collapse it would be that author Martha Wells doesn’t provide enough (any?) background information, and even though I had read the previous book, I was still a bit lost at the beginning. As with Wells’ Witch King, though, once I figured out what was going on, I loved it. So, even though I might want to take off a half-a-star for the early confusion, I can’t do that on this site, so am rounding up to five. Finally, I really hope the next book is coming soon, and my thanks to Tor Publishing and NetGalley for the review copy.

More Murderbot, please!

Love the entire Murderbot series! The snarky attitude, the emotional depth--I became immediately addicted. Murderbot is more human than, well, some humans. Would love another series...or perhaps a spin-off/side series? Big hugs to Martha Wells for doing the work of writing, and creating such a gem!

System Collapse by Martha Wells. The second Murderbot novel feels structurally closer to the novellas than the previous Murderbot novel, and at this point the recommendation is "if you like Murderbot, you'll like this Murderbot". Unlike the rather static-feeling Fugitive Telemetry, System Collapse does push things onwards from Network Effect in an interesting way, both literally (conflict de-escalation through documentaries!) and in Murderbot's character development and how it narrates its story. We quickly learn that Murderbot is not working at full capacity, and that it is keeping something from us about how this happened, and while the reader is used to the quirks and selectiveness of Murderbot's narration, this withheld information immediately puts the reader off balance, adding an extra layer of tension to both the conflicts and the crew relationships that are both staples of this series. Of course Murderbot and friends save the day with the power of love and justice - not that Murderbot itself puts it quite that way.

It took me until I was 35% of the way through System Collapse to figure out what wasn’t working for me. I thought maybe it had been too long since I read Fugitive Telemetry and I was fuzzy on the details or maybe I just wasn’t in the right headspace because I wasn’t getting the usual Murderbot thrill of joy but it finally clicked: Murderbot is who it is because of a lack of filter. Anything it is thinking and feeling the reader gets complete access to. It doesn’t always tell the humans what it’s thinking and Murderbot is usually a little more open with ART, but as the reader, we get the full range. When you start throwing in REDACTED and Murderbot is vague about what’s going on, it’s just not the same. It feels like Wells took away the most compelling facet that makes this series so unique.

Murderbot does finally get around to opening up at 40% but this just highlights how closed down it has been until this point about something that, while embarrassing, is entirely acceptable considering what it has been through.

After 50% System Collapse is everything I wanted it to be. Murderbot has a personality again and the dialogue (internal and external) is perfect. While I was expecting System Collapse to be about Murderbot working with ART’s team for the first time it’s actually more a direct sequel to Network Effect. We’re still on a planet (Murderbot’s favourite place to be) cleaning up the situation from last time.

We also get to meet Holism in the end - it’s not for long and it’s only a taste but its interactions with ART might be even better than Murderbot and ART together - who knew that was possible?

There’s a lot to love about System Collapse - I mean, it is part of the Murderbot Diaries - and while I wish it didn’t take half of this already too short book to get into it, I will never get tired of Murderbot being Murderbot. The parts about Three coming into itself were interesting, as were the moments when Murderbot is trying to decide how to act with other SecUnits. It’s a very interesting conversation about free will and rights and it’s handled with all the tact one would expect from Murderbot. I have never been so excited to be approved for an arc but now I’m just sad that I will have so much longer to wait until I can get my hands on another book in this series.

Oh Murderbot, how I LOVE you so!
This is another fantastic adventure for Murderbot and ART.
I love Three and hope to see more of them.
As usual, the dynamic between Murderbot and ART is superb. I laughed out loud many times. I don’t see how the show can live up to these books.
I have three problems with this book-
1) I am confused about the timeline. When did Fugitive Telemetry occur? This book seems to be a direct sequel to Network Effect so I guess Fugitive Telemetry happened before that one? Or after this one? Did I miss something? It doesn’t really matter to me in the end, but it did throw me off at first.
2) I wish the books were longer so I could spend more time in this universe.
3) Now I must wait what feels like forever for the next one. DAMN IT! There is going to be another one right?!?!?!

Thanks to #Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

PS. After reading the book, I immediately listened to the audiobook. These books on audio are my favorite bedtime stories right now (it used to be the killer sirens novellas on audiobook by Mira Grant).

Overall, we enjoyed this installment in The Murderbot Diaries. Full disclosure: We are big Murderbot fans.

Picking up right after the events of Network Effect, we're reunited with Murderbot as it works through some of the aftermath of those events. In System Collapse, we get more of the Murderbot we love and a new mystery to solve. There's lots of action and we get some more depth into side characters. We continue to see Murderbot explore and build relationships with its friends. While a little bit long-winded, it was still a quick read. We definitely recommend System Collapse to Murderbot fans. Martha Wells doesn't disappoint in resolving the conflict in this story. We can't wait for the next installment in the series.

Another wonderful installment in one of my favorite series! These books are always such quick reads and somehow manage to feel cozy despite the amount of violence. Wells does a great job of mixing intense action with a comforting vibe is pretty amazing.

Even though it’s not my top pick, it's still a super enjoyable read that I’d recommend to anyone. Can’t wait for the next one!

Diving back into the Murderbot Diaries feels like seeing an old friend. I really enjoy this series, it's one of my all time favorite. Unfortunately, I didn't quite understand that these was a sequel to the 5th book so I had to go back and re-read the end of the 5th book to re-familiarize. I love how Murderbot has continued to grow and evolve with his relationships. I enjoyed this one quite a bit.

System Collapse drops you right in it, with Murderbot trying to protect his humans from both their own poor decisions and the Barish-Estranz company's evil intentions, and he's also a bit handicapped.
Though we're a bit unsure how, and what happened, as some of his comments/thoughts are redacted. Explanations are coming, but they come slow, though the action is decidedly not!

I can't express how much I adore Murderbot deadpan humor, his views on the world around him and the shenanigans his humans get into and the lengths he is forced to go to to prevent them from becoming just more dead humans.




Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've read all of the Murderbot novellas, and this is #7, so that's saying something right there.
If you haven't read them yet, you should.
Start at the beginning!
There is always a good, well-crafted sci-fi adventure, but the wry humor and the character of Murderbot are what really sets this series apart.

Murderbot is BACK! In book 7, Murderbot still hadn’t found an ethical corporation (if one even exists), and Barish-Estranza corporation has sent rescue ships to help a newly colonized planet in peril, and they want something in return, a free workforce maybe. Meanwhile. Something’s amiss. Murderbot’s not running within normal operational parameters. Everyone is trying to help the colonists, but they’ll need Murderbot to figure out its problem ASAP.

I always have a good time with Murderbot, and often identify on a deep level with it. I do tend to get a little lost in the action sequences, but I’m always just here for Murderbot and its friends, mechanical and human.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions contained within are my own.

In 2023, after having read All Systems Red years ago, I decided it was finally time to buckle down and read all the books in the Murderbot series. I fell in love with our titular reluctant hero after the first book and I wanted to know if I would enjoy the rest of its journey just as much. Spoiler alert: Murderbot has fully cemented itself as one of my favorite characters of all time! So when I was approved for the e-ARC of System Collapse, I was beyond stoked. The fact that this momentous occasion was quickly followed by a months-long reading slump was… unfortunate, to say the least, lol. But I’m back, I finally read it, and now I need to gush!

If you don’t know, the Murderbot series follows an AI construct that would much rather minimize any interactions with sentient species and watch drama programs until its processors stop functioning. In the first book of the series, it finds itself on a mission with a group of scientists that goes horribly awry. And, much to its chagrin, it would much prefer this particular group of scientists to remain alive, thank you very much. Now that we’re into the seventh book of the series, our not-so-murderous SecUnit has been through it and the hits keep comin’. In this installment, it’s trying to keep yet another group of humans alive while they do dangerous things… like trying to save an entire lost colony from indentured servitude.

The aspect of this series that I have always loved the most is the characters and this book is no exception. In this installment, we see Murderbot dealing with a lot of complex emotions. Which is weird since, ya know, it's not even supposed to have emotions. It only made me love it more, though! Murderbot has been through a lot and it is interesting to see how a non-human character, an AI that’s not supposed to feel, processes something as complex as trauma. I thought the author did an incredible job of describing Murderbot’s struggle to deal with the events that have happened on this lost colony planet while trying to continue to do its job as though nothing is wrong. I just wanted to give Murderbot a big ol’ hug, but it would not have appreciated the gesture. Still, it amazes me that the author can make all these characters still feel so fresh and intriguing when we’re seven books into the series. Admittedly, only two of them are full length novels, but I feel that makes it all the more impressive!

I also thought she did a fantastic job with the plot of this novel. As mentioned, most of the books in this series are novellas, so I feel like they focus more on the character development than the plot. But this one was a full length novel that went heavy on the character but also managed to deliver an fast-paced and interesting plot. The conflict with the terrible company from the Corporation Rim had me on the edge of my seat, wondering how things were going to turn out for Murderbot’s favorite humans, especially with it not performing at its peak. I was wrapped up in the drama and tore through the story as I was eager to see how it ended.

Overall, this was an incredible addition to the saga of Murderbot! It had the character development that I always expect from a book in this series along with a tense plot that had me absolutely hooked. I loved the exploration of PTSD and watching Murderbot continue to learn what it means to be a part of a family. Even if it would deny up and down that it was. Now I’m chomping at the bit for the next installation in what has to be my favorite sci-fi series!

This book felt like a departure tone compared to previous Murderbot books, but it was a good shift. It was a delight to read about the growth and recovery of everyone’s favorite socially awkward construct.

It took me a while to get into this volume, but the effort was rewarded. Part of the issue was that Murderbot was hiding things, from the reader and from itself, but once that came to light as the story progressed, Murderbot was less conflicted and more focused which helped everything to flow better. And boy, what a story! Still on the planet from the last adventure. Still dealing with alien contamination, crazy colonists, and corporate greed. But add in a separate colony and corporate in-fighting and Murderbot has its hands full! It will be interesting to find out where Murderbot and ART go next!