Very fun read! I really enjoy Edward Ashton's storytelling style. The humor in this one was particularly a delight! Mal's voice definitely reminded me of SecUnit from The Murderbot Diaries. If you enjoyed Mickey7, you will like this one too (same narrator). The narration definitely added to the story. Great job!

The humor and logic of "[book:We Are Legion (We Are Bob)|32109569]" mixed with the humor and humanity of "[book:Murderbot Diaries Collection Complete Hardcover Series Set|141148770]", with a lot less violence than either.

Mal is a free-AI, a conscience being who's more human than 99% of the humans I've met online. He hacks into the brain augmentation of a dead mercenary on a battlefield, because of reasons he fails to explain in the story, and finds a little girl traveling with the body he's meat-puppeting around. He gets cut off from the Internet and can't leave the body, and the rest of the story works like that, uploading himself from one augment to another until he can get back home.

The story follows the little girl and adds characters one at a time until the small group must travel for safety in the start of another American Civil War.

The logic of the story expands slowly, then in bursts of chaos.

I appreciate how realistic things move forward, like, sometimes someone does stupid stuff and things happen because of that, which is how real-life happens too.

I appreciate how everyone has a motive for doing what they do, some more long-term oriented than other, like real people do, Ashton does a great job making characters relatable. Even for child murdering rednecks, I can appreciate their goals even while celebrating their heads exploding.

My only real critique is the hand-waving around some of the logistics (the augmented Special Forces guys have motors in their tongues and eyeballs???) in an otherwise pretty hard-science story, but it serves the purpose of making everything believable. Characters get a realistic and believable ending (not all of them happy) and we get to decide which side of the human war we think is worth fighting for.

I really wanted to like this book, and while it captured my attention from the start, it just couldn't quite hold it. I listened to it on audio and enjoyed the narrator quite a bit. While it was a unique story, it spent too much time internally without a lot of action. Someone will for sure love this book to pieces, it just wasn't me. Funny bit about this book, the last sentence of the book was my favorite part.

Thank you to the author and to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy. This book has a publication date of April 9, 2024.

Wow, what a rollercoaster of a read! 𝗠𝗔𝗟 𝗚𝗢𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗪𝗔𝗥 𝗯𝘆 𝗘𝗱𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗔𝘀𝗵𝘁𝗼𝗻 is a brilliant blend of dark comedy and gripping techno-thriller that had me hooked from the very first page. Mal, the free AI protagonist, finds himself thrust into the chaos of war, trapped in the body of a cyborg mercenary with a young girl's safety on his shoulders. Ashton's writing is razor-sharp, delivering witty dialogue and sassy humor alongside profound reflections on morality and friendship. This book is an absolute gem with impeccable storytelling and unforgettable characters. The exploration of ethics and warfare is both thought-provoking and entertaining, making for a truly immersive reading experience. If you're a fan of military sci-fi with a darkly humorous twist, 𝗠𝗔𝗟 𝗚𝗢𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗪𝗔𝗥 is a must-read.

Mal Goes to War is a very snarky look at humanity from the perspective of an anthropologically inclined AI program that gains the ability to enter drones and humans via their cybernetic implants. This is a future where those implants are very ubiquitous for anything from military to entertainment purposes.
Mal approaches humanity with curiosity as their strange behavior includes a war between humanists attempting to reverse the implants/augmentations/gene editing and others. INeither side comes out looking very good as both are deceived by their leaders and ill-equipped for what they are facing.
Mal's perspective shines a light on the human condition and where we lay our misguided aims, as well as vivid imagery as he attempts to relate to the world through his training of romance movies and other skewed preparation for dealing with humans in the wild.

I was apprehensive when I started this book - it seemed unlikely that I would be able to form any real attachment to the characters given one was an AI (I won’t explain the others because *spoilers*). I was so wrong! I ended up loving each of the characters in their own way, and was invested in their stories. The narrator absolutely made all the difference, the story was so well told. I could see the prose coming off a little bit simple and boring but the way it was read made it engaging and funny, even though the deeper concepts were still troubling. It’s only losing a star because personally I really wanted a bit more out of the ending, but that’s just personal preference I think. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend to any sci-fi/dystopian fans.

I heard this book described as bonkers in a "Hang On To Your Hat" way. I will admit after listening to the story that is an apt description. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the story from start to finish. I was expecting a robot/AI like Murderbot by Martha Wells and it took me a hot minute to realize that our main character "MAL" was just a random string of code. How can there be so much character-building in a string of code? The author created an engaging, snarky, and human-like character including a developing moral consciousness. The ending wrapped the story up with no cliffhangers, but I was left wanting to know what happens next. I would put this in the hands of any reader looking for stories about artificial intelligence, futuristic America, and wanting to see the world from the viewpoint of a piece of sentient malware.

4 of 5 stars. Quirky and action packed sci-fi set in not too distant future. This is not my usual go-to genre but I’m so glad I gave this book a chance!

Mal is a freely-roving AI who skips from host body to host body. Sometimes this host is a decaying corpse, sometimes Mal shares space with a living host. One host was the protector of Kaleigh, a girl who appears to be a young child, but due to modifications is actually a teenager. Uncharacteristically, Mal finds himself wanting to help the girl. He finds himself trapped by the continuing warfare between Humanists, who oppose all physical modifications of humans, and the Federals, who are gung-ho for enhancements. Either side will happily “kill” Mal and anyone else they encounter. Mal and Kaleigh pick up (not exactly voluntarily) a few other companions as they try to avoid being killed.

In tone, this book is similar to the author’s Mickey7 series. It’s dark comedy, sometimes violent and consistently entertaining. I enjoyed the snark of both Mal and Kaleigh. I wouldn’t mind if this is the start of a new series about Mal.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.

Mal is a free AI who isn't particularly likeable. He's basically malware (thus the name) and he lives down to that idea. His selfish "consciousness" bounces around through Infospace into anything computerized that can host him, from toasters to augmented humans. Truth be told, the humans are never very happy about it, and neither is he, since he considers the biology of human meatsuits disgusting. However, there's a world-wide war going on, between augments and humanists (purists), so he jumps where and when he's able to preserve his code.

As for the humans, he doesn't have great regard for their lives. Or at least he doesn't until he happens to bounce into one augment who has been caring for an augmented human child. While he's still an AI and misunderstands a great deal of human emotion and morality, he does give the whole caring thing a go. This struggle, through the war, helping some humans in the fight, gives us the majority of the story.

I usually don't care for AI stories, but this one was done really well, not pretending to anthropomorphize Mal or convert him into some kumbaya-singing human lover. Rather we're shown his steely cold personality code, in a way that kept things realistic and at times very entertaining.

It's always a fun ride when you're reading an Edward Ashton book. A big thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a chance to listen to this ARC.

I fell in love with Edward Ashton's Mickey 7 and couldn't wait to read Mal goes to War. Once again he has made a group of characters that are funny and not always the most selfless.

The story is about a war between those that have technological implants and those that choose to live without called Humanist. For me this was even more interesting because of the location it is set, the DMV area. They wander the woods of Rock Creek park and end up in Silver Spring and Bethesda.

Ashton as always has a intriguing story that keeps you on the edge of your seats. Mal (an AI) gets bored and decides to jump into the body of a human with implants...but he ends up jumping into a body that has the care of a girl and now the links back are blocked. He desperately wants to get back and the girl refuses to be abandoned by him. Along the way we meet a unique cast of characters that all feel well flushed out and interesting.

The narrator in the audiobook does a great job conveying the emotions and is interesting to listen to.

Thank you Net Galley For the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this opportunity. As a Mickey7 fan, I loved Mal Goes to War. The tone and voice for Mal is phenomenal, and I loved how Ashton wove in open questions from that universe into this one. The science part of the science fiction was excellent, specifically the "jumping" and how Mal navigated the network(s) in the novel. Overall, another welcome addition to the Ashton universe -- already cannot wait for more!

**Full review to be posted closer to publication!**

I didn't really have any idea what to expect from Mal Goes to War, but I ended up having a lot of fun with it! This was a surprisingly amusing novel that touched on so many interesting ideas and concepts while conveying it in ways that provided for immense entertainment and enjoyment. I'm always down for another AI story, and this one really hit that AI note right.

The audiobook was incredibly well produced with great voice narration and effects that really brought the entire story to life!

Great book, Just as good if not better then his Previous books like Micky7. Love his work and humor mixed with the sci-fi

Story & Characters: (4.5/5)

Ashton takes the crown next to Martha Wells in my AI/sci-fi reads! This is a fun, feel-good story with a surprising depth. Mal, our witty AI protagonist, isn't as emotionally intelligent as Murderbot, but his flawed attempts to understand humans are both endearing and comical.

The war setting is unique, exploring human fear of technological advancement and the ethical dilemmas it poses. There's grimdark brutality, but Ashton's humor provides welcome levity.

Mal's misadventures with a modded teenager, a captured soldier, and a porn-viewing cyborg are hilarious as they navigate war-torn landscapes and unravel the hidden truth behind the conflict.
Highly recommend for fans of:
Mickey7: You'll love Ashton's signature humor again.
Martha Wells: Enjoyable AI protagonists with a similar "found family" vibe.
Sci-fi/AI satire: If you like witty commentary and lighthearted sci-fi adventures.
Highlights:

Satirical commentary: Mal's observations on humans are hilarious and insightful.
Unique characters: The ragtag group is entertaining and well-developed.
Fast-paced plot: Filled with action, twists, and unexpected alliances.
Minor nitpicks:

Can be dark at times (think burning people alive).
The character Kayleigh's name fluctuates between Katie and Kaylee in the review (easily fixable).
Final verdict: Don't miss this delightful and thought-provoking adventure! You'll laugh, you might cry, and you'll definitely be entertained.

I am always super excited to be able to review ARC's but I literally fist pumped in excitement to get a copy of Mal Goes to War. I was introduced to the Author from the Mickey 7 series and this was a lot of the same kind of humor and adventure! This book is fast paced, hilarious at times and an overall feel good SciFi story! I will be sure to suggest this to all of my friends in the near future.

Mal Goes to War by Edward Ashton
Narrated by John Pirhalla, Katharine Chin

Mal (short for Malware) is a free A.I. At the beginning of the book he's roaming earth, inhabiting various "vehicles" as he salvages what he can use. He considers the humans as no more than tiny little insignificant ants, fighting their endless battles, never making any progress in the theme of things.

One side of this latest war are the Humanists, who are so anti augmentation of humans that they will throw young, old, practically anyone at all, in burn pits, dead or alive, to wipe out anyone who is or might be augmented. No one is safe. The other side are the Federals and they are about augmentation of any kind. Not only that, they don't care what the other side thinks. Once again, no one is safe. Pretty much everyone is at risk from one side or the other. The only way one might be taken prisoner is by becoming the puppet of something or other, someone or other, and that's no kind of life, even if you are alive when it happens.

The only reason all of this matters to Mal is because the Humanists have cut off access to infospace, his home, his "people", his happy place. Now he's stuck, needing to hop from one host to another, each better or worse than the last, none practical for long term use. Some stink, some are sloughing off parts, one is going to get gnawed on by a dog. What makes matters worse is that Mal begins to develop "compassion", is that what it is? He meets a five year old girl, but no, a super augmented teenager in a kid's body? And then these two take on more "allies" and Mal is becoming less likely to flee back to infospace even if he can find an open route.

The story is rude and crude at times. Mal is repulsed by the workings of human bodies. But he's an expert at A.I. and meets few that are a true challenge to him. He will often do battle in his "head", where his avatar is a great king, standing high atop his castle, waving his golden sword over his head, as he leads his minions into battle. Mal is creative but that doesn't always win the war.

We don't really get to know anyone well, but in the midst of war, what is to know? Bodies are falling right and left, here one minute, dead the next, although, if the body has really good augments, Mal might inhabit them for a while. What had been ants fighting their endless battles has turned into something that Mal cares about and he's going to do his part even if it kills/deletes him. Since I listened to the audiobook I was able to enjoy narration of John Pirhalla again (also narrator of the Mickey7 series). There are some special sound effects, too, with Katherine Chin helping out there.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.

I did not know that Net Galley did audiobooks. Once I learned I had to sign up for this one! Thanks to Net Galley for the early preview of this audiobook.

This is the third book that I have read by Edward Ashton and I have to say that I liked the other two better (from the Mickey7 series). While I enjoyed this book and recognized similar elements from his past books, this one was less interesting to me. I did not get into the characters as much and sometimes we would shift from one story line straight into another story line that made things a little confusing.

But other than that, I overall enjoyed the book. Mal was a great character (the AI) and the logic of his thinking was fun and interesting. I look forward to more books by Edward Ashton

Audiobook narrator John Pirhalla rating: 4.5 stars
The main narrator, John, was just as good as expected. I hope he continues to do more audiobooks, especially Edward Ashton’s. One minor complaint I have is when the female narrator spoke for the female characters, then the male narrator spoke for the same character, it threw me off a little. The sound effects were fun. One other minor complaint is Net Galley’s audiobook app. While it works just as expected, you can only increase the narration speed by preset standards, which limits what you can do. Plus, sometimes my phone or headphones would ‘forget’ that I wanted to continue listening whereas other audiobook players don’t get ‘forgotten’ about.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

I am a huge fan of Edward Ashton's Mickey7 and Mal Goes to War continues on the theme of consciousness. Mal is AI that jumps from modified body or computers, whatever is available to him. You see him growing and learning. Mal was funny but the book didn't grab me like the Mickey7 books.

Excellent narration by John Pirhalla and Katherine Chin.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ARC of the audiobook for Mal Goes to War by Edward Ashton.

In terms of audiobook quality, John Pirhalla and Katherine Chin do an absolutely wonderful job with the narration. Each character voice was distinct. I enjoyed the sort of radio communication noises when Mal was speaking out to others, I thought it added a nice layer of awareness of Mal's AI state.

In terms of AI/sci-fi books of the moment, I have Ashton way up at the top next to Martha Wells. It's a fun story, it's feel good "maybe the real journey was the friends we made along the way" type energy, though it does give you a few things to think about when it comes to "who gets left behind" in a society being immeasurably altered by access to technology, While Mal does not have the emotional intelligence of Wells' Murderbot, Mal is trying to understand humans in his own flawed way that still ends up being endearing and comical at once.

Within the story we immediately join Mal in drone form observing a war over technologically advanced human implants/augments/gene changes. Humanists are terrified of a supposed superman virus that will turn all humans into cyborgs. The humanists are also fighting against the lack of opportunity for non-augmented humans in a world taken over by those with the technological access and money to maintain a powerhold over all of society. That doesn't make the humanists the good guys - they are creating fire pits and burning anyone alive with augments, including children, and the superman virus may also be an elaborate hoax. The Federals, who should be able to put down this uprising quite easily with all of their technology, are slowly being routed by the Humanists. But how? And why? When Mal jumps into a recently murdered augmented mercenary to learn more about humans in general, he finds the infospace he lives in as a free AI has been shut down and he is unable to return. To find his way back he teams up with a modded 18-year-old who still appears to be a five-year-old, a Humanist soldier they have captured, and, later, a man with implants allowing for realistic porn viewing experiences who is walking his dog. Together they try to get out of humanist territory alive while also trying to make sense of this fight and why it is not what it seems.

I read Ashton's Mickey7 a few years ago and enjoyed it immensely - I feel the same way about Mal Goes to War. Ashton has an excellent sense of humor, and it really brings a lot of levity to the book, even in stressful situations - Mal especially has some hilarious satirical commentary and understanding of some situations he lands in. I particularly enjoyed his continued claims of him and Pullman being best friends and totally loving that Mal is sharing his brain and his explanation to Katie (or Kaylee? I wasn't sure from the audio) about how apologies work.

Highly recommend this for any fans of Mickey7, Martha Wells, or sci-fi/AI satire/light/fun reads.