Thursday, May 21, 2020

SciFi/Fantasy Book Review: Network Effect by Martha Wells


I usually start my book reviews with a paragraph describing the circumstances under which I encountered and decided to read the book.  That's not really necessary with Network Effect I don't think, the 5th work in Martha Wells' multi-Hugo-winning series, "The Murderbot Diaries."  Murderbot is pretty damn beloved in SF/F circles right now, and Network Effect being the first full length novel in the series only made it more anticipated.  And well, Martha Wells was one of my favorite authors before Murderbot (yes, hipster brag I know) and I've read every non-tie-in adult novel of hers, so yeah, I was going to read Network Effect on its release date and I was sure going in that it'd be great.

And unsurprisingly, Network Effect is absolutely fantastic.  It absolutely feels like a plot a fanfic writer might dream of - your favorite one novella character is back and the story heavily features its relationship with Murderbot! - and that is NOT a complaint because it's done so well that it will make practically any fan of the novellas tremendously happy.  Wells has brought back that character, continued her great development of Murderbot itself - still absolutely tremendous - and expanded the universe with a plot that features plenty of action sequences for Murderbot to struggle with.  It's nearly everything I could have wanted.


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For the first time in a while now, Murderbot is on a mission away from Preservation space that isn't bodyguarding Dr. Mensah.  Of course this survey team includes its former clients - absolutely not "friends" but "clients", it insists" - Arada and Overse......as well as Mensah's brother-in-law Thiago (who doesn't trust Murderbot) and Mensah's daughter Amena, who well....adolescent humans are not Murderbot's favorite.  Naturally Murderbot will do anything to protect these people from outside threats....and their own human acts of stupidity.

But when an attack comes from a ship with strange-looking humans, Murderbot finds itself alone with Amena onboard that ship trying to protect her against these weird unknown threats....while going through a wormhole to an unknown destination.  Even worse, the ship that attacked and carried the weird beings is one Murderbot recognizes: it's ART, the Asshole Research Transport whose powerful AI helped Murderbot discover Murderbot's own past....while being an annoying nag and fellow watcher of Media.  Except ART isn't responding to Murderbot's calls.....

So once again, the anxious, antisocial Murderbot has to protect a human who doesn't like it from an unknown threat, while something is wrong with another of Murderbot's associates....an associate Murderbot absolutely does not care about......right?  Well that question won't matter if it gets itself killed.....
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The Murderbot stories are told from Murderbot's perspective, with it seemingly telling the story to the reader in an almost element of breaking the fourth wall (but never quite going there).  This novel actually pulls a little trick with that, as hinted at early by the fact that there's some clear and express foreshadowing going on with the narrative, as if the story is being told by someone in the future.  It also features full flashbacks for the first time in the series, to events that occurred between the last novella and this novel.  All of these stylistic changes are eventually justified and work really well, and well, Murderbot's typical narration remains excellent and all so lovely to read.

Of course that's because Murderbot is so great as a character and it continues to be so here - and it develops even further here, especially with its relationships to other characters.  Still incredibly uncomfortable around others - no touching it! - and socially awkward and refusing to acknowledge it might feel something for others, Wells manages to make it take steps to grow further even from where it had managed to get to by the end of the original novellas.  Needless to say, this introverted media-watching lovable killing machine isn't going to be able to deny its relationships with its associates by the end of this book, and watching it realize this and stop for the most part - but not completely because you know, Murderbot - its self denial is done so damn well.

It helps that the associates and setting are excellent.  A particular highlight is new character Amena - Mensah's daughter who doesn't like Murderbot due to Murderbot seeming to play parental chaperone at what was supposed to be a secret rendezvous - is really great especially as she learns about Murderbot's true personality and tries to push it and others in ways she knows they should be going.  She's basically adorable.  The rest of the returning survey crew is very likable as is our returning best friend and fan favorite ART, who is once again tremendous.  And then two late addition characters whose identities I will not spoil because they make up a final act surprise are absolutely tremendous and I love them so damn much.

Add to this a setting that expands upon this universe, where the corporate rim of the Galaxy commits what to us seem like horrendously unethical acts: forced indenture, treating humans' lives as property, etc. and our heroes come from a more socialist government which doesn't have that, and it all works really well.  And it provides us with just the right amount of opportunities for Murderbot to have to interact with others - humans or others - who will cause it just the perfect amount of stress.  It's all so good, and I don't want to say more without spoiling about the above.  I suppose I should also mention the fun action sequences, as Murderbot attempts to fight and hack its way out of some serious situations - which are also pretty damn fun, if not perfect.

Really there is a weakness in this novel, it's that these action scenes aren't always the easiest to understand.  The last sequence in particular features Murderbot and an ally encountering three other entities, and I've read that sequence a few times and am still kind of confused as to what entity is what - I get it now based upon how things go, but the first time you read it I can't imagine anyone not being confused as to what's going on regarding the three entities.  It's a minor issue - despite the fun action sequences and the ingenuity of how Murderbot gets through them, this is not why you are reading this series - but it's there.  I suppose you could also complain that the novel is kind of fanfic-y*, but again, that's not a problem because well, fanfic isn't bad and seeing characters you love do the things you dream of is NOT a problem!

Spoiler in ROT13:  NEG naq Zheqreobg onfvpnyyl unir n onol!

Anyhow, Murderbot is great, Network Effect is great, you should be reading Murderbot, and then let that guide you to reading other Wells works, as one of the best active writers in the genre.  Enough said.

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