Network Effect

In May 2020, Martha Wells brought us Network Effect, the ultimate Murderbot crossover episode and the first full-length novel in the series. And I...didn't read it because I was playing Animal Crossing at the time. Like, for thousands of hours I was doing that. Which, actually, is very Murderbot-coded of me. Here Murderbot encounters new sorts of imminent danger alongside new social situations: merging friend groups, adolescence, and, oh yeah, a whole lot of trauma. Murderbot is really good at helping itself and others survive terrible things. But sometimes surviving after the acute event, in your day-to-day life, in relationships with others, is the harder part.Murderbot in babysitter mode is compelling, as the stress adult humans cause it is compounded by the simultaneous imperviousness and naïveté of teenagers. Amena and Murderbot are similar in many ways. They love and are loved by Dr. Mensah, they are petty and stubborn, and they both fling themselves at immense threats the second someone they care about is crossed. I like how Wells balances not undercutting who Murderbot is with its introspection and slowly thawing ability to concede it is deeply sensitive and caring. I like when weirdos get to stay weirdos. Last, I want to mention [a:Kevin R. Free 2119344 Kevin R. Free https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1370714677p2/2119344.jpg]'s audiobook narration. It is so good. I recently found a full cast version of Network Effect on hoopla, and I was like “I could have had different people and sound effects this whole time?!” but I immediately rejected it in favor of Kevin. The number of voices he can do distinctly is so impressive.