Play Book Tag discussion

System Collapse - Wells
Audio performance by Kevin Free
3 stars

This book is a direct continuation of the events in Network Effect. ART’s crew and members of the Preservation team are engaged in a combined effort to prevent Barish-Estranze from acquiring a planet’s worth of colonists as indentured slaves. Murderbot is experiencing some strange after effects of the traumatic events of the previous book.

I never thought it was possible for a book in this series, but this one dragged a bit. The first part of the story was confusing with ‘redacted’ bits of MB’s diary interrupting the flow of explanations. When the action picked up towards the middle of the book, MB was vocal about just wanting to get the job done so they could leave the **** planet. I was in complete agreement with that thought.

I guess I liked the way this one shows the SecUnit having to get closer to the way humans think - negotiating with different groups to accomplish a goal. I saw it as an evolution in his artificial intelligence.

I agree. It will probably make future books more complex. This one seemed a bit disorganized. I think she was both tying up previous elements and laying background for future books. I'm still a loyal fan of the series.

I have this on audio, but I don't remember any details from Network Effect, except for SecUnit being a sort of chaperone. I hope that won't be a problem.

KTloves2listen wrote: "I have two books left in the series and books have gone from a five star read to three stars.

Curious how those who have finished the series would rate it from beginning to end. Or will there be ..."

Author has contract to publish more so they will keep coming.

I have read through Network Effect and gave first two each 4 stars and all the rest 5 stars. I love them and think they are awesome especially as I am not fond of SciFi at all. I also read them all spread out, not all at once, over last 3 years. I find with series that if I read more than two back to back, I start seeing too much of the writer behind the story - i.e. the structure or arc isof the story will feel repetitive such as the big action climax w1ill map out too similarly to the last 3 in series I read and my rating reflects that. That mostly doesn't happen when I spread out the reading.

Perhaps give yourself a break before reading thenext.

I found that I needed a refresher on the events in Network Effect.
That may have been why the beginning of the book was so confusing for me.

Also, I've had a libby/ library hold on Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory which just became available. It's just a short story within this series, but it will feed my habit.

Jgrace wrote: "Also, I've had a libby/ library hold on Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory which just became available. It's just a short story within this series, but it will feed my habit."

It's very very short but important transition into Network Effect. Not having read it first may also have added to your confusion. Since I have been reading these with my Feminerdy Book Club IRL, and they are very on top of the order and publications here (and in SFF in general), we all had plenty of notice about it and its position and impact on reading Network Effect.

I own all of these in ebook. I find I have to go back and look at the ending of the one before before starting the new one, just to bring my head into the world/book. That's often true of any series I read - mystery, romance, etc. Or my reviews provide enough reminders to pull it up in my mind. I've even been known to borrow the last read in a connected series again in ebook from the library, when I don't own it or have lent my copy to someone, just to skim a few key sections, then return it right away!