Science Fiction & Fantasy Award Winning Book Group discussion

We'll be reading Network Effect in April 2025.

This Challenge will allow those of us who have not read Murderbots Diaries 1-4 to catch up, or if you have read them to allow time for a refresh.

I'm creating a discussion folder for each of the first 4 books, to avoid massive spoilage. Feel free to discuss at your own pace. I'm certain most of you have read them already. (I haven't read them yet!)

This thread is for the group challenge discussion of Artificial Condition, but you can add comments about Book 1 as well. Enjoy.

Artificial Condition is the second novella in the Murderbot Diaries series. It continues from where the first left off. I felt like this was a continuation of a coming of age story for Murderbot. He has a hard time interacting with humans, and feels guilty for the massacre that he named himself for. His need to understand and atone for his behavior drives his search for the event. He makes a friend in A.R,T, - a ship's AI. It is a sort of coming of age story.

Did you like it more than, less than, or equal to the first book? I still like All Systems Red better, as in the first everything was a surprise.

I feel bad seeing you're reading through these without replies, but I will be reading them closer to April and commenting then, I promise!

I really like the style these are written in. I love first person when it is done well. How can you not like a smart-ass bot's internal monologues?

I also really liked Art in this story. I think Wells is doing a very good job of creating robots with sort of AI characters. They lack the self-centred motivation of humans while still being whole persons.

What did you think of the reveal about Murderbot's past? It seemed a bit of a letdown for me, not very exciting, but then I thought that's somehow appropriate for the character.

What I like about this story is how Murderbot almost immediately gets sucked into some human drama while continuously lamenting the fact that humans are so stupid. Makes me laugh every time I think about it.

Nick I didn't think about the reveal so much as how it was related to Murderbot but more as a reinforcement of the view that it is the corporations here that are evil.

Jon wrote: "Makes me laugh every time I think about it."
Yes! And I think it's what makes Murderbot so loveable - I've got a big soft spot for characters who do the right thing, but reluctantly and complaining abou it!

Jon wrote: "I didn't think about the reveal so much as how it was related to Murderbot but more as a reinforcement of the view that it is the corporations here that are evil"
You're right, but I think that was already obvious so not really adding anything more to the story. It seemed like it was just eliminating any ambiguity about Murderbot's past and character. (view spoiler)[He is confirmed an innocent smol bean (hide spoiler)].

Loved ART and how he tries to help Murderbot seem more human. That was creative. I like the different kinds of AI and how he has to treat them differently.