158 pages
English language
Published Nov. 12, 2018
It has a dark past - one in which a number of humans were killed. A past that caused it to christen itself Murderbot. But it has only vague memories of the massacre that spawned that title, and it wants to know more. Teaming up with a research transport vessal named ART (you don't want to know what the A stands for), Murderbot heads to the mining facility where it went rogue. What it discovers will forever change the way it thinks...
about a year since I read the first book, and a TV show in between it was time to pick up murderbot again. took me a bit of time to get into it, but once I was the book was finished in the day. enjoyed being back in murderbots head, the interactions with ART are great. just wished the climax would have been drawn out a little longer!
This is my favorite Murderbot novella. What stands out the most to me is the prickly but endearing not-friendship between ART and Murderbot. I also love seeing Murderbot taking on its first clients (by choice) and feeling just as invested in doing a good job in protecting them. My delight in this book is probably why I also like the novel Network Effect so much, as it feels like a thematic expansion of all the best bits of this book (plus ART).
I think it's also easy to read this book as such a queer and trans story (only metaphorically, as it would be horrified at this comparison). It really gets into how fraught physical change for the purpose of passing is; it's something that Murderbot feels it needs to do for safety as rogue SecUnit, even as it feels emotionally unsafe to do. And also it's Murderbot having to …
This is my favorite Murderbot novella. What stands out the most to me is the prickly but endearing not-friendship between ART and Murderbot. I also love seeing Murderbot taking on its first clients (by choice) and feeling just as invested in doing a good job in protecting them. My delight in this book is probably why I also like the novel Network Effect so much, as it feels like a thematic expansion of all the best bits of this book (plus ART).
I think it's also easy to read this book as such a queer and trans story (only metaphorically, as it would be horrified at this comparison). It really gets into how fraught physical change for the purpose of passing is; it's something that Murderbot feels it needs to do for safety as rogue SecUnit, even as it feels emotionally unsafe to do. And also it's Murderbot having to navigate this change with the (extremely pushy but supportive) help of ART.
This book also gets into some of Murderbot's traumatic history in its investigation of Ganaka Pit. On a reread, I think I was surprised at how little reaction this gets from Murderbot in the moment once it has unraveled a core mystery of its past. But, at the same time, trauma is unevenly distributed, Murderbot is not the best at feelings, and it certainly catches up later in conversation with ART and Tapan.
I read this one out of order, after #3 and #4 because they were in Volume 2, but now I'm filled in the missing backstory. This settles the question whether the stories are readable as standalones, yes they are, but reading in order helps to understand the references to past murderbot mayhem, and uncomfortable human feeeelings, and ships passing in the night encounters with other bottish, whoa re the real stars (or guest stars, as there seems to be a different non-recurring set in each episode), with distinctive personalities. The humans all kind of blur together for me, and generally they're idiots (I'm starting to sound like murderbot). One thing I feel obliged to note, the term for sexbots is uncomfortably reminiscent of the term used for forced prostitutes in WWII, which is either cleverly deliberate or unintentionally disturbing (like the confederacy overtones in Firefly, although I suppose that could …
I read this one out of order, after #3 and #4 because they were in Volume 2, but now I'm filled in the missing backstory. This settles the question whether the stories are readable as standalones, yes they are, but reading in order helps to understand the references to past murderbot mayhem, and uncomfortable human feeeelings, and ships passing in the night encounters with other bottish, whoa re the real stars (or guest stars, as there seems to be a different non-recurring set in each episode), with distinctive personalities. The humans all kind of blur together for me, and generally they're idiots (I'm starting to sound like murderbot). One thing I feel obliged to note, the term for sexbots is uncomfortably reminiscent of the term used for forced prostitutes in WWII, which is either cleverly deliberate or unintentionally disturbing (like the confederacy overtones in Firefly, although I suppose that could have been cleverly deliberate). Anyway, back on track and on to #5.
Another re-read. Still love Murderbot an unreasonable amount, they are just so sweet. The story is enjoyable, and Artificial Condition expands the world, and Murderbot's circle of acquaintances, much to my delight. ART is such a perfect companion for Murderbot.
if this book had a subtitle, it should be "a robot's guide to masking" or something along those lines.
the parallels between Eden and autism seem even more overt than they were in ASR. I wasn't sure if I was correctly reading between the lines in ASR, but very little twixt-line reading is needed for this one.
The relationship between Murderbot and ART was one of the most adorable and hilarious things I've read recently. Hoping they get to meet again in the future.
Another enjoyable episode in the series. A bit better than the first.
J'avais apprécié le tome 1 de l'Assassynth comme un bon page turner et une personnalité atypique pour une IA rogue dans la SF. Le tome 2 offre l'opportunité d'étendre un peu plus l'univers dans lequel Assassynth évolue, et de lae voir relationner avec des humains et d'autres machines. Et c'est à la fois très drôle et relatable. On ne s'imagine pas un assassin avoir de l'anxiété sociale, et pourtant! Et il y a de la queerness à laquelle je ne m'attendais pas du tout, c'est validé! Côtés points négatifs, certains concepts et noms mériteraient d'être explicités (c'est quoi un MedSys, la différence entre synthétique, bot, augmenté, humain, et pourquoi un killware ça fonctionne sur l'un et pas sur l'autre???); et il ne se passe finalement pas énormément de choses. Ce tome a ravivé mon intérêt pour la série en tout cas.
I'm not enjoying this as deeply as the first time and I'm getting distracted a lot, but it's rly nice still. I love ART.
Murderbot is such a fun character. Never thought a construct could be so relatable but it’s just the cutest. I love when it gets bewildered by humans.
Finished book 1 and went straight into book 2. Murderbot just keeps on coming, and I ain't gonna get in its way!
