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Network Effect cover art

Network Effect

By: Martha Wells
Narrated by: Kevin R. Free
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Publisher's Summary

Martha Wells' New York Times and USA Today best-selling Murderbot series exploded onto the scene in 2017, and the world has not been the same, since.

Murderbot returns in its highly anticipated, first full-length stand-alone novel, Network Effect.

You know that feeling when you’re at work and you’ve had enough of people, and then the boss walks in with yet another job that needs to be done right this second or the world will end, but all you want to do is go home and binge your favorite shows? And you're a sentient murder machine programmed for destruction? Congratulations, you're Murderbot.

Come for the pew-pew space battles, stay for the most relatable AI you’ll listen to this century.

I’m usually alone in my head, and that’s where 90-plus percent of my problems are.

When Murderbot's human associates (not friends, never friends) are captured and another not-friend from its past requires urgent assistance, Murderbot must choose between inertia and drastic action.

Drastic action it is, then.

©2020 Martha Wells (P)2020 Recorded Books

What listeners say about Network Effect

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  • Overall
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    4 out of 5 stars

Not as enjoyable as previous books

I enjoyed all the previous books but this just didnt live up to that same level. Having a section near the end where characters just explain the plot so the reader knows whats been happening, seems like bad storytelling. The story should unfold and flow so that an explanation isn't necessary. There's also a lot of emotion in this, or at least an attempt at it, which doesn't really work with the character. I prefer my murderbots a bit more bot and less whining human. The fun humour of the previous books seemed to be largely missing as well. This felt more of a chore to finish, which was a shame as I had been really looking forward to it

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Kevin R Free perfect choice for Muderbot

Great story...’suitably unrealistic’ ...just how Murderbot and ART would want. Free’s voice is pleasant to listen to. I listened to four of these books one after the other.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent.

Witty and fast-paced science fiction with likable (or at least, relatable) characters. Well narrated.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Wonderful story, fantastic narration.

A highly enjoyable first murderbot novel proper. The voice work really brings it to life.

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  • Ken
  • 14-01-2021

A heading is both "optional" and "required"

To be honest I found the details of the story a bit hard to follow. I'm a huge fan of Murderbot from the series of short novelas and I always wished the author would write something longer but now that I got it, it maybe didn't work so well for me. Despite that, my love for the murderbot series keeps my eager for more.

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  • Overall
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Great story

Good storyline and characterisation. excellent narration captures the tone perfectly. I couldn’t stop until the end

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Loved It!

Once again Murderbot entertains and didplays such humanity that the humans seem shadows compared to it . Narrator was just perfect

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Like all the Murderbot stories, the characterisation of Murderbot itself is the best aspect of the story.

Some of the narrator's choices for character voices were a bit strange. To be fair, he had dozens of characters to portray and even the most versatile voice actors would be running low on range.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Another great Murderbot story

Fast paced and intriguing, but you need to listen to the first books in the series before this one. As always, Martha Wells doesn’t disappoint!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So much fun.

The characters are engaging and humorous. The narrator is perfect for the Sec unit and easily changes and identifies all the other characters. I couldn't put this book down. The end holds the promise of more adventures. I can't wait for the next book.

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