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Publisher's Summary

The follow-up to the hugely popular science fiction action-adventure All Systems Red

Artificial Condition continues The Murderbot Diaries, a science fiction series that tackles questions of the ethics of sentient robotics. It appeals to fans of Westworld, Ex Machina, Ann Leckie's Imperial Raadch series, or Iain M. Banks' Culture novels. The main character is a deadly security droid that has bucked its restrictive programming and is balanced between contemplative self-discovery and an idle instinct to kill all humans. "As a heartless killing machine, I was a complete failure."

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 vessel 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.
©2018 Martha Wells (P)2018 Recorded Books

What members say

Average Customer Ratings

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Audible.com.au reviews
Audible.com reviews
Audible.co.uk reviews
Amazon Reviews
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fabulous sequel

I loved, loved, loved the first instalment, Rogue Protocol and the highly anticipated book two does not disappoint.
Human shy and weary but hooked on the escapism of soap operas, Murderbot reluctantly befriends ART, a research transport ship. Their interactions are quite hilarious and their bonding over episodes of Sanctuary Moon especially so. Murderbot, a once rogue killer does not remember or understand the circumstances that made it kill. ART wants to help, which means Murderbot gets a private security job sans face mask. A Sec Unit pretending to be human helping young, out of their depths, scientists in a diabolical situation. Murderbot is all heart and then - Bam Bam, what moves!
I could not recommend this series enough. Short but packed with goodness. Worth every cent. I bought the kindle deal - book and narration.
Great narration too btw. Young Adult.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
  • Tim
  • 21-05-2018

Short and kinda boring. No where near as good 1st

Not going to read the others. This felt like half an adventure and didn't really expand on the previous book. Yeah you see a space station or two but it all felt a bit lazy

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • BobDog
  • 22-05-2018

As before, MORE ADVENTURES PLEASE!

Once again the author wrote in an admirable style. She put in everything that needed to be there and took out everything that did not need to be there. No extra fluff for side characters that mean nothing, nothing added to simply increase bulk. Great story, had to read (listen to) the whole thing at once.

But it was so enjoyable, as the first book was, that I have to ask that next time perhaps the author could give us a longer story just to extend the experience. But don’t let some editor make you put in side stories, irrelevant descriptions or other silly filler. Keep the same voice and writing style, Martha!

Her writing and inventiveness makes me want to immediately reread / re-listen to both Murderbot books. It’s been a long time since I’ve done that with any sci-fi.

Looks like we have a new stellar writer here, giving us a winning and fresh character in unpredictable new situations.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
  • J. Eisenach
  • 16-05-2018

This series should be one book

Not worth spending multiple credits on this decent books series. The stories are basically short stories and should be combined into 1 book. Upset I wasted credits on these books as they are mediocre compared to many other in the same genre.

27 of 33 people found this review helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • M. Lafferty
  • 02-07-2018

Even better than the first

The followup to Wells' Nebula-winning All Systems Red is even better than book one. I loved Murderbot even more this time around. Murderbot makes a friend, ART, and that relationship is interesting to watch play out. Even as Murderbot changes as a character, it still has very nonhuman thoughts just at the point where we think it has become more human (eg, the moment at the end where we think Murderbot has made a new friend).

I can't wait for book 3.

As for the length, I don't know what people are complaining about. Audible doesn't hide how long the book is; it's right there. This is a novella series published by a company that is dominating the novella market with amazing titles (check out Nnedi Okorafor's Binti and Matt Wallace's Envy of Angels next). Don't complain about something because you didn't pay attention.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • FA in Austin
  • 23-06-2018

Fun and fast!

Really enjoyed this sequel -- if the first one was more of an action-adventure plot, this one takes an almost noir-ish turn, as Murderbot has to deal with some of the issues in its history. There's more of a focus on self-knowledge, even when it isn't entirely welcome. The back and forth between ART and Murderbot is wonderful (and laugh out loud funny at points).

Very much looking forward to the next one in the series!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Silas
  • 20-06-2018

Great

Concise, great writing. I don’t know why one is required to put fifteen words when three will do.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
  • Anonymous User
  • 23-05-2018

Good but short

This was well written but too short. The characters were not really developed and may not be worth the cost.

11 of 14 people found this review helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Amy Keller
  • 29-05-2018

Fun, but too expensive...

Books in series have average of 3 hours... Probably will wait for an omnibus to finish series.

6 of 8 people found this review helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • OhYesCWill
  • 03-07-2018

great story!

The murderbot stories are exceptionally entertaining. Kevin R Free couldn't be a more perfect narrator. He IS murderbot!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Marshall T. Rose
  • 18-06-2018

enjoyable and provoking!

a wonderful story of a rogue secbot selling the truth behind is memories. oh, those humans!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • mblack
  • 13-06-2018

Fun book!

I hope there are more coming. I loved both the first book and this one. MurderBot is a great character and loved the interaction he had with ART.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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  • paul sparks
  • 15-05-2018

More of the murderbot saga

I really enjoy this series of stories but find it hard to call these novels as they are more short stories / novellas and as such should be priced accordingly, I bought the first story on amazon and paid nearly £13 for a very short albeit enjoyable book, this time I purchased the story on Audible (obviously) and I will purchase the other stories in the murderbot diaries in the same manner as it’s more economical, griping aside the stories are well worth a listen 😀

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
  • D. Marsh
  • 06-07-2018

Good and well narrated, very short though

Not worth a whole credit due to short length. Nice story and from a robot perspective.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Jacqueline
  • 09-05-2018

Small but perfectly formed

Free to follow its own desires, Murderbot hitches a ride on an AI survey ship ART, and heads out to try to find the truth about its bloody past.
Along the way it forms it’s first friendship , rescues a hapless group of humans from deadly corporate games, acquires some facial hair and demonstrates why you really shouldn’t make it angry!
Funny and touching by turns, without sentimentality.
The reader adds to the depth of the story, beautiful performance.
I hope the series continues.