Platform Decay by Martha Wells

 

A self-named Murderbot with a general disdain for humans, a longing to be left alone, and a deep desire to do nothing more than watch the thousands of hours of soap operas it has downloaded for entertainment is one of the most relatable and enjoyable creations in all of science fiction. Eight books into the series, and there is still not a character I enjoy spending time with more than Murderbot.

Platform Decay picks up right where the previous book, System Collapse, ends. Murderbot is on a mission to rescue members of Dr. Mensah's family who are trapped on a massive, planet-encircling space station. The station is on alert for a possible incursion, which makes things just a little bit trickier. And the people being rescued include children. As Murderbot might respond to its newly installed Emotion Check device's inquiry as to how it's feeling: "Ugh".

The shorter length of the books in this series, usually clocking in between 150 and 250 pages, creates a steady pace where the action is continuously moving forward. Murderbot is always making and revising plans, looking out for danger, and searching for an opportunity to watch one more episode of its favorite shows. The dry humor is a constant, but the emotional growth, especially related to the humans it has allowed to get close, is significant. This is highlighted by the presence of Three, another Security Unit that Murderbot helped jailbreak its governor module, and who is experiencing free will for the first time. Three shows us sort of a youthful exuberance that is greatly tempered in the more experienced Murderbot.

The station setting is another fascinating one. Different zones run by different corporations, different biomes, and different advantages or obstacles are very creative. I would enjoy spending more time in this setting. The threat from the corporations feels somewhat muted here, as Murderbot’s planning skills and hacking abilities keep it consistently one step ahead. The greater danger is from the humans under its care who just don't listen enough! There are some great action scenes along the way, combining a little brute force, some gunplay, some explosions, and some trickery. The ending is a little anticlimactic compared to some other books in the series. It feels like it's building to a potentially dangerous situation that then quietly resolves.

This isn't an ideal entry point for those new to the series, although fans of the previous books and perhaps even fans of the Apple TV show will enjoy it. Even when this installment doesn’t reach the heights of the series’ best entries, it is time well spent. Murderbot is always a comfort read. 

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.