After the intensity of System Collapse, it is rather nice to find myself back with Murderbot in a slightly more contained adventure. Platform Decay takes us back to the sort of story that first made me fall in love with the Murderbot Diaries, a relatively focused problem, a bunch of people making questionable decisions and one spectacularly capable SecUnit trying to keep everything from going completely to hell.

And, at last, we’re back to the shorter stories.

I have to admit, there is something comforting about returning to the novella format. I enjoyed the larger scope of Network Effect and System Collapse, but there is a particular rhythm to these shorter Murderbot stories that works extremely well. Wells can drop us straight into a situation, give Murderbot a problem it absolutely does not want, and then let us enjoy the consequences without a lot of unnecessary padding.

The setting here is particularly well suited to that approach. Murderbot finds itself dealing with the aftermath of a station that is suffering from serious decay and malfunction, with the usual combination of technical problems, corporate complications and humans who seem determined to make everything more difficult than it needs to be.

Naturally, Murderbot would much rather be watching its entertainment feeds.

Unfortunately for it, that is rarely how these things work.

One of the things I continue to enjoy most about these stories is that Murderbot is almost always the most competent entity in the room. It can assess threats, analyse systems and work out solutions at a speed that leaves everyone else struggling to catch up. Yet none of that makes it particularly enthusiastic about being responsible for other people’s safety.

That contradiction is still enormously entertaining.

What makes Platform Decay work particularly well for me is the feeling that I am spending time with a character I know rather than being introduced to another version of the same basic idea. After this many books, I recognise Murderbot’s habits, its defensive sarcasm and its tendency to complain about situations that it will inevitably end up fixing.

There is something almost reassuring about that.

The story also gives us another opportunity to see the complicated relationship Murderbot has developed with humans. It still dislikes being treated as a piece of equipment, but it is increasingly difficult for it to pretend that its relationships with other people are irrelevant. Its decisions are no longer simply about following orders or completing a contract. Murderbot has developed its own priorities, and those priorities are becoming increasingly personal.

I particularly enjoy the fact that Wells never makes this transformation feel sentimental. Murderbot does not suddenly become comfortable with emotions or decide that human interaction is wonderful. It remains sarcastic, suspicious and socially awkward. It simply finds itself making choices that reveal rather more about its feelings than it would probably like.

That is one of the reasons I have become so invested in the series.

There is also a satisfying amount of world-building packed into the story. The Murderbot universe has gradually become much bigger since All Systems Red, with corporate interests, artificial intelligences, SecUnits and questions about autonomy becoming increasingly important. Platform Decay adds another little piece to that universe without allowing the wider lore to overwhelm the immediate story.

The smaller scale actually makes the setting feel more believable to me. Not every problem in this universe needs to threaten an entire civilisation. Sometimes things just break, corporations cut corners, people make bad decisions and somebody has to sort out the resulting disaster.

Unfortunately for Murderbot, that somebody is often Murderbot.

There is plenty of humour throughout, particularly in the contrast between the seriousness of the problems and Murderbot’s attitude towards them. I still find its internal commentary one of the most enjoyable parts of the series. It can be facing a genuinely dangerous situation while simultaneously being far more annoyed about having to talk to someone than about the possibility of being killed.

That remains very much my sort of humour.

The audiobook is once again brilliantly handled by Kevin R Free. By this point, his performance has become an essential part of the experience for me. The quality of expression and depth of character he brings to Murderbot are particularly impressive, allowing the sarcasm to land while also giving us the quieter emotional moments underneath it. He understands exactly how much can be communicated through a change in tone, and his interpretation of Murderbot feels completely natural.

After so many books, I genuinely cannot imagine anyone else narrating these stories.

My only real complaint is that, having become this attached to Murderbot and the wider cast, I always want more. The return to the shorter format is welcome, but it also means I reach the end far too quickly. I suppose this is a problem I have created for myself by becoming emotionally invested in a fictional security unit who would probably prefer I kept my distance.

Platform Decay is another thoroughly enjoyable addition to the Murderbot Diaries. It gives us a focused story, plenty of sarcastic Murderbot commentary, some interesting world-building and another reminder of why this series has become such an easy recommendation for me.

I started these books because I wanted entertaining science fiction with a funny, antisocial protagonist.

I am now several stories in, looking forward to every new excuse Martha Wells can find to put Murderbot in danger.

I suspect Murderbot would have some fairly strong opinions about that.

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