Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

System Collapse by Martha Wells

4 reviews

jodar's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

My overall expectations were a little disappointed in this instalment of the Murderbot Diaries series.

I found the beginning a bit disjointed, unfocused and slow, with too many disparate things happening at once. From about midway the action picks up noticeably and there is better focus. The delectable full honesty and internal sarcasm of Murderbot also comes more into play.

I particularly liked Murderbot’s interactions with other sentient AI systems, bots and ‘sub-bots’. Then again, none of Murderbot’s interactions with humans seemed to be as deep or as psychologically impactful as in previous instalments. Nor, somehow, did the novel sparkle with the same intensity or with as much ‘joy of being sentient’. 

Not unexpectedly, a bit of the author’s leftist identity politics and anti-capitalism features as well, but it’s not overpowering and easily ignored. My guess is these elements will date the most over time.

Nonetheless, I’m glad to have read it and fully recommend it to other Murderbot fans. I’m also hoping this novel is transitional to something a little different and more enticing in Murderbot’s next adventure.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Slavery, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Trafficking

Minor: Kidnapping

uranaishi's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Violence, Medical trauma, Trafficking, Gun violence, and Murder

Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Blood, Death, Outing, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Confinement, and Sexual content

bergha1998's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I have enjoyed this whole series this far, should I have reacquainted myself with the last 6 books before reading this one? Probably. But as always I enjoyed the dry humor and perilous adventures. This is such a fun series to think further about what it means to be a human. 

Found Family, AIs 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Blood, Body horror, Colonisation, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Slavery, and Violence

Minor: Kidnapping and Genocide

scifi_rat's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Colonisation, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Death, Gore, Body horror, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Kidnapping