Network Effect (Dramatized Adaptation)

The Murderbot Diaries, Book 5

By: Martha Wells

Narrated by: full cast, Debi Tinsley, Emily Beresford, Eva Wilhelm, David Cui Cui, Crystal Lee, Elena Anderson, Natalie Van Sistine, Alejandro Ruiz, Amanda Forstrom, Christopher Williams, Colleen Delany

Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

The first full-length dramatized audiobook in Martha Wells' New York Times and USA Today bestselling Murderbot Diaries series.

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 A.I. you’ll hear 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.

Performed by David Cui Cui, Crystal Lee, Elena Anderson, Natalie Van Sistine, Alejandro Ruiz, Amanda Forstrom, Christopher Williams, Colleen Delany, Debi Tinsley, Emily Beresford, Eva Wilhelm, Gabriel Michael, Gail Shalan, Holly Adams, Ken Jackson, Khaya Fraites, Laura C. Harris, Lise Bruneau, Lydia Kraniotis, Marni Penning, Nick Russo, Samantha Cooper, Sarah Ruth Thomas, Scott McCormick, Shanta Parasuraman, Thomas Penny, Triya Leong, Tyler Hyrchuk, Yasmin Tuazon and Zeke Alton.

©2020 Martha Wells (P)2024 Graphic Audio LLC

The wonderful vocal cast

I have been steadily working my way through the dramatized adaptions and have to share how much FUN I am having in the listening. I love the full cast and special effect sounds, and think the David Cui Cui does a great job as Murderbot in his delivery.

Best of the series

The whole series is good, 100% worth the listen, but this book is the best of the series IMHO. I wish I had listened to this as book #6 not #5 though - it works better that way.

Really excellent!

Graphic Audio performed a fantastic production of Martha Well’s Network Effect. The actor who narrates MurderBot is perfect for the character’s inner and outer voice. The book was great and this production upped the excitement and engagement level to a 10!

Very nice audio performance… but

The cast performance was good. The production edit had glitches. Repeats of segments. Edits that were left uncut when a performer said, “typo”. Audio quality was “meh”.

did not really enjoy this version

I tried to like it. I really did but it did not have the charm of the one read by Kevin Free. MB was different, the voice for ART was way too feminine, and just the voices did not match the characters which made it very difficult to listen to.

Good readers, not well chosen for the characters.

I’ve listened to the audio books a number of times each - it’s my current Sanctuary Moon - and didn’t get very far with this.
I believe the story adaptation is very good.
The readers are skilled, I’d listen to them read an audio book and be happy about it.

I wish they’d kept the same reader for murderbot. He does an excellent job of being dry, sarcastic and vulnerable.
Mensa sounds like she’s between 18 and 20 years old - would have been a good reader for Amina - and the character is lost.
The dramatized readers lean on and emphasize the sarcasm in the characters, and are less layered or complex in their presentation.
If this was book one I’d stick it out and see how it evolves but as it is won’t be buying more of the dramatized versions.

didn't like it

maybe I just don't like dramatized adaptations, idk. i liked the audiobook but I hated this.