The Murderbot Diaries: An Exploration of 'Artificial Condition'

Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐️

Artificial Condition is the second Murderbot Diaries novella and the one that sold me on the series. Murderbot investigates the mining incident buried in its past and meets ART, a sarcastic research transport that becomes the best character in the series. If book one left you unsure, this is the one that decides it.

Murderbot Investigates Its Own Past

Artificial Condition by Martha Wells is the second book in the Murderbot Diaries series, and it is even more engaging and thrilling than the first one. In this book, Murderbot, a self-aware security unit who hacked its own governor module, decides to investigate its past and find out why it killed a group of humans in a mining incident.

Along the way, it encounters a sentient transport ship that calls itself ART (short for Asshole Research Transport), and they form an unlikely friendship based on their mutual love of media and sarcasm. Murderbot also meets a group of humans who need its protection from a mysterious threat, and it has to balance its own mission with its growing attachment to them.

Enter ART

I really enjoyed this book because it expanded the world and the characters of the series. ART was a great addition to the story, and I loved the interactions between ART and Murderbot. They had a lot of witty banter and humorous moments, but they also showed genuine care and respect for each other.

ART helped Murderbot to understand itself better and to develop more social skills, while Murderbot taught ART about empathy and loyalty through their mutual love for the show Sanctuary Moon.

The Plot and the People

The plot was also fast-paced and exciting, with plenty of action and suspense. The mystery of Murderbot's past was intriguing and revealed some surprising twists and secrets. The human characters were mostly forgettable and I wasn't too invested in them.

Murderbot getting invested, feeling attachment, figuring out and solving the issue of "The Crew" was interesting. I was hoping that ART continues the journey with Murderbot but it doesn't seem like it.

A 2026 note from the future: be patient. ART returns in Network Effect, and when it does, it carries an entire novel.

Verdict: 3.5/5

I thought the first book in the Murderbot series was just okay and was skeptical about the rating and reviews this series has received, that is until I read this book, which sold me on the unique premise. The short 3.5 hour length of these books also makes it quite easy to quickly read through. I'm off to the next book to see what's next in store for Murderbot.

Reading the series in 2026? My Murderbot Diaries reading order guide has every book and short story in sequence, updated for Platform Decay.

Quick Answers

Do I need to read All Systems Red before Artificial Condition?

Yes. The governor module hack and the GrayCris setup both happen in book one, and Murderbot's investigation here only makes sense with that context.

Who or what is ART?

ART (Asshole Research Transport) is the sentient research vessel Murderbot meets in this book. It becomes the most important non-Murderbot character in the series.

How long is Artificial Condition?

Around 3.5 hours on audio, like the other early novellas. Easy to finish in a single sitting.

Is Artificial Condition better than All Systems Red?

For me, yes. Book one is setup; this is where the series finds its voice, mostly because of ART.