Artificial Condition Audiobook By Martha Wells cover art

Artificial Condition

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Artificial Condition

By: Martha Wells
Narrated by: Kevin R. Free
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The follow-up to the hugely popular science fiction action-adventure All Systems Red

Artificial Condition continues The Murderbot Diaries, a science fiction series that tackles questions of the ethics of sentient robotics. It appeals to fans of Westworld, Ex Machina, Ann Leckie's Imperial Raadch series, or Iain M. Banks' Culture novels. The main character is a deadly security droid that has bucked its restrictive programming and is balanced between contemplative self-discovery and an idle instinct to kill all humans. "As a heartless killing machine, I was a complete failure."

It has a dark past - one in which a number of humans were killed. A past that caused it to christen itself "Murderbot." But it has only vague memories of the massacre that spawned that title, and it wants to know more.

Teaming up with a Research Transport vessel named ART (you don't want to know what the "A" stands for), Murderbot heads to the mining facility where it went rogue.

What it discovers will forever change the way it thinks.

©2018 Martha Wells (P)2018 Recorded Books

Accolades & Awards

Hugo Award
2019
Locus Award
2019
Hugo Award Locus Award Science Fiction Adventure Witty Fiction Hard Science Fiction Heartfelt Feel-Good Artificial Intelligence

Featured Article: 12 of the Best Sci-Fi Series in Audio


From the furthest reaches of space to the microbiology of pandemics and gene manipulation, to the future implications of technology for societies similar to our own, science fiction is a fascinating genre that offers listeners a wide variety of ways to access its themes. In looking for the best sci-fi audiobook series, it can be difficult to know where to start due to the genre's sheer number of iterations and variations. But what these series have in common is an acute devotion to telling a good story, as well as fully building out the worlds therein. The writing is enhanced by the creative and impassioned narration.

Featured Article 12 of the Best Sci Fi Series in Audio

Editor's Pick

Punchy and fun Hugo finalistl
"The first book in Martha Wells’s Murderbot Diaries series, All Systems Red, was recently named a 2018 Hugo Award finalist. It’s an excellent story and a great place to start if sarcastic quickwitted robots are your thing. With Artificial Condition, Wells has seized the opportunity to flush out Murderbot’s background and delivered another punchy and super fun addition to what is quickly becoming one of my favorite series. Kevin R. Free has a great approach to the performance as well; with his emphasis on Murderbot’s laid-back sardonic voice and perspective, never has a robot sounded so human."
—Michael D., Audible Editor

Engaging Plot • Witty Dialogue • Perfect Narration • Relatable Protagonist • Compelling Mystery • Fast-paced Action

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Murderbot is searching for an understanding of what happened the first time he went rogue... where people died, and when his mind was erased! In his search, he stows away on a research transport vessel with the tacit knowledge of the ship's AI pilot (ART), and pays for his passage by offering up hundreds of hours of entertainment video feeds.  What starts out as a simple enough transaction, actually turns into an uneasy alliance between the two bots... ART's main driving purpose is to fly, he is a ship, and take care of crew, since this leg of the trip is crew-less, ART is spending all of it's time offering Murderbot assistance and commentary... and of course watching vids... I love Murderbot's cynicism and almost-human-like morality, as he searches for his very own "Meaning of Life".
Again Kevin R Free gives us an awesome performance, catching all the nuances of Murderbot as he navigates between two worlds, of AI and human... 
I can't over recommend this action packed novella... the Murderbot Diaries are Terrific!

I adore Murderbot!!!

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These short novella books are turning out to be quite the riot and the perfect go to for a slow shift. I've immensely enjoyed the tale of an asshole ship playing therapist, a group of impetuous youths thinking they can take o the world and the poor Murder bot exasperated with them both.

Murder Bot is as hilarious as they are awkward.

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All Systems Red convinced me that I needed to get the series, and Artificial Condition did not disappoint.

Love this series

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I love this book and the whole series. I have purchased them all, and can't stop listening at every chance possible!

I love it!

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I have listened to this book 3 times and I love it SOOOO much, I cannot recommend this series enough.

I LOVE MURDERBOT

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