Platform Decay by Martha Wells – That’s What I’m Talking About…
Audiobook review: Platform Decay by Martha Wells
Murderbot is back!! Picking up an indeterminate time (but not too long) after the conclusion of the previous book (System Collapse), Platform Decay opens with Murderbot on a mission to extract three members of Dr. Mensah’s family from a Barish-Estranza installation. Readers are tossed right into the action and learn over time the events that lead up to the kidnapping of Farai (one of Mensah’s spouses), Sofi (one of her children), and Naja (a grandparent in the family unit).
I freakin’ love Murderbot, especially as performed by Kevin R. Free. Trademark features such as self-deprecating humor, a cynical outlook, media obsession, and methodical thinking are developing and maturing with every adventure Murderbot experiences.
For those (like me) who need a quick recap, Barish-Estranza is the corporation who wanted to claim a lost colony and Dr. Mensah was able to out maneuver the corporate supervisors. One supervisor in particular was targeted by her own corporation for her actions. Now she’s bargaining with Murderbot to have it extract some of her humans along side Mensah’s family.
While the action is exciting, it’s Murderbot’s interaction with humans and bots that makes this series so incredibly special. While Murderbot will never be (nor wants to be) human, it is evolving to better adapt, which includes experiencing emotions. It’s installed a modified mental health module so when certain chemicals show up in its system, it’s required to do an emotion check. From chapter 9 “Emotion check: having someone else support your bad decision feels kinda good.” It’s all so Murderbot! The emotional checks are hilarious but also a great indicator of how much work Murderbot has done to improve itself. It’s more aware of the need to say something during difficult times and can’t understand why it doesn’t want to disappoint Mensah or her family. I love how accepting the family is of Murderbot and its quirks.
Narration: The story is shared via the first person POV of Murderbot. Free does an amazing job portraying the non-human Murderbot by utilizing a somewhat bland, masculine voice for the narrator and character; however, Free’s performance of Murderbot has been adjusted over the series as it evolves emotion and connections. Free successfully alters dialogue based on gender, age, and accent, creating unique characters, which have also been refined as the series moves forward.
While I missed many of the series regulars, Platform Decay is an excellent story for fans of the series. I hope we don’t have to wait long for a new Murderbot tale!
My Ratings
Story: B+
Narration: A-
Jen
About the Book:
Everyone’s favorite lethal SecUnit is back in the next installment of Martha Wells’ bestselling and award-winning Murderbot Diaries series.
Having someone else support your bad decision feels kind of good.
After volunteering to run a rescue mission, Murderbot realizes that it will have to spend significant time with a bunch of humans it doesn’t know.
Including human children. Ugh.
This may well call for … eye contact!
(Emotion check: Oh, for f—)
Author: Martha Wells
Narrator: Kevin R. Free
Series: Murderbot Diaries #8
Genre: Science Fiction
Audiobook Release Date: May 5, 2026
Publisher: Recorded Books
Length: 6 hrs and 45 mins
Source: publisher
Audio Speed: 1.2x
