Preview
  • Artificial Condition

  • By: Martha Wells
  • Narrated by: Kevin R. Free
  • Length: 3 hrs and 21 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (10,904 ratings)

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Artificial Condition

By: Martha Wells
Narrated by: Kevin R. Free
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Publisher's summary

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
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Science fiction is a genre as diverse as you can imagine. There are stories that take place in deep space, often depicting teams exploring or running away from something; stories that focus on life at the most cellular level, such as a pandemic tale; and stories that take place in times that feel similar to our own. Depicting themes of existentialism, philosophy, hubris, and personal and historical trauma, sci-fi has a cadre of topics and moods.

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

What listeners say about Artificial Condition

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I adore Murderbot!!!

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!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Murder Bot is as hilarious as they are awkward.

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.

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Love this series

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

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    5 out of 5 stars
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I love it!

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

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    5 out of 5 stars
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I LOVE MURDERBOT

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

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

terrible ending he just walks away No goodbyes .t

too sgort books 1 and 2
terrible endings. I hate when then story just ends. never did understand why he murdered all those people.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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I love it!

I just wish it had been longer. I can't wait for the next one! This series is great.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great Story! To short

Murder Bot continues his loveable antics right where the first book left off. Struggling to find his place in the verse dispite constant social adversity and laughable physical threats.

My only complaint revolves around the dollars per hour cost of the book but as long as the quality stays this high I will continue to buy future instalments.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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I love ART.

Of the four books in the series this is my favorite. I liked the discussions between Murderbot and ART most of all because of the idea of two bots discussing how they deal with humans.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Terminator? Berserker? Not quite.

A very enjoyable series as “Murderbot” tries to find himself and search for the meaning of his “life”. Performed very well by Kevin R. Free.

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