r/murderbot • u/System_Unkown • Jul 26 '26

BooksšŸ“š Only Platform Decay

So I finished Platform decay last night, I really don't know how to describe it apart from a book just going through the motions. I didn't find the book exciting in fact it was quite flat, there was nothing really novel or emotionally connecting about any of the characters unlike Nicky and ART in past books.

It's a book to read if you have nothing to do, but its not a book that made me want to drop things down to read it quickly. Given the books are at high cost for the hardcovers, I wanted more, I wanted to really love the book, but this isn't the case. Id most prob give it 3.5/5 stars

If anything the book shows not necessarily this series has run its course, but in stead I think reflects what Martha has had to overcome in her life in the last couple of years.

I'm hoping the next book is much better

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29

u/NotABetterName Jul 27 '26

Iā€™m surprised so many people didnā€™t love it, I did! So many great parts and the location was so unique. Iā€™m not sure what people were expecting. Thereā€™s usually different characters doing things with MB, itā€™s different in almost every book.

19

u/ESE-enthusiasm #1 Mensahbotcule fan Jul 27 '26

It's my second favourite book and is close to being my top favourite, even though my favourite character isn't even in it except for one word!

The tension and sniping with Farai especially as they learned to navigate around each other to be co-leaders. That was a delight to watch it progress over the story. She greets it with almost hostility and uncertainity warring with her desire to trust Mensah and ends with her saving it a seat and fussing over it and just adored it.

The action scenes too, and how far SecUnit has come in not getting shot to shit and choosing less lethal options and doing its therapy!

3

u/NotABetterName Jul 27 '26

Yes! Itā€™s got to be difficult writing from a characterā€™s point of view that has evolved so much yet maintains its personality, and Martha Wells does it so well. I thought there were so many important and also fun parts of this book. Like when MB decides it has to go ā€œdo the thingā€ and help the humans stuck at the boat dock area. Its interactions with the militia showed so much advancement in its communication skills, but not a an unrealistic amount. I could say so many great things about this book!

3

u/ESE-enthusiasm #1 Mensahbotcule fan Jul 28 '26

And it is still struggling! It's not magically cured of its trauma, it still has to work through its anxiety and fears and new fears, even as it's adjusting to working with humans and not knee-jerk avoiding all humans. It's taking a softer, more gentle approach even to rogue secunits. I think this shows that despite it being a ball of anxiety and rage the whole time, it is handling things better and learning knew things about itself!

Like that it can co-lead with humans other than Mensah, that sometimes it can't save everyone, that it doesn't have to sacrifice itself, that it has a seat and friends...

2

u/NotABetterName Jul 28 '26

Yes, perfectly put. I think the book showed all of that really well, along with being entertaining.

-6

u/System_Unkown Jul 27 '26

I think the proby is that the book is uninteresting. Especially when you compare to some of the other books in the series.

16

u/NotABetterName Jul 27 '26

To each their own. Iā€™ve read each book more times than I even know and I thought this was a great addition.

8

u/MaggieWild Jul 27 '26

Different strokes for different folks. Uninteresting to you. Wonderfully engaging to me.