System Collapse takes place not long after the events of Network Effect. The University of Mihira and New Tideland (with the assistance of Preservation) is attempting to extricate the surviving colonists from the planet and from being carted off into indentured servitude by the Barish-Estranza corporation.
The book opens up with Murderbot on the planet and attempting to take down feral agricultural bots. (And we know how much Murderbot loves being on planets.) The situation goes downhill from here, as the surviving colonists reveal that a group of colonists separated from the other factions and have been out of contact for years. Murderbot ends up with the team going out to make contact. (Or alternatively, seeing if the separatists are even alive.)
This leads to good news and bad news. The good news is that the separatists are both alive and have not been infected with toxic alien remnants. The bad news is that a team from Barish-Estranza has gotten there first, and is attempting to manipulate the separatists into signing up for slave labor while smearing the University. (Your silver lining: The separatists don’t trust the corporation any more than they trust the University representatives. This is also the lead lining.)
System Collapse is a tightly written story, with lots of dramatic tension as Murderbot and company try to find a way to save the colonists from corporation control. There are also moments of humor–that turned down the tension just a little before it started ramping up again. Murderbot ends up stretching its skill sets in interesting ways in this book and continues to be Very Good At Its Job, even while dealing with redacted.
This was a fast-paced read, with lots of fun character moments. This was another great installment in the Murderbot series and I really enjoyed it. I highly recommend it.
This review is based on a galley of the book that I received via NetGalley.
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