Platform Decay by Martha Wells is the next installment in her beloved Murderbot Diaries series. Once again, we’re back in the company of our favorite SecUnit as it attempts a rescue mission that is never, ever as simple as it sounds. This time, Murderbot is trying to extract Dr. Mensah’s family from a very dangerous situation, the one human it genuinely considers a friend.

With help from Three, the SecUnit it previously freed in Network Effect, Murderbot infiltrates a planetary torus (a massive ring-shaped space station) to locate Mensah’s family and get them out of the safehouse where they’ve been hiding. Getting there involves navigating layers of security systems, corporate interference, and the added annoyance of a new mental health module that periodically checks in on Murderbot’s emotional state. As always, its sarcastic internal commentary makes these moments especially entertaining.

Since this is a novella, it’s best not to dig too deeply into plot specifics. Suffice it to say, Murderbot finds the family, encounters an old enemy, and ends up rescuing far more than originally planned, all while staying one step ahead of a security company determined to stop them at any cost.

In the end, Platform Decay delivers everything fans of the series have come to love: sharp science fiction concepts, strong character work, and humor that ranges from dry to laugh-out-loud funny. While new readers may feel a bit lost without familiarity with earlier books, longtime fans will find this a wonderful addition to the series. If you haven’t started The Murderbot Diaries yet, this novella is a great reminder of why it’s worth reading every single one.

Thank you to Tor Publishing Group, the author Martha Wells, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.