Rapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy

The Murderbot Diaries #2.5

by Martha Wells

Perihelion and its crew embark on a dangerous new mission at a corporate-controlled station in the throes of a hostile takeover...

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Fiction, Novella, Space, Ebooks, Space Opera

34 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 11, 2025

About the author

Martha Wells has been an SF/F writer since her first fantasy novel was published in 1993, and her work includes The Books of the Raksura series, the Ile-Rien series, The Murderbot Diaries series, and other fantasy novels, most recently Witch King (Tordotcom, 2023). She has also written media tie-in fiction for Star Wars, Stargate: Atlantis, and Magic: the Gathering, as well as short fiction, YA novels, and non-fiction. She has won Nebula Awards, Hugo Awards, Locus Awards, and a Dragon Award, and her work has appeared on the Philip K. Dick Award ballot, the British Science Fiction Association Award ballot, the USA Today Bestseller List, the Sunday Times Bestseller List, and the New York Times Bestseller List. She is a member of the Texas Literary Hall of Fame, and her books have been published in twenty-five languages.

She is also a consulting producer on The Murderbot Diaries series for Apple TV+.

Reviews

[MarilynW]

The Murderbot Diaries #2.5
Rapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy
By Martha Wells, narrated by Kevin R. Free

The title of this short story is Rapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy and you can throw in some snark, teasing, taunting, and baiting, as the crew works itself through a dangerous mission. Nerves are on edge for a few of the crew, the more experienced are communicating on closed coms, and there is some reprimanding going on when needed. All while the crew is doing their job, trying not to be noticed, and trying not to make contact with those who would be glad to capture and/or kill them.

Having read, actually listened, to all the Murderbot stories so far, this one takes us back in time and ART is such a fun character to follow. ART has personal things going on and has realized it doesn't want to share everything that is going on when it comes to a personal situation. If you can read this series from the beginning, you'll understand the characters better than just jumping in, but either way, this short story is cute and showcases how a team must work together despite differences and sometimes lack of understanding on the part of some.

The sound effects really add to this short story and set the listener in a bustling environment where sad things are taking place. As usual, Kevin R. Free is the voice of this series and he's always in my head for a week after listening to each of these books. If you can get the audiobook edition of each book in the story, the audiobooks are so worth it, with not only great voice acting but also the various sound effects throughout each story.

Publication September 1, 2026

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC

[Nataliya]

“Did you meet someone?”

Well, yes, Martha Wells is finally giving the wink-wink, nudge-nudge to all of us who adore Murderbot/ART dynamic duo.

“It still sounded disgusting. “Do you have to call it a relationship?”
Ratthi shrugged one shoulder. “You don’t like the word ‘friendship.’ What else is there?”
I had no idea. I did a quick search on my archives and pulled out the first result. “Mutual administrative assistance?”

“Network Effect”, Murderbot not wanting to admit to (ick) feelings.

That was Murderbot itself (or, as it may be known to ART/Perihelion’s crew, “Peri’s SecUnit”) in Network Effect hopelessly trying to fight the indisputable fact of it and Asshole Research Transport sharing any feelings rapport (as ART calls it here, as two machine intelligences cannot possibly have feelings). (And by the way, you have to at least read Network Effect before this story as it helps to have some connection to the characters here who are not ART.)

It’s not much of a story but rather a sketch for die-hard fans who have been wondering how meeting Murderbot affected ART between Artificial Condition and Network Effect. Spoiler alert: it opened new horizons for a certain Perihelion who’s much more than a research transport, who “had been in a strange mood since it had come back from its last solo cargo run.” And we are not just talking about hacking security systems and new familiarity with SecUnit drones either.

“Peri added, ‘It has given me a better understanding of trauma.’
Trauma? Iris thought, taken aback. A machine intelligence with trauma? ‘I’m not saying I think you’d run off and fall in . . . have an understanding and rapport with a corporate transport. But . . .’ Iris gave in and covered her face. ‘Peri, please, it’s not a corporate transport, is it?’
‘It’s a rogue SecUnit.’ ”

Don’t get too attached to the idea of whatever mission Iris and Co. are going on with Perihelion. Even if we get a brief glimpse into a station on Corporation Rim, it’s really just a gift to fans who love Murderbot and ART, and even if SecUnit does not appear on page, it’s really all about it and the unexpected effect it had on its new best friend.

‘Oh. Oh, Peri.’ Iris found a seat on a rock. ‘So you really like this person?’
‘I had never encountered another machine intelligence that I could experience this kind of rapport with before.’

Rapport. I suppose that may beat Murderbot’s version of “Mutual Administrative Assistance”.

But we all know that it’s love and friendship.

Even if it’s “ick”.

4 stars. And I’m very glad that Murderbot TV show will continue for the second season (since this story was released to coincide with the season finale). Alexander Skarsgård has really grown on me as a perfect SecUnit (or Seccy, of you wish) even if he doesn’t sound quite like Kevin R. Free.
————

Read it here: https://reactormag.com/rapport-martha...

——————
Also posted on my blog.

[Danielle]

Though technically this short story falls in the chronological order as being 2.5 (after Artificial Condition) I would not recommend reading it until after finishing Network Effect (making it more a 5.5 [just remember to read Fugitive Telemetry before Network Effect]) due to major spoilers. They failed to mention this in the Reactor preview!

In short, without giving away the spoiler, if you want to discover who Perihelion is with Murderbot, wait until after Network Effect. If you are okay with discovering on your own, read after Artificial Condition.

Peri is hilarious, as always. An automatic five stars, as with the rest of the series. It’s Murderbot, it’s Martha Wells. It’s perfect for me.

***
An update to the readers who liked this comment: Murderbot technically knows who Perihelion is since the beginning of the series. We as the audience don’t know who it is until Network Effect. This doesn’t change where this story is technically placed in the series, nor my recommendation on how best to read it. Just know that Murderbot knows things that it is explicitly not telling us as we are reading along.

[Ms. Smartarse]

ART doth protest too much, and Iris finds out it's got a fella. With or without an umbrella.

Iris: I thought you hadn’t found any other machine intelligences outside the university that were, you know, up to your level.
ART: I haven’t found any inside the university, either.

=============
Review of book 0.5: Compulsory
Review of book 1: All Systems Red
Review of book 2: Artificial Condition
Review of book 3: Rogue Protocol
Review of book 4: Exit Strategy
Review of book 4.5: Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory
Review of book 5: Network Effect
Review of book 6: Fugitive Telemetry
Review of book 7: System Collapse

[Dee (in the desert)]

Nice short story in the "MurderBot" series - this one focusing on Perihelion (ART) and its crew and misson.

[Hirondelle (not getting all notifications)]

That Murderbot-ART relationship thing is totally an explicit thing now. And my shipping fangirl heart SHOULD have been all over this story, and kind of is in principle, but I am getting a bit queasy about it. I am not so sure if I want it all as clear cut and explicitly the focus as in here.

Also the murderbot universe is better from the PoV of non humans. Sorry, Iris, you are boring and I had a hard time keeping track of who these humans were, and whatever they were supposed to be feeling. I also kept forgetting what the mission was supposed to be. This is basically fanservice, awwww, ART developed feelings between volume 2 and 3, and it is competent fanservice, but it does not quit stand on its own and it felt a bit sappy, honestly.

Still, it is free on the reactor site (I still hate the name change) and I was always going to read it.

[MagretFume]

It felt like a Firefly episode, which is to say I loved it! 
Don't skip it. 

[Jim C]

Actual rating is 3.5 stars.

Even though this was just recently released it takes place earlier in the timeline. This takes place right after ART and our favorite Sec unit meet up. In this one ART tells its humans that it has someone new in its life.

With the first season of Murderbot in the books the author has released a short story that is free on reactormag.com. As for if this story has any vital importance for the overall story arc it does not. Instead it is a quick little story that is an analogy for real life situation. Instantly I believe most fans will love this as ART is a fan favorite. And we get his quick little snide remarks. We also get how ART has become more because of its interactions with Murderbot. This and ART telling its humans about Murderbot was where the analogy of a real life situation comes into play. It was like when someone tells his or her family there is someone new in their life and they are important in their life. Imagine a cargo robot ship doing this about a cyborg that has free will. That is what you get here and fans will gush over ART telling others about the importance of Murderbot.

I was going to just give this three stars. The final act is what pushed this for an addition of a half star. Up to that point it worked within this universe. But honestly I was saying what is the point of the story. The final act drove it home for me and put a smile on my face. Once again the author confidently showcases a message with a work that is not really lengthy in nature. This is a welcome addition to this universe.

[Christine Garrow]

The relationship between Murderbot and ART (also known as Perihelion, or Peri) has always felt special. They are both stubborn, secretive, and extraordinarily difficult with each other, yet they would clearly rather be irritated together than almost anywhere else.

Set after Artificial Condition and before Network Effect, Rapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy offers a brief but meaningful look at how meeting the rogue SecUnit affected Peri. When Perihelion and its crew embark on a dangerous mission at a corporate-controlled station, Iris notices that something about the transport has changed. Peri has acquired new capabilities, but its knowledge and attitude also suggest that far more happened during its recent solo mission than it has been willing to admit. Iris—who has a sibling-like relationship with Peri—eventually gets the transport to open up about its encounter with Murderbot.

Although Murderbot is not the central character here, its presence can be felt throughout the story. Peri’s reluctance to discuss what happened reveals just how important their connection has already become. The title is especially fitting: Murderbot and Peri may not use conventional language to describe their feelings, but what has formed between them is unmistakably a kind of friendship, solidarity, communion, and empathy.

Kevin R. Free’s familiar narration makes the audiobook feel like a natural return to the Murderbot universe, while the added sound design and effects complement the technological setting. The story is extremely short, and I would always prefer more time with these characters, but what we receive is worth it. Rather than simply revisiting a popular pairing, Martha Wells establishes how deeply this relationship has affected both parties and, in the process, reminds readers why it has moved us as well.

Now I am even more eager for the television series to introduce ART/Peri in a future season. Fans who became invested in this wonderfully antagonistic friendship during Artificial Condition will not want to miss this revealing interlude.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an advanced listener copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Wanda Pedersen]

You know how it is, when you find a new thing that excites you and you want to tell everyone? But maybe you're a machine intelligence and you don't have much experience with this feeling. And just maybe you're trying to emulate a person you admire. Feeling pulled between keeping a secret and shouting your happy news to the universe.

If you've wondered since reading Network Effect how exactly ART/Perihelion told his humans about his new crush, this short fiction is for you.

[Ian]

3.2⭐

One of Martha Wells' Murderbot fragments- very short stories that serve mostly as accents to the main series, rather than any major addition to it. The two previous story fragments were "Home: Habitat; Range: Niche; Territory" and "The Future of Work: Compulsory ". They are all worth reading, imo, though frustratingly short.

This one is not about Murderbot directly but centers on his friend ART and ART's crew, who we met in the last two novellas.. it's only 34 pages (e-book) but the story and writing are good enough that I wished it were a full blown novella or at least a real short story.

ART and company are on another mission to mitigate the indentured servitude of the Corporate Rim, where hostile takeovers are *really* hostile.

We get more details about the Corporate Rim and ART that provide context to the whole series but it's so brief that any plot discussion verges on spoiler territory.

I liked it but it felt too much like a teaser to be really satisfying.

[H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov]

A short and non-essential addition to the Murderbot galaxy.

I am less enthusiastic than Danielle but I think that her review is short and to the point.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My grumpy review checks most of her boxes. I don’t mind getting a smaller slice of pie, if the pie is fantastic. But aside from the introduction of a major character, this was more filler than filling. Tasty in my mouth but with no lasting glow of satisfaction.

3*

[Montzalee Wittmann]

Rapport
by Martha Wells
Although I enjoyed the very short story, 51 pgs., I didn't think it was worth 5 stars. I gave it 3.5. The story is from earlier in the series too. The SecUnit isn't even in this one.

[Marcie McPherson]

𝗦𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁. 𝗦𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝘀. 🤖❤️

A tiny Murderbot story that somehow packs in warmth, humour, loneliness, and all the awkward emotional goodness that makes this series so special.

Martha Wells is brilliant at creating connection through the smallest moments, and this captures that perfectly.

And ART might honestly be my favourite character, so naturally this landed right in my sweet spot.

[Ruxandra Grrr]

Giggled through most of it, to be quite honest. This had the very specific energy that made Network Effect my favorite in the whole series. Read it in the company of two friends and we all made cute, embarassing noises.

[Ian Payton]

A nice little nugget of Murderbot lore that shows how our favourite neurodivergent killing machine can have a lasting (and, I’d venture, positive) impact on the advanced sentient spaceship AIs that it meets along the way. Lovely to see ART/Peri finding new ways to flex :-)

[Dead Inside]

“Peri, please, it’s not a corporate transport, is it? It’s a rogue SecUnit.”

Another great installment into the Murderbot universe. My only issue is the length of this book. Just too short.

[Agnieszka na grzbietowisku]

Krótkie opowiadanko z perspektywy Periheliona, znanego też jako ART. Prosta historia, ale wzbudziła u mnie chęć powrotu do tego brudnego korporacyjnego świata i pewnej jednostki ochroniarskiej :)

[Obsidian]

"Rapport" follows Perihelion/Peri/ART and its crew while they are attempting a mission on a station that is dealing with a hostile takeover. You get to meet the crew that ART was ready to kill to get back in "Network Effect."

Well, that was delightful. It's a nice little interlude showing how much our ART (otherwise known as Peri) has changed since it met and established a friendship with Murderbot. I think that this is great to read after the events of "Network Effect" actually since you get to see the set-up to that book after the fact.

I also really loved Iris and Peri's relationship. Iris will often go private channel to have a talk with Peri and to tell it to knock it off because it's worrying their dads. And that right there shows what a great familial connection the two of them have. What I thought was cute was the fact that you get Iris just happy with the fact that maybe Peri has changed to care about something.

And I loved that we get the set-up of how and why Peri told its crew about Murderbot.

[Jen]

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!! We get ART’s story after meeting MurderBot!!!!!!

5, I just died and went to heaven and I NEED MORE MURDERBOT AND ART IN MY LIFE, stars!!

[❁lilith❁]

my least favourite but the standard is so high and this is only 40 pages

[Julie]

ART's humans start noticing changes in it's behavior. We know why, though.

It was short and sweet. Nice to read more about ART and to see it on a mission with it's humans. ART rules! Just not as much as Murderbot. Murderbot rules more!

[Kimbot the Destroyer]

I will 5 star ART content any way I can get it.

[Samantha (ladybug.books)]

Yay more ART!

Though technically set after Artificial Condition I would HIGHLY recommend waiting until you’ve read through AT LEAST Network Effect before picking this one up.

[James]

Giggling with delight, no notes

[Katie (Semi Hiatus)]

Hard for me to rate anything related to Murderbot a mere 3 but this isn’t on the same level as the rest. This short story (novelette?) isn’t bad but it doesn’t add much to the series. We get to see Peri interact with its humans. It’s fun to see how they view & interact with it. If the point of this was to show Peri’s relationship changing with Murderbot it would have been more interesting to read this from Peri’s POV.

[Alan (The Lone Librarian) Teder]

An ART (Perihelion) story, without Murderbot
A review of the Tor Books eBook (July 11, 2025).

Peri replied, If the mission team is unable to cope with me, they are unable to face hostile corporates.

I picked up Rapport... thinking that based on its #2.5 numbering that it was the logical read after Artificial Condition (Murderbot #2 - 2018). I discovered only later that according to a note on the GR Murderbot series that it should be read after Network Effect (Murderbot #5 - 2020). Nothing to be done about that now.

Similar to Murderbot's mission in Artificial Condition, this story has the AI of the transport ship Perihelion helping several of its passengers on a mission. They call it Peri for short, ART being the nickname given to it by the SecUnit Murderbot. Murderbot does not appear in this story, aside from a brief mention. The overall context is missing for me and may not become clear until I have read further in the series.

This is actually the most recent entry in the series from July 2025. We may not know why it has been added until we can read Platform Decay (Murderbot #8 - expected May 5, 2026). Until then I'll give this a reserved 3-star Like rating.

Trivia and Links
I am a fan of the Murderbot (2025-ongoing) series on Apple TV. The show has been renewed for a Season 2 although there are no updates on scripts, filming or possible premiere dates. The showrunners have speculated that they may incorporate elements beyond book 2's Artificial Condition and dip into book's 3 and 4. Otherwise the supporting cast from Season 1 would have no roles to play in a Season 2. Read further on that at Nexus Point News.
As the show was filmed in Toronto, Canada and parts north in Ontario, there is also the concern that U.S. tariffs may play a role in delaying further filming.

[Robin (Bridge Four)]

Rapport is a very fast 30 page story capturing ART's interactions with some of his crew members after Artificial condition and their presumed solo mission that was not so solo when Murderbot stowed away and began their friendship.

I liked seeing how ART interacted with his humans and seeing that at least IRIS understood something had changed ART while he was away. It is a cute short story, even if there was no Murderbot in it.

This is really only for die hard Murderbot fans. It is basically a side conversation ART has with Iris while on a a mission in a Corporate Rim area. The mission isn't concluded and it just captures that ART has finally made a friend. Good if you love Murderbot but bad it you were looking for something that expanded the Murderbot world a little more.

Narration:

Performance: ★★★★★
Character Separation: ★★★★
Diction: ★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★★★
Sound Effects: None

Kevin R. Free returns as the narrator in this short story capturing the voices of ART and Iris that the listener has come to expect from other books. He always does a great job at making the AI in the story sound other than human while also capturing it's PoV. Another really enjoyable performance from Kevin R Free. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany)]

A fun little short story set in the world of Murderbot! I was expecting Murderbot to feature in this, but instead it's a vignette with some side characters that offers some entertaining background to things that happen in the series. Not long and not a ton happens but a fun extra with great narration. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

[Bradley]

Nommed for short Hugo this year.

I must be honest. As an in-betweener for the Murderbot series, it's short and sweet in only the way two machine intelligences can be when revealing their feelings.

But as a nom for the Hugo?

It's nothing groundbreaking. It's literally more of the same that we've always been getting with the series. No big ideas or imaginative sequences or a total alteration of perspective.

It's not a bad story, but it isn't a standout.