Platform Decay

The Murderbot Diaries #8

by Martha Wells

Everyone's favorite lethal SecUnit is back in the next installment in Martha Wells' bestselling and award-winning Murderbot Diaries series.

Having someone else support your bad decision feels kind of good.

Having volunteered to run a rescue mission, Murderbot realises that it will have to spend significant time with a bunch of humans it doesn't know.

Including human children. Ugh.

This may well call for... eye contact!

(Emotion check: Oh, for f—)

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Adult, Space, Novella, Science Fiction Fantasy, Space Opera

256 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication May 5, 2026

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

[iam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely thrilled to get another installment of Murderbot adventures, and even more so that this one includes Murderbot interacting with children!
I honestly expected (and wanted) more interactions with children from it, but most of the people in this book are adults.

The story takes place not too long after System Collapse , thus extending on the plotline that first started in Network Effect . It involves both familiar and new faces, as well as people that have been mentioned before but never appeared on-page thus far.
It takes places on an unfamiliar, massive space station, where Murderbot is sent in a mission.

My favourite recurring character was Three, who has definitely not gotten enough attention in System Collapse! To be honest, even now in Platform Decay it doesn't get enough attention, but I'll take what I can get.

That is maybe also my biggest gripe with the book - it just doesn't go as in depth in many of the areas where I wanted it to. Specifically, the character dynamics. The Murderbot Diaries are such an intensely character-driven series, but I have noticed before how the books (especially the last few) seem to almost shy away from showing us any details of Murderbot casually interacting with others (or other characters with each other). To a certain extend, that makes sense, as Murderbot is famously anti-social (or pretends to be). But it's starting to frustrate me a little bit, especially here, where two of the most prominent characters in the series, and the two people Murderbot itself is the most attached to, get one or two lines in the last 2 pages at most, not even enough to be considered a dialogue.

I also found the overall tension arc of this book a bit confusing - there is a huge confrontation 60-70% in the book that is very detailed, high-stakes and emotional. Then anything after that is abbreviated. A lot of the book, Murderbot and its companions spend travelling, and while the previous stops were all described in detail, the book then just skims over several more stops before going into the finale. And that finale pales significantly in comparison to the earlier confrontation, and ends super inconclusively. The book then jumps straight into a very (emotionally) unsatisfying ending.

I am aware that my personal frustration with the lack of epilogue to round out my emotional investment in the book heavily tinges how I feel about it, but I do think that even disregarding the ending, this is one of the weakest installments in the series. It has wonderful moments, the typical humor, an emotional punch, and is very intrinsically Murderbot - but the way it is plotted and structured isn't as cohesive as the other books, and it feels unbalanced in some parts.

I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Justin Pincham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stellar expectations

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Literally, this murdering cybor series is one of my favorite comfort books.

[Stacy (Gotham City Librarian) · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first read of 2026!

I was happy to see another addition to the Murderbot series, and grateful to get my hands on an early copy. This one follows our favorite SecUnit on a new mission that reads like a side quest to the larger story. It doesn’t do much to advance the main plot. Just like with all the other installments, I had trouble picturing the environments and following some of the action, but that was my issue and not the author’s fault.

The best part of the story by far was the banter and the interactions between SecUnit and the children. But there wasn’t enough of it for me. Overall, I found this book a bit lackluster in comparison to the others.

I WAS amused that SecUnit used the word “fuck” a lot. And I liked the ending quite a bit. I’ll definitely keep reading these as long as Martha Wells continues to write them.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

[Rian *fire and books* · Rating 5 out of 5]

This genuinely feels like one of the best installments in this series. There is so much emotional payoff for things we’ve been building towards. We got to meet more of Mensah’s family and let me tell you, one of them is a hoot and the other has a homicidal eyelid twitch. They’re perfect.

I can’t wait to reread this when the audiobook drops.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murderbot is adjusting to life with its humans learning to trust it. Dr Mensah has asked Murderbot to rescue several family members, which it will of course do because Dr Mensah and her family is its people. The plan goes awry (because no amount of careful planning would have had it predict Leonide of Barish-Estranza would be there) and due to circumstances well outside of its control, Murderbot is now responsible for rescuing more people it doesn't know. And they are juveniles. Murderbot knows its duty, though, and with its newly installed mental health module, maybe it will get though the mission er, emotionally in tact, too.

A new Murderbot book is worth dropping everything else to read, to see what adventure Martha Wells will take us on. Platform Decay is a short novel/long novella and takes place after the events of System Collapse. The plot arc feels closer to a novella in structure, and reads fast paced because of it. This is actually the first Murderbot I've read with my eyes since All Systems Red in 2020, and all of my rereads have been via audio since, but I found myself really enjoying the parentheticals and side commentary from our favorite high-anxiety SecUnit.

Murderbot's mental health module provides a new influx of comic relief (and human insight) where jokes of it relying only on its media alone to get through the worst were not sufficient after its system collapse in the previous book. We read Murderbot stories for for their keen relatability to human nature and its snarky attitude, and the emotion checks tie us back to that. The emotion checks force an honesty in Murderbot and progression in character from where it was when it first hacked its governor module to realizing who its humans were to bearing the emotional burden of choice and friendship.

Thank you to Tor for an eARC. Platform Decay is out 5/5/2026.

[h o l l i s · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a moment to get back into the swing of things, as it always does with a Murderbot story, but once things got moving I was so happy to be back with this SecUnit on another adventure surrounded by humans with too many emotions and icky human physical needs. But bonus, this time Murderbot has its own mental health module running and has emotional checks running throughout the shenanigans; what fun that was.

Really enjoyed this instalment and am already looking forward to the next. Also, side note, can't wait for more of the tv series!

3.5 stars

Full review to come.

** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) exchange for an honest review. **

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Tor who provided me a copy of this title though NetGalley.
Once again Wells delivers a Murderbot book that's fun, sassy, and exactly what fans come to expect from this series. It starts with Murderbot and Three infiltrating a station on a rescue mission which turns into a more complicated situation, because as usual, Murderbot has shit luck when humans are involved.
We're introduced to a few new members of Mensah's family, and they are a delight, Naja especially. She's not allowed to have a gun, and I would love to know the context surrounding that.
The story also reads like the space version of the worst airport experience ever and has an overall lighter tone from System Collapse. This is added to by the addition of Murderbot's new mental health process Emotion Check, which is so enjoyable, I can't wait to see how it's utilized in future books.
Murderbot continues to be the most relatable character I've ever read and l think fans new and old will greatly enjoy this instalment.

[Stacey Markle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotion Check : Delightful

This 8th episode of the Murderbot Diaries delivers all of the clever banter, action and dare I say...humanity?

SecUnit takes on a new rescue mission. Along for the ride is Farai and the others, but we also get some new characters that will add to Murderbot's responsibility. As always, B-E is hunting them but SecUnit and it's tech are clever enough to stay one step ahead.

I could not love Murderbot more.

thank you to NetGalley for the ARC to read and review.

[Victoria Janssen]

Platform Decay by Martha Wells is the eighth in the Murderbot series; it’s due out May 5, 2026. I had a copy via Netgalley. Our hero begins a rescue mission to an unusual space station–a torus circling a dead planet–with Three. After Three separates to provide a distraction (which seems like it will turn into a separate story), Murderbot proceeds with the rescue. Then it unexpectedly encounters an old enemy, which leads to a hazardous journey through an interesting series of environments, while trying to avoid security in search of a rogue Sec Unit…or more than one. The plot rollicked along and I loved how Murderbot did its job while also acknowledging and wrestling with its emotions.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I didn’t love System Collapse, the previous book. I’ve read it three times now and it seems less funny and meaningful than all the other books in the Murderbot series, and harder to follow.

So I was nervous about Platform Decay. We spend almost no time with any other characters we know – at least with any other characters we know well. The “bunch of humans it doesn’t know” referred to in the book’s blurb are relatives of Mensah. But I scolded myself for expecting Ratthi and Gurathin all the time and went with it.

Aside from new humans to deal with, and a new location, it was pretty typical Murderbot. Figuring stuff out, doing too many things at once, being sarcastic, not having enough time to watch media. The new humans are fine and cast a bit of light on Murderbot’s relationship with Mensah. (And an early reference to JollyBaby made me laugh.)

This book is definitely not a starting point for a new reader or someone who has only watched the TV series. We are in pretty deep with Murderbot at this point. I would say this was most similar to Artificial Condition, only with less ART and with Murderbot feeling more confident in its own skin.

I read an advance reader copy of Platform Decay from Netgalley.

[toloveabook · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5/5 stars) A new Murderbot! This is my comfort series - one I reach for multiple times a year. I desperately needed this to be good, and it did not disappoint!

Platform Decay is charming and funny, with action that kept me on the edge of my seat. It has everything that made me fall in love with the series. Murderbot is on a mission to rescue a kidnapped family. As always, Murderbot is trying its best to keep these humans safe, even though the juveniles insist on clinging to it and the stupid station is the size of a planet and it’s new mental health module won’t stop demanding emotion checks.

The huge space station setting was genuinely interesting, and I fell in love with all the new characters. I was especially thrilled to see how Murderbot adapted to interacting with juveniles. I’m so impressed with how Wells continues to develop Murderbot as a character. Murderbot is growing and changing but is still the Murderbot we know and love. Fans will love this latest installment of The Murderbot Diaries!

I received an eARC from Tor Books. Opinions are my own.

[Gretal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This brought me so much joy! I've missed being in Murderbot's head.

[Laura (crofteereader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was solid. I think Murderbot itself was more engaged with the humans, which definitely signifies some growth there. Though the actual mission felt a little like throwing spaghetti at the wall from the sheer amount of totally disconnected things that kept happening that Murderbot then had to somehow weasel its way out of without putting any of its humans in danger. The ending felt more than a little abrupt, but I suppose that’s par for the course with novellas.

I also had a hard time slotting this story into the overall timeline. I think, based on references to Amena and the existence of Three that it takes place chronologically right after the previous novella, but that wasn’t super obvious (at least without rereading that one)

{Thank you TorDotCom for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}

[aforestofbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

FRIENDS

[Carina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Low-key stakes, maximum Murderbot vibes

Platform Decay once again proves that Martha Wells could make Murderbot do something mundane for 250 pages, and I'd still read and enjoy it. 

This novella isn’t high-stakes or earth-shattering, and honestly? I didn’t mind one bit. Spending time in Murderbot’s head is the whole appeal — the dry humor, the reluctant care, the constant analysis of human weirdness.

What really struck me is how vulnerable Murderbot feels despite being the most heavily armored, heavily armed being in any given room. Wells does such a good job making that contrast feel natural — this balance of soft, anxious interiority wrapped in indestructible metal (although there is a good portion of....costume change...in this novel).

The story itself is quieter: more observation, more relationship dynamics, more internal processing than explosive action. And it works. I was fully hooked, simply because time with Murderbot is time well spent, even when the stakes are small and the character growth is incremental rather than colossal.

4.5/5 stars

Thank you @netgalley and @torbooks for the eARC!

#PlatformDecay #Murderbot #Netgalley 

[Slmstanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an Advance Reader copy of this title!

Those of us who are Murderbot fans will need no inducement to have already pre-ordered this title; any review which stated "Shenanigans Ensue" would cover the heart of the book reasonably well for such individuals.

(For those who haven't yet discovered the joy and beauty that is this series, please be advised that this is the latest volume in a series; don't start here.)

The shenanigans mentioned above include: Murderbot and Three undertaking a rescue of Mensah's family members from a Corporate station, Three absolutely having their own ideas about the agenda of the day (hint: not all SecUnits are the same), Murderbot being surprised that it isn't the center of the universe, a good look at what the folks-next-door think about Corporate goons, and how when you've only ever had a hammer, it's hard to remember to use the other tools in your new toolbox (metaphorically speaking.)

In short: it's just as awesome as all the others!

[Cee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good addition to the series. I enjoyed it, although I won’t call it a fave. This weirdly feels like a filler episode since SecUnit isn’t yet on mission with Art and its crew. This is a rescue mission. I was so confused in the beginning since we are thrown in with little explanation, but as well it all comes to light pretty quickly.
There were a lot of moving parts, places, hostile #s, and drones so I did get confused a few times on what exactly was happening. I think I might enjoy this one more the next time through.

But yes, I enjoyed this and as always am looking forward to the next one!

—review copy obtained through NetGalley—

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muderbot never disappoints. I loved seeing Murderbot deal with its trauma and I adored getting to see snapshots of Three learning how to be its own being. I did wish we got more reoccurring characters, but it was delightful to see Murderbot through the eyes of Mensah's family members. It was also lovely to see it get more comfortable with people and being seen as a valuable team member. A great follow up in the series! Left me wanting more, as always.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Murderbot!!!! I should’ve saved this or read closer to pub date, but I couldn’t!! And I have no regrets, except that it’s over now. (I’ll probs reread it in Graphic Audio format eventually, though).

This one starts out right in the action and you have no idea what’s going on for the first 15% or so (I thought I’d maybe missed a book??). But ofc it’s all intentional. And the payoff is great.

I can’t say too much for fear of spoilers, but the humans in this one are delightful. I love them all!!

Maybe it’s messed up, but I kind of cheer when Murderbot gets to fight/shoot people? I mean, you’re reading a review for Murderbot #8, you probably get it.

Anyway, if this series ever ends, I will cry!! (Emotion check: feeling all the feelings)

Thanks to Netgalley & Tor for the e-arc! It’s out May 2026!

[Hollowspine · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the 8th book in her Murderbot Diaries series Wells further develops the characters and world while giving readers yet another action - and ugh emotion - packed novella. SecUnit is relieved to be off Hell Plague Planet, and on another extraction similar to Exit Strategy, only this time with more humans to save, including a complicated alliance that gives a glimpse into family dynamics in the corporation rim.

Fans of the series will be excited to welcome Three into the mix, and see it try to navigate it's own journey into autonomy, aided by a aggrieved, yet supportive, SecUnit. All-in-all yet another absolute gem of a book to add to the series.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

System Decay

***OUT IN MAY!***
Ok let me level with you… we are 8 books deep. Granted they are not large books BUT at this point, my biggest takeaway would be to say if you haven’t read this series, what the heck are you waiting for?

Emotion check: So damn happy this was so fun. Eight installments in and our favorite cranky antisocial SecUnit has a new mission and this one includes him having to talk to humans and *gasp* children. It is a rescue mission and to go further would ruin a lot of the fun that is set up here. Final time I’ll say it.. 8 books… this book starts pretty much where System Collapse ends so be aware remembering the events of these novels are important to get the most out of this one.

Guys, this book made me smile a lot. Murderbot is has such a dry humor. Literally he would be happiest watching Netflix and actually chilling. He will always be my favorite. Trust me when I say you will love this book.

Thank you Tor for my review copy!

[D.G.]

Finally we have a pub date!! 🎉 Time for me to read the last two books for the 15th, 20th time? (This is my Sanctuary Moon, I re-read these books obsessively, specially when something is going wrong in my life.)

[Arden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love you so much, Murderbot. So, so much. That ending made me cry tears of love.

thank you TOR for uploading the digital ARC on a day I really, reeeaaallly needed it.

[Rachel Ayers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun and satisfying entry, can't wait for more!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murderbot is back with yet another half-assed rescue mission involving — UGH — juveniles who want to *hold its hand*. Don’t worry, Murderbot has projectile weapons and plenty of anger to work out on the baddies.

[Aiyesha]

** THE VERSION OF THIS BOOK THAT I READ WAS AN ARC **

[Cathy Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another great entry in this series! My thanks to the publisher for an early copy.

[Amber Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for the early access. This is the first Murderbot book I've ever been kind of disappointed in. I was just...bored. This will not deter me from future installments, however.

[Madeleine · Rating 5 out of 5]

murderbot has the worst commute of all time and also emotions. 5/5.