Feels like watching episodes of a really good show.

If you enjoyed "All Systems Red," you'll almost certainly enjoy this as it's a direct follow-up to that story, expanding on the Murderbot character and the surrounding universe in a nicely-executed, quick, and satisfying manner.

Murderbot is a bit sassier and more overtly brash in this one, which at times during the read felt a little forced to me but I ultimately adjusted to the new tone and ended up chalking the change up to a plausible evolution of the character given the events of the first book.

The story is fairly simple and straightforward, which leaves plenty of room for the additional world building and character development that I'd say are the bread and butter of the experience. I particularly enjoyed Murderbot's interactions with ART as they did a lot to check both of those boxes in a fun and novel way.

If you got your fill of Murderbot from "All Systems Red," I don't think there's much in "Artificial Condition" that you'll miss experiencing but if you enjoy the character and the universe, and are looking for more of both, this is certainly a worthy sequel worth exploring that will likely leave you itching for the next volume in the series.

I was keen to delve into "Artificial Condition" after completing the initial book in the series, "All Systems Red". This sequel was a delight, although I felt the first book had more sharply humorous lines that many introverts might find resonant.
The pacing of these books is captivating, and the relationship between the main character and his newfound ally, ART, is fun. I particularly appreciated how Martha Wells cleverly sidestepped a predictable sci-fi romantic trope, with our protagonist simply opting out. I have had more laugh-out-loud moments with this series than with books actually designed to make me laugh, and I am here for it, honestly.

Overall, another compelling read from Martha Wells.