🤖 Book Review: Rapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy by Martha Wells (Kindle Edition, A Tor Original, The Murderbot Diaries #2.5)
A sharp, emotionally resonant interlude in the Murderbot universe—Martha Wells delivers a short story that deepens the lore, expands the cast, and explores the evolving humanity of one of sci-fi’s most beloved constructs.
🧠 Overview
Published in July 2025, Rapport is a Tor Original short story set between Fugitive Telemetry and Network Effect in the Murderbot Diaries series. The story centers on Perihelion (ART)—the sentient research transport ship affectionately known as ART—and its crew, as they navigate a tense mission on a space station facing a hostile takeover.
While Murderbot itself doesn’t appear directly, its influence looms large. ART’s transformation—sparked by its friendship with Murderbot—is at the heart of the narrative. Through interactions with its crew, especially the perceptive and emotionally intelligent Iris, readers witness ART grappling with empathy, loyalty, and the messy business of caring.
🔍 Key Themes & Highlights
- 🤝 Post-Murderbot evolution: ART’s emotional growth and newfound empathy are central to the story
- 🧠 AI and humanity: Explores how artificial constructs form bonds, make moral choices, and redefine identity
- 👨👩👧 Found family: The crew’s dynamic—especially Iris’s relationship with ART—adds warmth and depth
- 🛰️ Political tension: The backdrop of a station under siege adds urgency and stakes
- 💬 Subtle humor and introspection: Wells’s signature tone balances dry wit with emotional nuance
“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.”
💬 Reader Reception
- ⭐ Goodreads rating: 4.17/5 from over 9,000 ratings
- 📖 Readers praise the story’s emotional depth, character development, and expansion of the Murderbot universe
- 💬 “A delightful interlude that shows how ART has changed since meeting Murderbot. Quiet, powerful, and deeply satisfying.”
- 🧾 Some readers note that while the story is short, it adds meaningful context to Network Effect
⚠️ Considerations
- 📄 Short format: At around 40 pages, it’s a quick read—best enjoyed as a character study
- 📚 Series continuity: Works best if you’ve read Network Effect, as it fills in emotional and narrative gaps
- 🧠 No Murderbot POV: While Murderbot is referenced, the story focuses entirely on ART and its crew
🏁 Final Verdict
Rapport is a thoughtful, emotionally rich short story that expands the Murderbot Diaries universe with grace and insight. Martha Wells continues to explore the boundaries between machine and human with subtlety and heart, making this Kindle edition a must-read for fans of the series.
