Just finished “Artificial Condition,” the second installment in Martha Wells’ Murderbot Diaries, and I’m giving it a solid 3.5 stars! Our favorite antisocial SecUnit is back, this time venturing out on its own to discover the truth about its past. What I absolutely loved was watching Murderbot reluctantly make new friends along the way (especially the sassy transport ship AI) and seeing its understanding of humanity deepen, despite its best efforts to just watch media and be left alone. Wells continues to deliver sharp dialogue and moments that are surprisingly touching for a novella about a cyborg security unit. While the plot wasn’t quite as compelling as the first book, the character development more than makes up for it. Already grabbed the next one because I need to know where Murderbot’s journey of self-discovery leads next!