Network Effect is so much better than the four books prior (which, honestly, should have been combined into one full novel instead of 4 novellas). Finally, every sentence has a purpose AND enough context is given that it doesn't seem like the shortest possible distance from point a to point b, but instead the most enjoyable path. I was originally disappointed in this series, having regrets about putting so much effort and money (4 novellas has to be a cash grab, I can't understand why the first half of murderbot was written as 4 novellas when it's cohesively one novel) into a mediocre series. Network Effect changed my mind. 

I will never not be upset that anyone thought it was ok for the previous 4 novellas to be $18 each for the same amount of content as this one novel that was also $18. I know it's tough making money as an author, but 4-100 page novellas when it really only makes sense as a single combined full length just screams "baby's first series" even though it's abundantly clear this wasn't written for young children. I would not have read this if it wasn't a Hugo and nebula award winner.