All Systems Red

The Murderbot Diaries

Hardcover, 176 pages

Published Jan. 22, 2019 by Tor.com.

ISBN:
978-1-250-21471-3
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ASIN:
B01MYZ8X5C

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4 stars (56 reviews)

6 editions

Review of 'All Systems Red' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

A fun, quick sci-fi read.

I enjoyed this one quite a bit. The idea is simple enough. "Murderbots" are engineered constructs comprised of biological and mechanical components. They're created to kill things and follow orders but are capable of more under certain circumstances, such as those created via a hacked or malfunctioning "governing module." This is the story of one such entity, caught up in an unusual scenario when a "simple planetary survey mission" goes sideways. It's a solid read and works, both as a standalone and as the setup for the "Murderbot Diaries" series it kicks off. Highly recommended for those seeking a fast-paced, charming, and generally-lighthearted (despite a few somewhat-grim moments) introduction to modern science fiction but veterans of the genre will likely find a lot to enjoy as well.

Review of 'All Systems Red' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

All Systems Red is a novella written by Martha Wells, the first in her Murderbot Diaries series.

The titular Murderbot is a sentient robot-human hybrid, a slave to a mega corporation, tasked with protecting the humans it's told to protect.

Unbeknownst to anyone, Murderbot has hacked its governor module, granting it the ability to refuse any orders given by its corporate overlords.

Once again, Murderbot finds itself protecting humans, prospectors surveying a planet, when things start going wrong.

Hijinks ensue.

What impressed me most with All Systems Red was how Martha Wells was able to make Murderbot so believable and so easy to emphasize with.

Firstly, here's a quote:

"""So, I'm awkward with actual humans. It's not paranoia about my hacked governor module, and it's not them; it's me. I know I'm a horrifying murderbot, and they know it, and it makes us both nervous, which makes me even more …

Go Murderbot

4 stars

From the plot alone, this novella would be a bit of perhaps cliche science fiction. What makes it both unique and compelling is that the story being told from the perspective of the "Murderbot" (hence The Murderbot Diaries), a cyborg generally treated by society as a piece of equipment.

Martha Wells's writing does a good job of showing Murderbot's personality, its particular anxieties, its relationships towards humans, and general attitudes towards life. Even if the plot is cliche, Murderbot as a character is the opposite.

Review of 'All Systems Red' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

A very interesting novella by one of the most underrated authors of the genre. I have loved her fiction since the wonderful Books of the Raksura. However, All Systems Red is nothing like her fantasy. The story is told first person perspective, by Murderbot, a rogue construct, part bot and organic components who works as a SecUnit on contracts to protect humans. They have hacked its governor module so basically have free will, and yet continue to fulfill their contracts. On their current contract they have to protect a crew of survey scientists, risking that they find out they are hacked...

Enjoyed it, continuing with the sequels straight away.

Review of 'All Systems Red' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Very quick read. It isn't just short, but also difficult to put down.
The story is pretty straight forward with a limit number of characters and no twists.
What I love about the story is the narrators voice, it is refreshingly different and something I can relate to.
You can think of the murderbot as Marvin's (from the Hitch Hiker's Guide) introvert brother.

Review of 'All Systems Red' on 'Storygraph'

5 stars

Who doesn't like a bot/human hybrid construct with built-in weapons and a crippling case of social anxiety that just wants to be left alone to watch its soap operas, but has to pretend to be controlled by a cheapsake corporation or it'll be taken apart for parts? Unfortunately, Murderbot has caught The Feels for the latest batch of clients and has to save them from themselves and everyone else out to get them.

I love this series.

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