The Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red

Lynn: I don't read much sci-fi (I honestly don't know why), but I'm trying to change that this new year. I figured this short, novella length one would be a great place to start, and it totally was! I was hooked from the beginning, and would've binged it in a single sitting if life didn't always demand some time 😂

I adore Murderbot, and find him totally relatable on human interaction struggles lol (speaking as a socially awkward introvert). I loved how he became protective of his current clients, and the interactions he had with them. I'll be honest though and say I was a bit sad at the ending. It was bittersweet. But I can't wait to dive into the next volume! 😊

United States on Jan 06, 2024

Lucidity: I don't think I'll ever get over how amazing this book was to read, and I wish I could go back and discover it to read it again for the first time.
Murderbot is not only a very fun character, but is also a very human character despite him, well, being Murderbot.
All of the characters in the survey team, from the group leader Dr. Mensah to the cowardly Ratthi are well written and likeable.
I would recommend anyone who wants to dip their toes into sci-fi to try reading this amazing book.
Now time to stop writing this review and start the second book!

United States on Jan 04, 2024

C. Swinney: Perhaps it's because the character does his best while dealing with emotional trauma. Maybe it's because, at the core, he doesn't always like himself. I don't know, but there's something there that I can relate to.

The writing isn't always awesome - I get annoyed when a character's internal monolog asks a question aimed at the reader (like "don't judge me, okay"). But I've read this series many, many times, and think about it when things are getting difficult for me.

If you like sci-fi and are dealing with some mental health stuff, maybe this will speak to you like it does to me.

United States on Jan 02, 2024

Tanblue: As an initial story it definitely works: it defined the characters and allowed the main one to grow enough that we’d grow to like it. It was short and to the point but I wish the story was a bit meatier. I’ll keep reading the series to see how the character develops.

United States on Jan 02, 2024

The Inventor: A short sci fi story that you can read in a few hours, yet with more depth in meaning and fascinating character development than many books three times the size. I enjoyed it very much and will be reading the next one.

United Kingdom on Dec 20, 2023

Meet B.: Short, intriguing, well written

India on Nov 01, 2023

Cathy H: Re-read 6 years after my first time. I just read System Collapse (Murderbot #7), had a lot of fun and decided that it is finally time for a re-read of the entire series.

Wow, I didn‘t remember that the plot was so dramatic! I had forgotten most of it. And I had also forgotten that so many of the characters showing up in later novellas were here already. I also didn‘t recall the quieter scenes. Maybe it needs a re-read to pick up those details.

Not trying to assign a gender to Murderbot anymore. I am probably also sadder about its horrible circumstances and the choices it has to make to protect its humans.

Moving along to Artificial Condition. This is great comfort reading.

Germany on Oct 25, 2023

Marcius Fabiani: "All Systems Red" é um relato em primeira pessoa de Murderbot (como ele mesmo se denomina), um andróide responsável pela segurança de uma equipe de cientistas que exploram um planeta desabitado. O que diferencia Murderbot de um andróide de segurança padrão é que ele hackeou seu módulo de controle e se tornou um "rogue", com o que poderíamos chamar de "livre arbítrio", algo que os andróides normais não possuem. Essa autonomia revela-se providencial quando os clientes de Murderbot se veem envolvidos em conflitos com outras equipes de cientistas, não tão bem intencionadas, atuando no mesmo planeta. A autora Martha Wells dosa muito bem ação e humor nesta novela que inaugura a série "The Murderbot Diaries" e venceu o Hugo e o Nebula, os dois prêmios mais prestigiosos da ficção científica.

Brazil on Jun 15, 2021

Daniel JuárezDaniel Juárez: Es una gran lectura. Ligera y adictiva. Lo recomiendo.

Pros:

No se pierde en trasfondo y detalles del universo de Martha Wells
Lectura rápida
Personajes muy simpáticos y reales dentro de lo que cabe en el género.

Cons:

Murderbot puede parecerle infantil a uno que otro lector que está acostumbrado a un personaje más serio o matizado.

9/10

Mexico on May 25, 2021

Rhys: This book series got me through the latter half of 2020 (specifically the period of the American election and its fallout) which is no mean feat. I read them repeatedly, over and over again, so many times that I genuinely could not even venture a guess as to how many times I've read the whole series through anymore. I still pull them out in between the other things I'm reading. I adore Murderbot and its adventures. It may honestly be the most relatable character in fiction I've ever met. My single solitary complaint about the entire series is that there isn't more of it and I already have the next part on pre-order, which I await with baited breath.

(I've gifted copies of the first volume to five different people so far, and the only reason I haven't given it to more is because I'm just not that sociable as to be regularly exchanging gifts with all that many folks.)

For those of you unfamiliar with the Murderbot Diaries (which I assume is most if not all of the people reading this, as that's generally the point of perusing book reviews) let me curtail the aimless gushing and focus on some specifics: the first four books in the series (this one...

United States on Feb 01, 2021