A murderous android discovers itself in All Systems Red, a tense science fiction adventure by Martha Wells that interrogates the roots of consciousness through Artificial Intelligence.In a corporate-dominated spacefaring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. Exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids, for their own safety.But in a … their own safety.
But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn’t a primary concern.
On a distant planet, a team of scientists are conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid — a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module, and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.” Scornful of humans, all it really wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is.
But when a neighboring mission goes dark, it’s up to the scientists and their Murderbot to get to the truth.
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Now, _this_ is science fiction! A security cyborg who loves soap operas has to figure out who’s trying to kill the humans (and bots) at an isolated science station on an unexplored planet. I’m looking forward to reading more of the award-winning Murderbot stories .
This book deserves its great reputation. You have to read Murderbot to understand.
An AI android called Murderbot, part human, mostly mechanical, created to provide security and to protect its human clients hacks its governor module and is now free to do as it pleases. It could kill and kill and kill but instead choses to watch SF series dowloaded from a future-like Netflix. It’s so much easier and less messy to watch soap operas than to kill humans. Besides, Free Will seeks the path of least resistance and the most fun. Of course, this is the real world, and humans keep intruding on the streaming.
The genius of this novella is its written in the first person narrative from the Murderbot’s point of view. This provides a birds eye view of the Murderbot’s opinion of humans and its interaction with them from its point of view. Murderbot is a bit lazy, barely does its job, is bored silly, and would rather watch re-runs than be in the presence of humans. That is, until someone starts killing them. Now it’s personal . . . and it is a Murderbot.
Lots of fun. You can read it in one or two sittings, then more on to the next one. There are four novellas.
Disturbing and hilarious.
After reading this I immediately went out and bought and read the rest in the series. I can’t recommend it enough! Fascinating (and occasionally very funny) main character and world/galaxy. I was hooked after the opening paragraph. You will be too! You don’t need to read more reviews- if you like Sci-Fi and witty unique and sarcastic (not to mention kick butt) main characters, start reading this book!
One of the best books I read in 2018
Well written
Long live Murderbot!
The entire Murderbot Diaries series of novelettes is great. The stories move right along and the main protagonist is great as a cyberbeing trying to understand and cope with humanity.
I haven’t finished it yet but it is so well written and so very original that I had to rate and recommend it now. Too many sci-fi stories out there are way too hard to get into. Half way in you’re still wondering what’s going on…Not with Martha Wells. She’s got skill not only in writing but storytelling and world building as well. The hat trick of entertainment. I’ll read anything she puts out there!
Updated – 11.06.18
I actually finished this novella shortly after I posted the above but only have gotten to finishing this review now.
Anyway, I was right. This book was excellent! I loved how full this story was even in it’s novella length! Martha is well deserving of the awards this book has received. I highly recommend this book for so many reasons but the main one is the fact the story is balanced in it’s character driven AND plot driven nature. The character with which this imaginative story is delivered is so likable and honest and entertaining that I want so much more of this story. I feel satisfied with a lust for more from this series.
Murderbot. I dig it!
Fun and original story. I like SciFi that I can share with my kids. Good plot interesting story.
Read for 2018 Hugos
This is a really great novella, exploring a theme I’ve wanted to see for a while, with combat a drone being basically ambivalent toward humanity rather than trying to take over. The story is a little light, as this focuses more on the bot’s character, in relation to humans. There’s a lot of really good stuff in here with regard to emerging personalities and personhood vs. gender and humanity.
Looking forward to the next ones.
Great start to a new series.
All Systems Red is a terrific SF short novel by Martha Wells, author of the superb City of Bones.
The protagonist is part inorganic robot part flesh and blood, a construct, rented out as a smart Security Machine, with not much freedom of choice, treated as a piece of expensive equipment, and advanced human shaped computer.
A truly original and creative story is fascinating and definitely worth reading by anyone who has a taste for serious SF (Speculative Fiction/Science Fiction). Martha Wells gets the science and technology right and shows her intelligence.
Don’t miss this book.