All Systems Red by Martha Wells

All Systems Red (Murderbot Diaries, #1)

by Martha Wells

All Systems Red by Martha Wells begins The Murderbot Diaries, a new science fiction action and adventure series that tackles questions of the ethics of sentient robotics. It appeals to fans of Westworld, Ex Machina, Ann Leckie's Imperial Raadch series, or lain M. Banks' Culture novels. The main character is a deadly security droid that has bucked its restrictive programming and is balanced between contemplative self discovery and an idle instinct to kill all humans. In a corporate dominated s pa cef a ring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. Exploratory teams are accompanied...Read more

Reviewed by brdsk on

4 of 5 stars

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3.5/5

An engaging and light read that was quick and full of humour. Framed in a classic adventure scenario is a complex face of artificial intelligence that is shy and nerdy but with a streak of rebellion. It is easy to fall prey to affection for the main character, making the ride especially fun. A backdrop of morality and ethics questions is subtle and creates a scene reminiscent of broken hero origin stories, exactly we missed all the really bad parts and only hear of them in passing.


If you are looking for a read combining pulpy sci-fi with easy humour, jump right on. I will certainly be reading the next books.

What will happen next on Barsoom?

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  • 18 December, 2021: Reviewed