All Systems Red Review

All Systems Red (The Murderbot Diaries) by Martha Wells

Martha Wells was first brought to my attention by my local bookshop. As a local author who dabbles in sci-fi, she sounded like someone I had to give a try. And this book did not disappoint. Since it is a quick read, there was no time for wasted minutes—All Systems Red is fast, sharp, and thoroughly entertaining from start to finish.

At the heart of the novella is Murderbot, a self-aware security android that has hacked its own governor module, meaning it can technically do whatever it wants. And what it wants, more than anything, is to be left alone to watch endless hours of entertainment feeds. Unfortunately, that’s not an option, as it is still contractually obligated to protect a group of humans on a distant planet while they conduct their research.

"As a heartless killing machine, I was a terrible failure."

What makes All Systems Red so compelling is Murderbot itself. Unlike the cold, calculating AI of traditional sci-fi, this bot is deeply relatable—awkward, anxious, and socially avoidant to a degree that would be hilarious if it weren’t so painfully familiar. Despite its insistence that it doesn’t care about humans, it constantly proves otherwise, risking itself to keep them safe even as it grumbles about it.

The book’s world-building is minimalist but effective, offering glimpses of a corporate-controlled future where everything—security, exploration, even survival—is dictated by bottom lines and bureaucracy. Wells keeps the pacing tight, balancing sharp action with Murderbot’s internal monologue, which is equal parts dry humor and existential crisis.

"I liked the imaginary people on the entertainment feed way more than I liked real ones, but you can’t have one without the other."

For a novella, All Systems Red packs in a surprising amount of depth. It explores themes of autonomy, identity, and what it means to have free will. Murderbot is technically property, something that should not have personal agency, and yet, it chooses. It chooses to protect, to question, to exist outside the parameters it was programmed for.

If I had any complaints, it would be that it would have ended too soon. Fortunately, this is just the beginning—Wells has crafted an entire series around Murderbot, and after finishing this book, I can already tell I’ll be diving into the next one.

For anyone looking for a sci-fi read that is quick, witty, and surprisingly heartfelt, All Systems Red is a must. It’s a perfect introduction to a character that’s as hilariously antisocial as it is oddly endearing.