Book Review
Aug. 12th, 2025 02:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariAll Systems Red
by Martha Wells
This is the first of the Murderbot novels and it's clear why everyone loves them and the TV series so much. The title character is a security android who has hacked their own governing software to become fully autonomous and independent, even if they are still owned by a corporation. Murderbot is on assignment to guard a small team of scientists exploring an uninhabited planet. However, when they lose contact with a nearby team, Murderbot and his clients must find out what is going on.
The mystery element of the plot is not terribly complicated and the resolution is straightforward. Murderbot themself is what really makes this book more than a reasonably engaging sci-fi adventure. The character study element is really compelling. Murderbot has a delightfully ambivalent attitude towards their human charges - not really wanting to socialize or connect with them but not wanting them to die or be harmed, either. I also love the way Murderbot just wants to binge TV programs and read books, and often uses that as a coping mechanism. Plus, their competence at security and exasperation with the humans' lack of it is well done.
by Martha Wells
This is the first of the Murderbot novels and it's clear why everyone loves them and the TV series so much. The title character is a security android who has hacked their own governing software to become fully autonomous and independent, even if they are still owned by a corporation. Murderbot is on assignment to guard a small team of scientists exploring an uninhabited planet. However, when they lose contact with a nearby team, Murderbot and his clients must find out what is going on.
The mystery element of the plot is not terribly complicated and the resolution is straightforward. Murderbot themself is what really makes this book more than a reasonably engaging sci-fi adventure. The character study element is really compelling. Murderbot has a delightfully ambivalent attitude towards their human charges - not really wanting to socialize or connect with them but not wanting them to die or be harmed, either. I also love the way Murderbot just wants to binge TV programs and read books, and often uses that as a coping mechanism. Plus, their competence at security and exasperation with the humans' lack of it is well done.
