You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
peregrinwho's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Non-monogomy is normalized canon, but megacorps run the universe. At least there's a fun autistic cyborg running around protecting his favorite humans. A unique blend of pessimistic and yet relentlessly finding exceptions to be optimistic about. I personally am more optimistic, but anyone who loves sarcastic humor will really enjoy this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death and Gun violence
emilythebarwench's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book is what all what sci fi aspires to be: great world building, characters, and plot. A quick and easy read, would highly recommend to all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
r_louhi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
All Systems Red was an amazing read. Murderbot totally stole the story and I loved that. The other characters felt a bit flat and the plot was decent but it all felt right as we were being taken through Murderbot's point of view. Murderbot was a hilarious companion and I loved how its sense of self and relationship to the humans developed throughout the short story. Martha Wells did a fantastic job with the pacing which felt fast but still left room for the characters to grow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Medical content
bookish_luna's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I loved this story. It was much funnier than I had expected. The pacing was action packed and made for a good read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, and Violence
tashtasher's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Medical content, and Murder
buggybookz's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I listened to the book in audiobook form (not my favorite way of reading) but I found the narrator, Kevin R. Free, to have perfect tone and dictation for murderbot. If you chose to engage with the book in audio form, I definitely recommend this specific version.
This book is foremost amusing and fun. It's witty, and not normally my style of writing, but what a fun read. It feels like you're listening to a cynical comedian special in your favorite pajama pants.
The plot of a rouge bot finding himself is somewhat an expected story in the scope of robot characters, but Martha Wells took it by the horns and guided it in a thrilling way. It's really set for me that I enjoy the sci-fi genre; something I can always thank Martha Wells for in all the books I'll give a chance on this books behalf! I found myself very intrigued and gripping threads you think you have to understand what's happening, and then shown to be wrong! A book that can make me feel actually challenged to figure out what's going on will always leave me like a happy dog with a pull toy.
Connecting that note to the universe, it felt very easy to click into understanding this slightly depressing future universe. There wasn't a point where it felt like an info dump nor did I feel like the information thrown at me needed pause to comprehend and flow into my understanding of the functions to the universe. Genuinely a perfect balance of non-assumption with how things worked, and still playing into basic understanding of what sort of sci-fi future we expect from the genre. Assumptions vs. expectations of a genre!
Murderbot, our main character, is ironically relatable! A bot only made to kill having to pretend he's not broken, finding it harder to adapt to humans behaviors, it rings a bell for any neurodivergent reader. Seeing his growth with his situation drives you to both laugh at the situation but also root for him.
My main criticism is that the book is quite small. While I don't think this book needed dragged out, I felt as though the second half of the book happens so quickly that the ending almost felt...Rushed? The solution and climax felt underwhelming personally. I think for all the creative and descriptive nature of the book, I expected something more interesting when it came to the climax, let alone only a handful of lines actually explain the who and what of the climax gave.
This definitely isn't a book you should expect a serious tone. Sci-fi tends to command seriousness from you, but the enjoyment I had defines what this book did perfect. You have enough fun reading this book that you feel more comfortable dismissing a closer lense on other aspects of it. If you're not a fan of a book that doesn't take itself completely serious, then you might not find the same amount of appreciation I did!
This book is foremost amusing and fun. It's witty, and not normally my style of writing, but what a fun read. It feels like you're listening to a cynical comedian special in your favorite pajama pants.
The plot of a rouge bot finding himself is somewhat an expected story in the scope of robot characters, but Martha Wells took it by the horns and guided it in a thrilling way. It's really set for me that I enjoy the sci-fi genre; something I can always thank Martha Wells for in all the books I'll give a chance on this books behalf! I found myself very intrigued and gripping threads you think you have to understand what's happening, and then shown to be wrong! A book that can make me feel actually challenged to figure out what's going on will always leave me like a happy dog with a pull toy.
Connecting that note to the universe, it felt very easy to click into understanding this slightly depressing future universe. There wasn't a point where it felt like an info dump nor did I feel like the information thrown at me needed pause to comprehend and flow into my understanding of the functions to the universe. Genuinely a perfect balance of non-assumption with how things worked, and still playing into basic understanding of what sort of sci-fi future we expect from the genre. Assumptions vs. expectations of a genre!
Murderbot, our main character, is ironically relatable! A bot only made to kill having to pretend he's not broken, finding it harder to adapt to humans behaviors, it rings a bell for any neurodivergent reader. Seeing his growth with his situation drives you to both laugh at the situation but also root for him.
My main criticism is that the book is quite small. While I don't think this book needed dragged out, I felt as though the second half of the book happens so quickly that the ending almost felt...Rushed? The solution and climax felt underwhelming personally. I think for all the creative and descriptive nature of the book, I expected something more interesting when it came to the climax, let alone only a handful of lines actually explain the who and what of the climax gave.
This definitely isn't a book you should expect a serious tone. Sci-fi tends to command seriousness from you, but the enjoyment I had defines what this book did perfect. You have enough fun reading this book that you feel more comfortable dismissing a closer lense on other aspects of it. If you're not a fan of a book that doesn't take itself completely serious, then you might not find the same amount of appreciation I did!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Blood, and Medical content
love_rhinos's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and Medical trauma
trickphoenix's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I love Murderbot so fucking much. The best unreliable narrator. My favorite parts of this book are Murderbot’s blatant denial of emotion and human connection in the face of VERY OBVIOUS EVIDENCE of how much it actually does care and feel.
The pacing is quick and snappy, very action-packed but sometimes a little tech-heavy and quick enough that I found myself losing track of the audiobooks on occasion and switched back to hard copies, which I found easier to follow.
Super fun sci-fi read sprinkled with a dose of “hmm wow how do we define humanity and free will and the good intentions of liberators vs. respecting individual volition.”
Strongly recommend to anyone who likes a bit of action and sci-fi and has ever desperately wanted to avoid conversation with fellow humans.
The pacing is quick and snappy, very action-packed but sometimes a little tech-heavy and quick enough that I found myself losing track of the audiobooks on occasion and switched back to hard copies, which I found easier to follow.
Super fun sci-fi read sprinkled with a dose of “hmm wow how do we define humanity and free will and the good intentions of liberators vs. respecting individual volition.”
Strongly recommend to anyone who likes a bit of action and sci-fi and has ever desperately wanted to avoid conversation with fellow humans.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Physical abuse
nosferatofu's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Truth be told, I am always a wee bit wary of the “robot as a paradigm vessel for the autistic experience” trope because SO many writers get it SO wrong and just end up doing more harm than good.
However, as Wells herself is neurodivergent and has stated previously that much of the MC’s interior monologue/nature and responses to their environment were inspired by her own experiences, I simply have no choice but to stan. It all felt very organic and relatable. Not to mention the asexual and genderqueer representation! Along with POC, queer and poly rep for the SC.
Chef’s kiss. No notes. Cannot WAIT to read the rest of the series. Rooting for this strong, independent SecUnit 🦾
However, as Wells herself is neurodivergent and has stated previously that much of the MC’s interior monologue/nature and responses to their environment were inspired by her own experiences, I simply have no choice but to stan. It all felt very organic and relatable. Not to mention the asexual and genderqueer representation! Along with POC, queer and poly rep for the SC.
Chef’s kiss. No notes. Cannot WAIT to read the rest of the series. Rooting for this strong, independent SecUnit 🦾
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Murder
Minor: Cursing, Gore, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, and Fire/Fire injury
rosehillenart's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence