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maficmystery 's review for:
All Systems Red
by Martha Wells
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Listened to as an audio book on Libby.
I originally read All Systems Red either in the summer of 2018 or 2019 as a physical book. I enjoyed it then, and I absolutely enjoyed it on my reread now. My partner had been pushing for me to finish the series upon their read through, and I had always intended to come back to the Murderbot series. So thanks to the upcoming adaption and my partners continued insistence, I placed holds on practically the entire audio book series through libby, and will be working my way through over the next few months.
All Systems Red is a very quick and very enjoyable read. Murderbot is an incredibly enjoyable narrator, Wells does a great job with humor, voice, and characterization. The contrast of a character who calls itself "Murderbot" but would prefer to just be left alone adds even more humor to the book. I do distinctly remember there being some interesting formatting in the physical book, but I think the audio book doesn't do too bad with the occasional interjections for functional status updates to Murderbot.
Even with the brief time we have in All Systems Red (it's a three hour audio book, I don't remember how many pages the physical book sis), Wells establishes a believable setting and cast. As a writer more used to longer form works, I am always impressed by short stories and novellas, since there is so much less time to establish things like expansive world building or characters, the format can be very restrictive. Even if the characters beyond Murderbot don't get much in terms of depth or development, they still feel very believable and are no less loveable for it.Like Murderbot itself, I couldn't help but become endeared to the Preservation team. Whenever it referred to them as "my humans" or got protective of them, I couldn't help but feel the same.
And since I don't think I could get through a review of All Systems Red without bringing it up, but Murderbot is also an incredibly relatable character. People sometimes get up in arms about asexual/agender/nonbinary/neurodivergent ect ect representation always being nonhuman characters, and I also am not entirely sure what the original intent Wells had when writing Murderbot as a character, but I saw a lot of myself in Murderbot. Relating to Murderbot's disinterest with sex, discomfort with socializing, and interest in media over most things did enhance my enjoyment of the story.
I'm very glad that I also have the second audio book already and can immediately start it.
I originally read All Systems Red either in the summer of 2018 or 2019 as a physical book. I enjoyed it then, and I absolutely enjoyed it on my reread now. My partner had been pushing for me to finish the series upon their read through, and I had always intended to come back to the Murderbot series. So thanks to the upcoming adaption and my partners continued insistence, I placed holds on practically the entire audio book series through libby, and will be working my way through over the next few months.
All Systems Red is a very quick and very enjoyable read. Murderbot is an incredibly enjoyable narrator, Wells does a great job with humor, voice, and characterization. The contrast of a character who calls itself "Murderbot" but would prefer to just be left alone adds even more humor to the book. I do distinctly remember there being some interesting formatting in the physical book, but I think the audio book doesn't do too bad with the occasional interjections for functional status updates to Murderbot.
Even with the brief time we have in All Systems Red (it's a three hour audio book, I don't remember how many pages the physical book sis), Wells establishes a believable setting and cast. As a writer more used to longer form works, I am always impressed by short stories and novellas, since there is so much less time to establish things like expansive world building or characters, the format can be very restrictive. Even if the characters beyond Murderbot don't get much in terms of depth or development, they still feel very believable and are no less loveable for it.
And since I don't think I could get through a review of All Systems Red without bringing it up, but Murderbot is also an incredibly relatable character. People sometimes get up in arms about asexual/agender/nonbinary/neurodivergent ect ect representation always being nonhuman characters, and I also am not entirely sure what the original intent Wells had when writing Murderbot as a character, but I saw a lot of myself in Murderbot. Relating to Murderbot's disinterest with sex, discomfort with socializing, and interest in media over most things did enhance my enjoyment of the story.
I'm very glad that I also have the second audio book already and can immediately start it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Murder