A review by totallyshelfaware
All Systems Red by Martha Wells

adventurous funny 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

4.5

I'm going to start by saying I read novellas very differently from full-length books, especially if they're in a series. I'm not going to comment on the plot resolution because I always operate under the assumption that book #1 in a novella series is more often than not a set-up: of the world, the characters, the stakes, the powers in play.

So, for what it was, I absolutely loved it. 🥰

Murberbot as a character was endearing and interesting and I loved the lens through which we got a look at how this world operates. I thought the subtle commentary on capitalism was spot on, and am intrigued by the sprinkled hints of space exploration in future books.

I found the mechanics of how Murderbot operated, the contrast between being a bot and clearly being sapient as well, absolutely fascinating. I also love how subtly queer this book is without it being a big deal.

All Systems Red was smart, nuanced, funny, and gets a 4.5 ⭐️ from me.
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