All Systems Red – Neurospicy Robot Action

I didn’t know that it was possible to find a book so tailor-made for me. All Systems Red by Martha Wells is the first entry in the Murderbot Diaries series and features an AuDHD coded SecUnit robot that is programmed for…security…Murderbot is just its chosen name.

After hacking and disabling a chip meant to keep it in line, Murderbot is free to act of its own accord; it just can’t let anyone know that or risk destruction. I absolutely adored the inner monologue of Murderbot. It’s equal parts funny and charming, leaving me rereading chapters just to absorb the awkwardness. Murderbot is shy, anxious, addicted to TV, and easily one of the most human nonhumans I’ve read in a long time. If you’re neurodivergent, you might find this book extremely relatable.

The story keeps a great flow from page to page without feeling bogged down. There’s not a lot of room to explore every character, but those you do feel likeable, especially Murderbot. All it wants to do all day is watch videos, but that pesky job of providing security gets in the way. When an easy job at a research site goes sideways, Murderbot needs to make sure his contracted crew gets out safely and no one finds out he’s gone rogue.

The short, novella-style read is the perfect size if you’re looking for something to break a reading slump. And if you’re not in a slump, but might enjoy it anyway? You’ll be happy to know that there’s 7 books in this series with an 8th on the way.