Having finished my first Murderbot novella, I have the same feeling as I did when I finished Gideon the Ninth – I’m a REAL cannonballer now! Between my husband and countless cannonballer’s reviews, I can’t seem to take two steps without bumping into a hearty endorsement of the Murderbot series. However, similar to Gideon the Ninth, this first installment wasn’t a total hit for me. Perhaps I’m just contrarian or maybe my expectations were too high. But I didn’t love this misanthropic robot as much as I’d hoped.
All Systems Red opens with a scientific expedition on a planet turned nasty due to an attack by an alien, and the titular Murderbot (self-named), engaged as a security unit, saves the day. We quickly learn that Murderbot is not just a straight forward security robot. To use the parlance of the festive season: it’s naughty, having hacked and disabled the safeguards that are supposed to keep it closely controlled and compliant. It has a dark past of malfunctioning and murdering, and a bored present consuming media and being irritated.
Against it’s wishes, the scientists that it is tasked with protecting take a shine to it. Led by Dr Mensah, the scientific team uncovers anomalies in the alien planet’s survey and then loses contact with the other team who are working on the planet. And so, with Murderbot in tow, they set out to investigate…
With a cast of many, I admit I had a little trouble telling the scientists apart in this novella (consumed via audiobook). Perhaps that was part of the issue for me.
Though the story didn’t grab me, the way in which it ended was an effective hook. It was enough to convince me to sink a little deeper and give this series another try in 2025.
But for this first entry: 2 hastily discarded armor plates out of 5.