Tor.com All Systems Red

I loved Martha Wells Ile Rein and Raskura series, she seems to have stopped writing the latter unfortunately. I was unsure about the Murderbot series as it's solely SciFi, but thought I'd give it a go. Murderbot is an android and like Data in the Star Trek franchise and also that film about a robot who develops human feelings, Murderbot manages to hack into and override it's control system after a faulty system allows it to murder several humans, it then calls itself Murderbot. But Murderbot is not murderous and wants to look after the humans that it has been assigned to. This first book doesn't adequately explain how they get away. I did enjoy it, however it's a novella in size and as other reviewers have said, too expensive, so I don't think that I'll buy the others in the series.

Knowing what little I did about this story and main character before I started reading, something called a murderbot, who had hacked its own restricting systems, and could do pretty much what it wanted, to anyone and anything around it, I was expecting a serious novella that would shock and possibly repulse me...thankfully, you don't always get what you expect. And in this case I was incredibly thankful for it.This wee book is fast-paced, thought-provoking, humorous, heart-rending, utterly unique and far too bloody short! I want more! Oh wait, there are another three books...that's ok then.The idiosyncrasies of Murderbot's character and the introspective nature of the writing gave me a reading buzz I haven't had in a very long time. I found myself with a bigger emotional connection to this robot with human bits than I think I have with any other book character I can remember. And considering just how short this book is (171 pages) that's one hell of an achievement. Damn fine job, Martha.I was only a couple of chapters into All Systems Red when I put the book down and ordered the other three books. Because if they are only half as good as this one then it'll be well worth it.Ok, yes, I am pretty peeved about the cost of these things, almost the same price as a full novel for a novella!? That's a bit of a cheek. But at the end of the day, I still paid it. Try reading it yourself and you'll quickly see why.

As part of the security package, Murderbot is supervising a team of humans from PreservationAux as they survey a planet when things start to go very wrong. Someone is out to kill the researchers and tries to subvert Murderbot. Luckily, Murderbot is lazy and can't be bothered to perform the update he's been sent. Things get fun after that.This book arrived this morning, it's been on my list for a while but I had to wait for funds to get it. After finishing some work I thought I'd sit down for half hour and read part of this novella. I surfaced two hours later, having finished the book. I have now ordered books 2 and 3.I really like Murderbot. This 149 page novella was funny and gripping to read. Murderbot is anxious, depressed, doesn't like being around people and watches soap operas in its downtime. I can sort of relate (sci fi and fantasy books rather than soap operas). I've never killed 57 miners though, so not so much on the murdering front.I really like this humanised take on an AI-type creature and can't wait to read the rest of the books.

"As a heartless killing machine, I was a terrible failure."Murderbot Is a security guard for hire, a robot / cyber guard who really does not like their job. But, there is nothing they can do, as they are owned and leased out by "The Company" to protect explorers in dangerous off world planets...or is there? Murderbot just wants to be left alone to watch their favourite soap opera and has managed to disable their governor chip allowing them some freewill (and freetime to watch soaps)...as long they do their job and noone notices.While on assignment, a situation evolves which brings Murderbot to close interaction with the humans, and is forced to make life or death decisions that may reveal more to the humans than may be safe.Martha Wells uses the inner monologue of the depressed robot with a personality disorder, to tell the story and creates character who is more human with regular hangups than we see in most other books...although this one can also easily kill you before you even blinked. However, Martha creates a character so engaging, with their socially awkward mannerisms, their dry, sarcastic humour and pessimistic attitude that makes you turn each page wanting then to succeed not just in the situation but in life. I only wish the book/novella was longer to allow us to get to know Murderbot better.This book is for Scifi fans who don't take themselves or the books they read too seriously. Or for anyone who wants the underdog to win for a change.

Planetary survey missions must be accompanied by a Security Unit: a protection robot supplied by the lowest bidder. The current survey team don’t know that their SecUnit calls itself ‘Murderbot’, and has overridden its governor module. But when mysterious things start happening, they are going to be very glad it has.This is a zippy little novella, just 150pp of snark as we listen to Murderbot narrate its story, and discover more about its background. There’s not time for a lot of character development other than the first person narrator, but we get an interesting world, an engaging protagonist, and the set-up for a lot more action and robot-soul-searching.This makes a good contrast with that other recent ‘robot learning to live in a human world’ tale, "A Closed and Common Orbit" by Becky Chambers. They are quite different in feel, but both are thought-provoking.