All Systems Red by Martha Wells: The Introvert’s Guide to Being a Killing Machine

Martha Wells did something brilliant with this novella. She took a construct, half organic, half machine, built to provide security for corporate survey missions, and made it the most relatable character in recent sci-fi. Murderbot (its own name for itself, not assigned) has hacked its own governor module, meaning it could go rogue at any moment. Instead, it watches soap operas. Specifically, it’s obsessed with a serialised drama called The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon. There’s something deeply funny and deeply human about a weaponised security unit that just wants to be left alone with its shows, and Wells plays that tension perfectly without ever making it feel like a gimmick.

The plot itself is a tight, well-paced mystery. A planetary survey team starts discovering that their equipment has been sabotaged, their maps are wrong, and something on this planet is very much trying to kill them. Murderbot has to figure out who’s behind it while also managing the horrifying prospect of its clients finding out it’s been operating without corporate oversight. What makes it work so well is that the external threat is genuinely compelling, but the real story is Murderbot’s internal struggle. It doesn’t want to care about these humans. It really, really doesn’t. But it keeps saving them anyway, and its irritation about this is consistently hilarious. Wells writes action scenes with clarity and punch, but the quieter moments, Murderbot awkwardly avoiding eye contact, pretending to run diagnostics to get out of conversations, are where the book truly shines.

If there’s a criticism, it’s that at novella length (around 150 pages) it’s over too quickly. Some of the secondary human characters blur together a bit, though Dr. Mensah stands out as a genuinely warm presence. But honestly, the brevity works in its favour. It’s lean, never padded, and leaves you immediately wanting the next one. If you liked Ann Leckie’s Ancillary Justice for its exploration of AI identity, or if you enjoyed the sardonic narration of John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War, this will be right up your street. It’s also a fantastic entry point if you’ve been meaning to get into sci-fi but find 600-page space operas intimidating.

🎧 Audiobook Note

Kevin R. Free narrates the audiobook and absolutely nails it. He captures Murderbot’s dry, detached internal monologue perfectly, hitting that balance between deadpan comedy and genuine vulnerability. At under four hours it’s an easy listen, ideal for a long walk or a quiet afternoon. Highly recommended as a way to experience this one.

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⭐ Rating: 5/5

A sharp, funny, and surprisingly moving novella about a socially anxious killing machine who just wants to watch TV. One of those rare books that’s both a quick read and a lasting one. Already looking forward to the rest of the series.

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