Review: All Systems Red by Martha Wells

Blurb:

A murderous android discovers itself in All Systems Red, a tense science fiction adventure by Martha Wells that interrogates the roots of consciousness through Artificial Intelligence.

"As a heartless killing machine, I was a complete failure."

In a corporate-dominated spacefaring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. Exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids, for their own safety.

But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn’t a primary concern.

On a distant planet, a team of scientists are conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid ― a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module, and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.” Scornful of humans, all it really wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is.

But when a neighboring mission goes dark, it's up to the scientists and their Murderbot to get to the truth.

Review:

“I hate having emotions about reality; I’d much rather have them about Sanctuary Moon.”

Isn't it frustrating when you put off reading a book for ages, only to finally pick it up and realise it's amazing? That's exactly what happened to me with All Systems Red. I knew I was going to love it — science fiction novellas are my jam — and I kept hearing about this 'Murderbot' character who sounded loveable, sarcastic, and obsessed with a TV show despite being a lethal security android. I should have read it sooner, but hey, better late than never, right? So, let's dive into why this book is worthy of the hype it receives. 

First off, I listened to the audiobook of this which is narrated by Kevin R. Free. I’m pretty new to audiobooks and I was skeptical about how well science-fiction would work in this format since I often like to jump back and forth to check earlier character or worldbuilding details. But since this novella is fairly short coming in at under three and a half hours, I decided to give it a shot, and I’m so glad I did! The narrator does an amazing job of conveying Murderbot’s personality and his tone of voice is the perfect balance of deadpan and dynamic, making it an incredibly fun audio to sink into. 

All Systems Red introduces us to a corporate-dominated future where intergalactic missions are overseen by the Company, and teams that embark on these missions are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids for protection. Murderbot, one of these security androids, is currently assigned to a group of scientists who are researching a planet’s resources. When a neighbouring mission team goes silent and it becomes clear that there’s a threat on the planet, the scientists and Murderbot must unravel the mystery before they succumb to a gruesome fate. 

Unsurprisingly, the best part of this story is the main character. Murderbot is a Security Unit (SecUnit) that, after hacking its own governor module, has gained autonomy over its actions. This self-awareness leads it to constantly grapple with its own identity and purpose, making for some very thoughtful insights into the vast differences between humanity and AI. Having suffered a tragic malfunction in the past, Murderbot is incredibly wary of humanity and their constructs, so it's fascinating to see how the android interacts with them—sometimes detached and seemingly emotionless, and other times showing a surprising level of care for the team of scientists it protects. 

One particular element of this novella that I didn’t expect was the comedic moments that often caught me off guard. Murderbot’s obsession with entertainment media is a hilarious feature, especially considering its lethal capabilities. At one point, it remarks that it could have become a killing machine after gaining autonomy, but instead spent close to 35,000 hours consuming entertainment content. And honestly? I’ve never related to a character more.

There’s also so much more to love in this novella, from its immersive world-building that strikes the perfect balance without being overwhelming, to its array of thought-provoking themes such as corporate greed and the ethics of AI. The pacing is fantastic, ensuring that even in a short read like this, there’s never a dull moment. I was consistently engaged and never found myself wanting for more.

On the surface, this is a thrilling space adventure filled with mystery and danger. But beneath that, it's an introspective look into the world of artificial intelligence and a relatable search for identity. If you're into sci-fi with depth, this one's for you.