All Systems Red
by Martha Wells · first published 2017
81% recommend19% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Short, gripping sci-fi novella about a self-aware security android hiding its free will; easy to finish in one sitting, lighter in tone than harder sci-fi, and good for readers who want a quick, engaging start.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
The series is about an artificial construct designed as a Security Unit, which manages to override its governor unit, thus enabling it to develop independence. It calls itself Murderbot, and likes to watch unrealistic soap operas. As it spends more time with some caring humans, it starts developing feelings that it does not care for.
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That would be either 'Red Rising' by Pierce Brown, or 'All Systems Red' by Martha Wells. Though I have to add a cautionary remark: I found the books in Wells' "Murderbot Diaries" to be short enough and gripping enough that it is very hard not to trade a night of sleep for…
on “Ask HN: What's the best book you read in 2021?” ↗I haven't read a ton of modern SF, but my favorites from the last 5 years are: * All Systems Red by Martha Wells. It's about a very introspective AI security droid who is trying to disguise the fact that he's become self-aware and has free will. It's very short, but I almost missed a flight because…
on “Ask HN: Best SciFi books in last 5 years” ↗…Systemantics by John Gall. Very entertaining musings on why systems fail. * Hard-Boiled Wonderland by Haruki Murakami. Read this while in Japan. A very strange and interesting noir detective story. * All Systems Red by Martha Wells. <3 Murderbot <3 * Desert Oracle Volume 1 by Ken Layne. American southwest folklore. Read it while in Joshua Tree. * There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm. Biggest brainfuck I've…
on “Books I Loved Reading in 2024” ↗All Systems Red (The Murderbot Series) Nexus trilogy
on “Ask HN: Best hard scifi AI novels?” ↗…counterweight to the Snowcrash & Sevenses recommendations here. Diamond Age is much less dark, and way more a fun tail about an incredible & mysterious primer for a young lady. Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut. All Systems Red series by Martha Wells is a underprivileged barely coping robot dealing with the humans she hates having to talk to & a shitty planet trying to kill them. Simple, fun, some action & violence, but the…
on “Ask HN: What are the best Sci-Fi books you've ever read?” ↗…Bourne (The language and world of this novel are extraordinary - everything is falling apart yet brimming with life. Strangely moving) 2. The Design of Everyday things (Essential for anyone in UI/UX) 3. All Systems Red: The Murderbot Diaries (Highly engaging, entertaining sci-fi novella series, from an author that can write a very decent robot protagonist) 4. The Power (Interesting story with sci-fi elements on the…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2018?” ↗…Stevenson (p:139); Animal Farm by George Orwell (p:122) +; Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (p:227) +; The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (p:118) Science Fiction: The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin (p:399); All Systems Red by Martha Wells (p:144) +; A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine (p:462) +; A Psalm built for the Wild by Becky Chambers (p:160); Dune by Frank Herbert (p:658); Foundation by Isaac Asimov (p:244);…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2022 and recommend for 2023” ↗All Systems Red - Martha Wells Old Man's War - John Scalzi
on “Ask HN: Books Recommendations?” ↗…London - Magic in a modern London setting * Burning Chrome - A collection of classic Cyberpunk short stories * Leviathan Wakes - The start of the Expanse series of works, a harder style of sci-fi * All Systems Red - The start of the Murderbot Diaries, a softer style of sci-fi * Permutation City - Existential sci-fi
on “Ask HN: How to transition from non-fiction to fiction reading?” ↗…count" that Imzadi said, I'd like to note that the Martian audiobook is exceptional, and I've heard that others by Weir are excellent as well. You might enjoy reading _short_ novels. I really liked the "All Systems Red" series, each of them feels short enough to read in a day. If you enjoyed Harry Potter, you might also enjoy the Invisible Library series, or maybe the Harry Dresden novels. They both felt like fun-pulpy…
on “Book people think they know why 9-year-olds stop reading for fun” ↗…is the best one. Another recent book that stuck with me is Tchaikovsky’s Elder Race, which is told from two perspectives as both a sci fi and a fantasy story. It’s great and a quick read. I enjoyed All Systems Red but for whatever reason have no desire to read the sequels. Same with Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie. Both good stories but something about the settings just didn’t pull me in. And I can never help…
on “Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books of the 21st Century (So Far)” ↗About a month ago started reading the first book of the Murderbot Diaries (All Systems Red) after seeing it recommended multiple times. I have to admit that it didn't sound all that interesting, but I'm glad I gave it a try. It's really good, and I've since read the next two books. They are…
on “Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books of the 21st Century (So Far)” ↗Someone gifted me All Systems Red this year and I had never heard of the series and it may be one of my faves of all time. I’m on book 5 now it’s been such a joy
on “Books I Loved Reading in 2024” ↗The Murderbot Diaries, you mean? Won best series All Systems Red won (Novella) in 2018, Network Effect (book) won in 2021, and The Murderbot Diaries (series) won in 2021. Wells and Hugo have a .. cantankerous relationship
on “Book Prizes Don't Work How You Think” ↗> Are there any counterexamples, where an author wrote a book that is more profound than their biggest hit but got overlooked for some reason? Any reply is going to be somewhat subjective, but All Systems Red is not even in my top 5 books by Martha Wells...
on “A Visual Book Recommender” ↗