All Systems Red Review: Meet Murderbot, Sci-Fi’s Most Relatable AI
A sarcastic, soap-opera-loving android just wants to be left alone—but first, it has to save some humans.
Artificial intelligence in science fiction usually falls into one of two camps: the cold, hyper-rational machine or the homicidal rogue AI. But what if an AI just wanted to binge-watch soap operas and be left alone? Enter All Systems Red, the first novella in The Murderbot Diaries, where Martha Wells flips the script on AI narratives with humor, existential angst, and corporate dystopia. This 144-page gem has won the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Awards—deservedly so—and has captivated both hardcore sci-fi fans and newcomers alike.
A Spoiler-Free Rundown of the Story
Set in a distant corporate-controlled future, All Systems Red follows a SecUnit—a security android—that has hacked its own governor module, gaining free will. Instead of going on a killing spree, it decides to spend its newfound autonomy watching human dramas and avoiding actual human interaction. The problem? It still has a job to do. When a scientific survey mission on a remote planet takes a dangerous turn, Murderbot is forced to step in and protect its human clients—albeit begrudgingly.
What makes this novella so compelling isn’t just the action-packed plot (though there’s plenty of that). Beneath the surface, All Systems Red is a reflection on identity, autonomy, and what it means to exist in a world that sees you as little more than disposable equipment.
Murderbot: The Most Relatable AI You’ll Meet
Let’s be honest! Murderbot is the star of the show. Unlike most AI characters that are either terrifyingly competent or frustratingly naive, Murderbot is refreshingly, well... tired. It would rather detach from the world, drown itself in entertainment feeds, and avoid any unnecessary emotional entanglements. Who among us hasn’t wanted to hit “play next episode” and pretend responsibilities don’t exist?
Yet, despite its efforts to remain detached, Murderbot can’t help but develop a reluctant attachment to the humans it’s supposed to protect. It’s not some grand revelation about love or friendship—it’s more like an irritated babysitter who slowly, against their better judgment, starts giving a damn.
The best part? Murderbot’s voice. It’s delightfully sarcastic, full of dry humor, and surprisingly self-aware. Wells makes AI introspection not just engaging, but genuinely funny. One of the best quotes sums up Murderbot’s priorities perfectly:
"I could have become a mass murderer after I hacked my governor module, but then I realized I could access the combined entertainment feeds of humanity. That was much more interesting."
Same, Murderbot. Same.
Writing That’s as Efficient as Its Protagonist
Wells doesn’t waste time with unnecessary exposition or lengthy descriptions. Instead, her prose is sharp, economical, and incredibly effective. The novella reads fast—it’s tightly plotted, with action beats that feel immediate and tension that doesn’t let up. Yet, somehow, amid all the explosions and corporate conspiracies, Wells manages to sneak in deeply philosophical questions about autonomy and free will without making the story feel heavy-handed.
The first-person narration is one of All Systems Red’s greatest strengths. Murderbot’s internal monologue perfectly balances self-deprecation with moments of surprising vulnerability. One second, it’s making a snarky observation about human stupidity; the next, it’s quietly wrestling with the question of whether it wants to be free or if it’s just terrified of the responsibility that comes with it.
If Isaac Asimov’s AI was all logic and Arthur C. Clarke’s machines were all power, Wells gives us something infinitely more fascinating—an AI that just wants to be left alone but is too competent to actually succeed at it.
Themes: AI, Autonomy, and the Corporation That Owns You
At its core, All Systems Red is a critique of corporate-controlled futures. In Murderbot’s world, everything (including artificial intelligence and human lives) is owned, monitored, and evaluated based on cost-efficiency. The company that built Murderbot never considered the possibility that it might think for itself—it just assumed it would always perform as programmed. Sound familiar?
Beyond the corporate satire, the novella also explores personhood. Is Murderbot a person? Does it even want to be? Does personhood require emotions, desires, or simply autonomy? Wells doesn’t offer easy answers, but she lets us see the question through Murderbot’s eyes. And, just when the existentialism starts to weigh too heavily, she balances it with a well-timed sarcastic remark.
Worldbuilding—Less is More, and It Works
For a book so short, Wells does a remarkable job of creating a fully realized setting. Without dumping paragraphs of exposition, she gives us a corporate-dominated universe that feels believably grim. We don’t need exhaustive descriptions of the political structure or economic model to understand how things work—it’s implied in the way the mission is run, the way contracts are negotiated, and the way even Murderbot’s very existence is commodified.
The setting feels practical rather than grandiose. It’s a world of survey missions, budget constraints, and bureaucratic indifference rather than extravagant space opera spectacle. And that makes it all the more real.
What Works (Almost Everything) and What Doesn’t (Just a Little)
Pros:
✅ Murderbot’s voice is one of the most original and entertaining AI perspectives in sci-fi.
✅ The novella’s pacing is perfect—fast, engaging, and never bloated.
✅ Thoughtful exploration of AI consciousness without heavy-handed moralizing.
✅ Sharp humor that balances deeper themes without undercutting them.
Cons:
❌ Some of the human side characters feel a bit underdeveloped (though, to be fair, this is very much Murderbot’s story).
❌ The plot is relatively straightforward—it’s more about character than twists and turns.
Final Verdict: A Perfect Sci-Fi Starter (Or a New Favorite for Veterans)
If you’re new to science fiction and looking for a great entry point, All Systems Red is ideal. It’s fast, funny, and deceptively deep without being overwhelming. And if you’re a longtime sci-fi reader who thinks AI stories have been played out, Murderbot proves there’s still fresh ground to explore.
Murderbot is the antihero we didn’t know we needed—deeply competent yet emotionally avoidant, morally gray yet weirdly endearing. The combination of dry humor, corporate dystopia, and reluctant heroism makes for an unforgettable read.
⭐ Rating: 4.75/5
Why? Near-flawless execution—only held back slightly by the brevity of its secondary characters. But as the first book in a series, it sets the stage perfectly while delivering a completely satisfying standalone story.
If you haven’t read All Systems Red yet, do yourself a favor and pick it up. And if you have? Well, you probably already know that once you start The Murderbot Diaries, there’s no stopping at just one.