All Systems Red by Martha Wells (2017)
Hard-hitting with heart
Book cover blurb
I have to make myself do things I don’t want to do. Like talk to humans.
In a corporate-dominated space-faring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. Exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security robots, 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 is conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied bot-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.
My Review
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 (149 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, jumped onto Book Depository 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 pissed off 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.
My copy of this novel
Tor hardback edition.
Published in 2017
149 pages
ISBN 9781250214713