All Systems Red
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.
Stats for nerds
13recommend
17mentions
16people
2017–2026years
76% recommend24% neutral
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- All Systems Red - Martha Wells
Old Man's War - John Scalzi
- My best books of 2024:
* Chemistry: A Very Short Introduction by Peter Atkins. Now that I'm into physics I had a hunch that I would now also appreciate chemistry. This book delivered.
* Philosophy of Mind: A Very Short Introduction by Barbara Gail Montero. I recall it just being a really well-written overview of an interesting field.
* 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 read in a long time, probably ever.
* Fundamentals: Ten Keys To Reality by Frank Wilczek. Physics musings from a Nobel winner.
- 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
- I’ve read most of the SF on this list so I’ll throw out my other recommendations:
I like Chambers’ Wayfarers series but IMO Closed and Common Orbit 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 but plug the Vorkosigan saga, which started in the 80s but still has a few recent books. Anyone who hasn’t read them should start with the early books though.
A Memory Called Empire is another great one that I’m actually surprised isn’t on this list.
- 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 all more of a novella length, so I've been finishing them much faster than the average novel.
I wanted to call that one out if anyone is looking for a good read.
Also, Mistborn has been memorable since I first read it about 8 years ago. That's a very good story. I'm considering reading it again, which I rarely do with books I've read within the past decade.
- Seconding the "audiobooks 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 romps through magical worlds.
Maybe you can convince your brain that reading at bedtime is a good use of time because it promotes healthy sleeping by not being on a screen. ;) (It hasn't worked for me, I still have a backlog two shelves long.)
