Book Review: All Systems Red

Figure in a futuristic space suit among gloomy trees. "All systems Red"

All Systems Red is a wonderful science fiction novella that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The protagonist, self-named Murderbot, is exactly that. Its only problem? These pesky things called feelings that prevent it from not caring about its clients so it can go back to watching serial shows.

Wells keeps the story moving with witty inner monologue, high-level combat descriptions, and a bevvy of interpersonal conflict, mostly in the form of humans probing how Murderbot feels, and Murderbot squirming out of telling them.

If you’re looking for a light science fiction read with laugh-out-loud moments, I can’t recommend All Systems Red enough.