Play Book Tag discussion

All Systems Red – Martha Wells
Digital audiobook performed by Kevin R Free
4****

Book one in the Murderbot Diaries series. Our narrator is an AI-android who calls itself Murderbot (because of “that incident” in its past).

As the story opens, a scientific team is exploring an alien planet when a team member is attacked by a giant creature. The robotic security unit (known as SEC Unit) saves her. It seems the SEC unit has hacked its own governing system so that it can operate on its own without relying (or obeying) commands from the humans who believe they are in charge. Of course, Murderbot doesn’t let on and the humans still think they are in control. But this bot really just prefers to be left alone with the soap operas it has downloaded to watch during downtime, and from which it has “learned” about human behavior.

I really love this Murderbot! Probably my favorite non-human since I “met” Rocky in Project Hail Mary. It is often self-deprecating in its humor, and I loved the occasionally snarky remark. This is one loveable rogue! And I enjoyed watching the friendship develop between the Murderbot and the human Dr Mensah. I think I will have to continue the series.

Kevin R Free does a great job of performing the audiobook. His pacing is good, his diction clear and I really like the way he interprets Murderbot.

LINK to my review

I love this series and listened to all of them in audio. I think you lose something if you just read it. You need the inflection that is Murderbot, himself. I haven't read the newest one even though I own it, because I want to go back and reread the last two.

I love Murderbot! So glad you did too.

😍- I know someone who considers Murderbot her spirit animal. So glad you enjoyed it.

Feminerdy has been reading them - the most recently published is up to be read at end of year. I might read it sooner.

I really enjoyed this too. Its been so long, I think I’ll have to reread the first book to refresh my memory before I read Network Effect.

So glad to see another Murderbot fan! I agree Kevin Free does an amazing job with the audios.