Murderbot Was... Fine

I gave All Systems Red a try after finishing the Bobiverse trilogy and all three Andy Weir books. It’s a quick, entertaining read, but it didn’t land for me the way those others did.

The premise is interesting. A self-aware security unit that just wants to be left alone to watch its shows. Murderbot’s dry, antisocial voice gives the story a unique angle. There’s some fun in how it quietly saves the day while pretending it doesn’t care. The book also touches on themes like autonomy and what it means to be human.

Still, I found it lacked the emotional depth and excitement I’ve come to expect after reading things like Project Hail Mary or We Are Legion. There’s not a lot of worldbuilding or tension. The supporting characters didn’t leave much of an impression. It also felt like the story just... stopped, instead of really wrapping up.

It’s not bad, just not on the same level. I’d say it sits below Artemis for me. Murderbot is likable, and I might continue the series someday, but I’m not in a rush.