All Systems Red | Martha Wells

All Systems Red: The Murderbot Diaries (Book 1)

Accolades & Praise

• Winner: 2018 Hugo Award for Best Novella
• Winner: 2018 Nebula Award for Best Novella
• Winner: 2018 Alex Award & 2018 Locus Award
• Bestseller Status: New York Times and USA Today Bestseller
• Critical Acclaim: Named one of The Verge's Best Books of 2017

Extended Synopsis

In a corporate-dominated spacefaring future, planetary exploration missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. For their own safety, exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids. But in a society where contracts are awarded strictly to the lowest bidder, safety is rarely a primary concern.

On a distant planet, a team of scientists conducts surface tests shadowed by their Company-supplied security unit—a self-aware construct that has successfully hacked its own governor module and privately refers to itself as "Murderbot." Scornful of humans, social interaction, and its mandated duties, all Murderbot really wants is to be left alone long enough to stream thousands of hours of futuristic soap operas and figure out its own identity.

However, when a neighboring planetary mission suddenly goes dark, Murderbot and its human clients must uncover the truth behind a deadly corporate conspiracy. Forcibly thrust into action, this cynical, anxious, and deeply relatable construct must protect the very humans it would rather ignore.

About the Author

Martha Wells is an award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of speculative fiction. She is globally celebrated for her groundbreaking series The Murderbot Diaries, as well as high fantasy works such as Witch King, The Books of the Raksura, and the Ile-Rien series. Her works have won multiple Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and Alex Awards.

Reader Targeting

• Fans of character-driven science fiction, space opera, and explorations of artificial intelligence and consciousness.
• Readers who enjoy witty, antisocial, and deeply introverted protagonists navigating high-stakes galactic danger.
• Enthusiasts of award-winning novellas looking for fast-paced, immersive sci-fi reads.

Bibliographic & Physical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Is All Systems Red the first book in the Murderbot series?
Yes, All Systems Red is the first entry in The Murderbot Diaries series and serves as the ideal starting point for new readers.

Is this a full-length novel or a novella?
All Systems Red is a sci-fi novella spanning 144 pages, making it a quick, high-impact read.

What awards has All Systems Red won?
It won both the Hugo Award and Nebula Award for Best Novella in 2018, as well as the Alex Award and Locus Award.

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