All Systems Red

Bibliyowhan

“I liked the imaginary people on the entertainment feed way more than I liked real ones, but you can’t have one without the other.”

All Systems Red is an antithesis of all those long-ass books that needs more than 500 pages to be called gripping, but mostly fails and can just be tagged as boring.

I’ve read novellas, and I’ve known that most of them are standalone. But to actually write a couple of novellas in a series is quite tricky, especially for the first title since its job is to keep readers interested enough to read the second one. Fortunately, Wells has the talent to actually do just that. It kept me interested and I am ready to read Artificial Condition as soon as I finish this review.

So what made All Systems Red interesting? Its narrator, Murderbot – a SecUnit (cyborg security agent) assigned to keep seven humans safe in a scientific expedition on an alien planet. Like all SecUnits, Murderbot has a Governor Module that allows it to be controlled by humans. In Murderbot’s case however, he (SecUnits have no gender by the way, but let’s just use the pronoun ‘he’) was able to hack his Governor Module and spends most of his day discreetly watching entertainment feeds when he is not busy saving his clients. Unfortunately for him, their mission is somehow being sabotaged and his clients are about to be murdered. It is up to him to help them survive against other rogue SecUnits that are trying to kill them.

Not only once did Murderbot express his lack of concern to his clients, but despite of those claims of not caring he actually ended up doing so. It was during those times that I feel very soft for him and his relationship with his clients which he later on called his humans. For a cyborg, he is actually relatable! For me, at least. He’d rather waste his hours watching his entertainment feed, listen to music and do other things on his own rather than hanging out with his clients and that speak volumes for me!

Anyyyway, I’m being sidetracked! 😅 Aside from Murderbot’s interesting personality, I always want to know more about Dr. Mensah – the person in charge in their group. I appreciate how she handles her team and treat Murderbot as someone who has feelings, even if Murderbot denies it multiple times. She is one of the reasons why I’m picking up the second title as soon as possible because that ending made me feel a bit sad. *sigh*

One thing that I really want to know on the next novella is what happened during those times Murderbot *spoiler!!!!* — blacked out? I was so curious that I got frustrated when it was not mentioned after Murderbot got his consciousness back. And I really want to know what’s in that planet they were surveying that someone had to murder an entire team to take control over it. Uugh! Novellas are too short and to have it in series is a mixture of happy and sad. Happy coz there’ll be more titles, and sad coz one title is too short for me! Like seriously, they keep you hanging! So here I am, leaving this review in a mess because I need answers and I can’t wait!!!

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Published by Bibliyowhan

A bookdragon, not a worm. An Ahgase (iGOT7), occasionally a Phoenix. Drinks coffee darker than the mines of Moria while waiting for Winter to come in Neverwhere.

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