All Systems Red by Martha Wells

Rating: ★★★

This book perfectly encapsulated the episodic sci-fi vibe. The nostalgia hit absolutely just right, and it honestly felt like reading a brand new episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Murderbot was a brilliantly constructed protagonist, who instantly endeared himself to me through his awkwardness and lazy attitude. I totally see how someone would fall in love with him and read fifteen (how many??) more books.

My main issue with this book was probably the large cast. There were at least three characters in the "main group" who I struggled to distinguish from each other, and I believe could've been excluded without any loss to the plot. I also found the overall plot a bit formulaic, and rushed (particularly at the end). However, for such a short novel, it accomplished a lot in the low page count. And, most importantly, established all the necessary elements to bring people into the series!

Recommendations:

There is No Antimemetics Division by QNTM. This is a perfectly fitting companion piece in my opinion. Another short science fiction novel in the tone of classic science fiction monster-of-the-week serials. It also follows an equally compelling and fun main character as Murderbot, which is no easy feat. Plus, as a self-published novel, this book gets extra props from me for how well edited and designed it is.