NE: All Systems Red

[Ruth (tilltab) Ashworth]

I haven’t read any of the Murderbot books before, and went with the majority of comments and picked up the first novella. The price on that one is reasonable, so I figured, why not!

I’m a chapter in. I wasn’t really keen to read this series. I had a feeling I wouldn’t like it. This talk about murderbots and how funny it was put me in mind of the way folk talk about the Bobbyverse books, which were fine, but not for me. I’ve mentioned before, but certain kinds of humour just don’t work for me in novels, however much I might want them to (I wish I could love reading Hitchhikers and Discworld as much as I love the idea of them) and whilst the Bobbyverse is different from these, and skirts more closely to things I enjoy, it didn’t quite reach me.

The first page seemed to confirm my fears. Murderbot talking about many hours consuming various pop culture entertainment wasn’t really working for me. I resigned myself, way too early, to not enjoying the book.

I wasn’t paying close attention, and misread something, then got rather confused and had to go back, because, no, it wasn’t a giant gun the bot had given a name to that they were yanking from the mouth of a monster, but a person. The silly picture blinked from my head to be replaced with something rather more heroic. And the way they talked the other person through their shock... OH, I realised I was rather enjoying the story.

So, my bad for letting my expectations taint my reading. Early days, but I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this, and then, maybe more?

How are others new to the series finding the first novella? Since these books have been talked about rather a lot in this group, I wonder if others might have built some expectations around them, and how the reading compares. Expectations can be dangerous to enjoyment, I think.

[Sheila Jean]

I am not new to the series, I read them while they were relatively new. But I was someone who went in having no idea what it would be about or what I could expect. I do think it was the unexpectedness of Murderbot and learning more about them that made me love the early novellas. I haven't read a Murderbot story I didn't enjoy, but now that things are more established I find myself less surprised and more curious about "what now?"

[Ruth]

I read All Systems Red a couple of years ago and enjoyed it, I’ve been meaning to get around to reading the other novellas and the May book choice has been a good prompt to Get On With It. I went in without much in the way of preconceptions which probably helped.
I agree about some kinds of humour just not working for me. I enjoy Pratchett but I found We Are Legion (We Are Bob) little short of excruciating and I couldn’t get into Space Opera at all. Humour can be very subjective but I think something that helps with Murderbot is that all the media it watches is fictional, so you’re not relying on familiarity with pop culture references to get the joke.
Edit: I enjoyed The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy when I read it as a teenager but I’m not sure how much I’d like it if I re-read it now - I think I may have grown out of that style of humour, if my reaction to Space Opera is anything to go by.

[Dazerla]

I read the series right before Network Effect was picked due to how much other Asexual and Neurodivergent people I follow suggested it. Even with that I wasn't expecting how much I would love the books and identify with Murderbot.

[Seth]

Ruth (tilltab) Ashworth wrote: "certain kinds of humour just don’t work for me in novels"

I have started feeling similarly about humorous books. Most novels written to be funny don't appeal to me. I read Kill the Farm Boy - a sort of parody of classic fantasy - and found it to be just dumb. When I go in expecting something funny, more often then not it ends up disappointing. More than ever, though, I appreciate books that have some humor when the humor isn't really the point. It's nice when an author can acknowledge how ridiculous the human experience can be, and Murderbot is the perfect perspective to reveal just how weird being a human really is.

[Ruth]

What Seth says above. Stuff that’s trying too hard to be funny often isn’t (for me) but stuff like Murderbot where humour arises naturally from character interactions and the general absurdity of life ... that’s much better,

[terpkristin]

I originally didn't think Murderbot sounded good (a robot that murders? no thanks..) and then I kept hearing all the hype and I couldn't believe it was as good as all that.

But in the spirit of S&L I decided I would read this month's pick. But I wanted to be a "purist" so am reading the novellas first. And I've been happily surprised. I'm not 100% sure it's as good as the hype but it's definitely been a pleasant surprise. It's been a good distraction lately from some life stuff, too, which is a bonus.

[Deanna]

I've heard the hype, been excited to dive in and got the first three novellas: I just can NOT jump into a standalone knowing that there are novellas. I'm sure I'd get it, but I'm too "Type A" for that.

I'm currently slogging through the third novella. I'll finish it, because I'm a completionist to my own detriment, but won't proceed any further. I thought the first novella was good, but not as AmAzInG as everyone else's experience. The second novella was interesting, but with this third one, I'm quite content to leave it. They are not BAD novellas, and I don't even have a specific reason why I am not enjoying them - I get why people do, I just can't put my finger on what doesn't jive with me! I'm glad I finally gave them a shot :)

[Dazerla]

Deanna wrote: "I've heard the hype, been excited to dive in and got the first three novellas: I just can NOT jump into a standalone knowing that there are novellas. I'm sure I'd get it, but I'm too "Type A" for t..."

Oh, that's too bad. Go read something you do enjoy.

[Molly]

I am also always wary of fiction praised for its humor, lol. Usually, I find it's just not for me. But I got All Systems Red for a good deal awhile back and figured, why not? I ended up really loving it! And related perhaps too much to Murderbot. Humans are very stupid and annoying, but at the end of the day, still somehow endearing. Lol.

[Iain]

Brevity is one of its strengths. The book is not long enough for the humour to become tiresome.

[Dazerla]

Molly wrote: "I am also always wary of fiction praised for its humor, lol. Usually, I find it's just not for me. But I got All Systems Red for a good deal awhile back and figured, why not? I ended up really lovi..."

I've very glad I didn't hear about the humor part before I tried the series since most things that are considered humorous to most people are just confusing or cringy to me.

[Stephen]

At first I was not that impressed with All Systems Red , but I blame the hype. Tor.com gave me the chance to download the other novellas for free so I gave it another chance. I grew to love the Murderbot because I identified with the main protagonist. Who would not rather dive into a TV series than deal with the world and whatever problems humans think up? Plus the humor is of the dry type.