Amber Herbert reviewed All Systems Red by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #1)
A Light and Quick Read
3 stars
This introduction to Murderbot is swift, concise, and light. While I read it in a single two-and-a-half-hour sitting, I wouldn't say it hooked me. Rather, it provided the same level of entertainment as a run-of-the-mill genre film. Martha Wells delivers on her authorial promise but doesn't offer compelling prose, deep character work, or much in the way of worldbuilding. I found myself underwhelmed, especially after the endless hype I've heard over the past few years. This is another classic case of "I'm not the target audience".
This introduction to Murderbot is swift, concise, and light. While I read it in a single two-and-a-half-hour sitting, I wouldn't say it hooked me. Rather, it provided the same level of entertainment as a run-of-the-mill genre film. Martha Wells delivers on her authorial promise but doesn't offer compelling prose, deep character work, or much in the way of worldbuilding. I found myself underwhelmed, especially after the endless hype I've heard over the past few years. This is another classic case of "I'm not the target audience".
