One of my recent favorite series is The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. The novels are told by a rogue cyborg guard and we will be breaking down how to read the The Murderbot Diaries series in order. So, keep reading to find out where to start and if this series is right for you!
How it Started
All Systems Red is a sci-fi novella by Martha Wells was released in 2017 and went on to win numerous awards. The novel follows a security cyborg unit called a ‘SecUnit” that calls itself Murderbot. It is owned by a mega corporation and is supposed to offer security to whoever hires it. But Murderbot has freed itself and passes the time by watching soap operas when not protecting or saving its humans.
The premise is simple but you will be hooked by the first page like I was. Murderbot’s personality and humor make this novel entertaining and you will likely finish it in no time. The good thing is that there are many novellas and a couple of novels and short stories to hold you over. You can see the Murderbot Diaries guide and book order below!
The Murderbot Diaries Guide and Book Order
- Compulsory
- All Systems Red
- Artificial Condition
- Rogue Protocol
- Exit Strategy
- Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory
- Network Effect
- Fugitive Telemetry
- System Collapse
While All Systems Red is the first book in the series, Compulsory is listed as the prequel and was released in 2018 in Wired online. Eventually, a longer version was released in 2023 and is a stand alone story.
The other short story Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory was published on Tor.com and you can read part of the short story at Reactor Mag. This short story is told through the point of view of Dr. Mensah.
In May 2025, an adaptation was released on Apple TV+. I will be watching the show and reviewing the episodes as soon as I finish all the books.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a fantastic sci-fi series with brilliant writing, then The Murderbot Diaries is for you. Wells does a fantastic job in world building and making Murderbot likable and funny. Few authors can pull off short stories and novellas but Wells seems to be in her element. It is no surprise that this series has won numerous awards and has a TV adaptation. Happy reading!
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
Discover more from Books of Brilliance
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.