I'm going to start by saying I read novellas very differently from full-length books, especially if they're in a series. I'm not going to comment on the plot resolution because I always operate under the assumption that book #1 in a novella series is more often than not a set-up: of the world, the characters, the stakes, the powers in play.

So, for what it was, I absolutely loved it. 🥰

Murberbot as a character was endearing and interesting and I loved the lens through which we got a look at how this world operates. I thought the subtle commentary on capitalism was spot on, and am intrigued by the sprinkled hints of space exploration in future books.

I found the mechanics of how Murderbot operated, the contrast between being a bot and clearly being sapient as well, absolutely fascinating. I also love how subtly queer this book is without it being a big deal.

All Systems Red was smart, nuanced, funny, and gets a 4.5 ⭐️ from me.