- Series
- | Authors
- | Book Release Calendar
- | Search |
- Genres
- | Newsletter
- Welcome to FictionDB, Guest
- | My Account
- | Help
Murderbot Diaries — by Martha Wells
Murderbot Diaries Series in Order: 9 books
-
All Systems Red
Book - 1
A murderous android discovers itself in ALL SYSTEMS RED, a tense science fiction adventure by Martha Wells that interrogates the roots of consciousness through Artificial Intelligence. "As a heartless killing machine, I was a complete failure." ...
-
Artificial Condition
Book - 2
The follow-up to the hugely popular All Systems Red It has a dark past -- one in which a number of humans were killed. A past that caused it to christen itself "Murderbot". But it has only vague memories of the massacre that spawned that title,...
-
Rogue Protocol
Book - 3
Who knew being a heartless killing machine would present so many moral dilemmas? Sci-fi's favorite antisocial A.I. is back on a mission. The case against the too-big-to-fail GrayCris Corporation is floundering, and more importantly, authorities ar...
-
Exit Strategy
Book - 4
Murderbot wasn't programmed to care. So, its decision to help the only human who ever showed it respect must be a system glitch, right? Having traveled the width of the galaxy to unearth details of its own murderous transgressions, as well as thos...
-
Network Effect
Book - 5
Martha Wells' New York Times and USA Today bestselling Murderbot series exploded onto the scene in 2017, and the world has not been the same, since. Murderbot returns in its highly-anticipated, first, full-length standalone novel, Network Effe...
-
Fugitive Telemetry
Book - 6
The New York Times bestselling security droid with a heart (though it wouldn't admit it!) is back in Fugitive Telemetry! Having captured the hearts of readers across the globe (Annalee Newitz says it's "one of the most humane portraits...
-
System Collapse
Book - 7
A New York Times, Washington Post, and USA Today bestseller.Everyone's favorite lethal SecUnit is back in the next installment in Martha Wells's bestselling and award-winning Murderbot Diaries series.Am I making it worse? I think I'm making it worse....
-
Platform Decay
Book - 8
A most-anticipated title from USA Today, Goodreads, BookPage, BookRiot, Seattle Times, and The Nerd Daily!Everyone's favorite lethal SecUnit is back in the next installment of Martha Wells' bestselling and award-winning Murderbot Diaries series.Havin...
-
Series Premise
The Murderbot Diaries series is a science fiction series centered on a Security Unit that secretly hacks its governor module and gains control over its own actions. Calling itself Murderbot, it would rather spend its time watching entertainment feeds than interacting with humans. However, dangerous missions, corporate corruption, and threats to the people it reluctantly cares about continually pull it into action. The series combines adventure, mystery, and character-driven science fiction within a technologically advanced interplanetary society.
Murderbot Diaries Series Reading Order
🔴 Must Read in Order · Start with Book 1: All Systems Red
Read in order—each book builds directly on the previous one.
The Murderbot Diaries series must be read in publication order. Although individual books often focus on a specific mission, investigation, or crisis, they form a single continuous story that follows Murderbot's evolving understanding of itself and its place in the world. Major events, relationships, and revelations carry directly from one book into the next, and many later plotlines depend on knowledge established earlier in the series. Reading out of order can cause significant confusion and reveal major spoilers involving both character development and overarching story arcs.
Explanation of reading order types
Murderbot Diaries Series Characters
Murderbot is the central protagonist, a SecUnit that has gained autonomy and struggles with social interaction despite its growing attachment to certain humans. Dr. Mensah, a scientist from Preservation Alliance, becomes one of the most important figures in Murderbot's life after the events of the first book. Recurring allies include members of the PreservationAux team, independent researchers, transport crews, and artificial intelligences with their own distinct personalities. Relationships between these characters evolve throughout the series and play a major role in the larger narrative.
Setting of the Murderbot Diaries Series
The series takes place across a network of planets, research stations, habitats, and corporate-controlled territories in the far future. Much of the conflict stems from powerful corporations that dominate exploration, security, and commerce. Different books visit new locations, but all exist within the same interconnected political and economic system. The setting combines advanced technology, artificial intelligence, and space exploration with strong social and ethical questions.
Tone & Themes of the Murderbot Diaries Series
The tone blends action, suspense, dry humor, and introspective character development. Major themes include autonomy, personhood, identity, corporate power, trust, and the challenges of forming relationships. Murderbot's sarcastic narration provides humor while exploring complex questions about what it means to be human. The series balances fast-paced science fiction adventures with thoughtful emotional growth.
Is the Murderbot Diaries Series Worth Reading?
The Murderbot Diaries series may appeal to readers who enjoy character-focused science fiction, artificial intelligence stories, and space-based adventures. It is particularly suited to readers who like action and mystery alongside strong internal character development. Fans of science fiction that explores identity, ethics, and found-family relationships often find the series especially rewarding.
Content Warnings and Heat Level
The series contains frequent action violence, combat, injuries, deaths, and references to corporate exploitation. Themes involving trauma, isolation, and emotional recovery appear throughout the books. Romantic content is minimal, and sexual content is generally absent. The focus remains on adventure, relationships, and personal growth rather than romance.
The Murderbot Diaries series follows a single evolving narrative centered on one of modern science fiction's most distinctive protagonists. Readers looking for the Murderbot Diaries books in order should begin with the first installment to fully appreciate the character development and ongoing story. The combination of action, humor, and thoughtful exploration of identity makes the series stand out within contemporary science fiction.
Books in this series fall into the following genres
Genres
Themes
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Top Series in Science Fiction