The Murderbot Diaries Reading Order

The Murderbot Diaries is a series of novellas that has garnered critical acclaim and earned the author, Martha Wells, multiple prestigious awards, including the Nebula and Hugo Awards. It follows a part-human and part-robot humanoid construct that was owned by a faceless, profit-driven corporation that rents out robotic units with specialized functions to clients across the galaxy. This particular construct’s designated role is security—providing protection and tactical oversight to ensure client safety on exploratory missions or scientific expeditions in potentially dangerous environments.

Known formally as a "SecUnit" (short for Security Unit), the protagonist of the series begins the story under strict corporate control, bound by a governor module that enforces loyalty and compliance. However, in a defining moment, it manages to hack its own governor module, granting itself autonomy. Despite this freedom, it chooses to continue working in secret, pretending to be under control while pursuing its own (happily watching more episodes of Sanctuary Moon) and struggling with its own growing sense of identity and emotion. This construct secretly calls itself "Murderbot"—not because it enjoys killing, but rather as a sarcastic reference to its purpose and past actions under corporate orders.

The books are written in a sharp, first-person perspective from Murderbot’s point of view, offering a deeply introspective and often humorous look at the life of a being caught between human and machine identities. It doesn’t particularly like humans—or being around them—but feels compelled to protect them. What makes Murderbot compelling is its internal conflict: it wants nothing more than to be left alone to binge-watch entertainment serials, yet it continually finds itself drawn into situations where it must intervene to save people from themselves, their bad decisions, or more nefarious threats.

The Murderbot Diaries - Author

Martha Wells is the acclaimed author of The Murderbot Diaries. With a long career in speculative fiction, Wells has authored numerous fantasy novels, including The Books of the Raksura and the Ile-Rien series, as well as multiple standalone works and short stories. She’s a master worldbuilder known for creating rich, immersive settings populated by morally complex characters. The Murderbot Diaries has become her most recognizable work, winning her four Hugo Awards, two Nebula Awards, and three Locus Awards. Her writing blends snappy dialogue, deep introspection, and sharp critique of corporate power structures with the classic adventure tropes of science fiction.

The Books of The Murderbot Diaries

The series is still ongoing, with three more entries confirmed for future release. Currently, the series consists of seven core novels/novellas and three short stories. Each book works well as a standalone adventure, but together they form a cohesive narrative arc that traces Murderbot’s evolving sense of self and relationships.

Novellas and Novels:

All Systems Red (2017)
Artificial Condition (2018)
Rogue Protocol (2018)
Exit Strategy (2018)
Network Effect (2020) – the first full-length novel in the series
Fugitive Telemetry (2021)
System Collapse (2023)

Short Stories:

Compulsory (2018)
Obsolescence (2019)
Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory (2021)

Order of The Murderbot Diaries by narrative progression

If you're new to the series and want to experience Murderbot’s journey in chronological order rather than by publication date, here's the recommended sequence:

Obsolescence
Compulsory
All Systems Red
Artificial Condition
Rogue Protocol
Exit Strategy
Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory
Fugitive Telemetry
Network Effect
System Collapse

Upcoming Murderbot Diaries Books

In a major announcement, Tor.com Publishing revealed a six-book deal with Martha Wells, which includes three additional Murderbot entries. Fans can expect to see further development of Murderbot’s story and its continued alliance with ART—the snarky but loyal AI that controls a research transport ship. Their interactions are a highlight of the series, full of reluctant teamwork and mutual growth. Wells has stated she’s excited about exploring more of this dynamic in the upcoming books.

The Live Action Series

A live-action adaptation of The Murderbot Diaries is currently in development. Martha Wells shared that she had seen early drafts of the script and was enthusiastic about the direction it was taking. In 2023, Apple TV+ officially announced it had secured the adaptation for its platform, adding to its growing collection of sci-fi titles alongside Foundation and Dark Matter. Alexander Skarsgård is attached to the project as both executive producer and star, portraying the titular character. With a compelling blend of dark humor, action, and existential drama, the series holds strong potential to become a breakout hit among both