The Murderbot Diaries books in order
Only the books give you Murderbot's own voice, and the series runs to eight novels and novellas so far.
- 1
All Systems Red
2017 · Murderbot (Apple TV+), season 1A SecUnit, a cyborg guard owned by a megacorporation, is on a scientific expedition that goes wrong.
- 2
Artificial Condition
2018 · No adaptation announcedMurderbot strikes deals with cargo-ship bots to travel toward the mining facility.
- 3
Rogue Protocol
2018 · No adaptation announcedMurderbot heads to an abandoned GrayCris terraforming facility in orbit.
- 4
Exit Strategy
2018 · No adaptation announcedMurderbot is suspicious when the robot ship it has taken to HaveRatton Station is diverted.
- 5
Network Effect
2020 · No adaptation announcedDr. Mensah sends Murderbot on a research expedition, in the series' first full-length novel.
- 6
Fugitive Telemetry
2021 · No adaptation announcedDr. Mensah asks Murderbot to investigate the murder of an unidentified traveler.
- 7
System Collapse
2023 · No adaptation announcedA Barish-Estranza explorer arrives with its own SecUnits and skirmishes with Murderbot.
- 8
Platform Decay
2026 · No adaptation announcedDr. Mensah sends Murderbot to retrieve one of her spouses.
We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
What the books give you
Only in the books
The first four books are novellas that form one arc. The series runs to eight titles, and only All Systems Red has a named adaptation so far.
What the screen changes
The show casts Alexander Skarsgård as the title character, so a human actor plays the cyborg that the books describe from the inside.
Show differences (spoilers)
Editions
- 1
All Systems Red, paperback
Tor.com, first published May 2, 2017.
- 2
All Systems Red, audiobook
Read by Kevin R. Free, from Recorded Books.
- 3
All Systems Red, full-cast audio
GraphicAudio dramatization from August 28, 2023, with David Cui Cui as Murderbot.
More by Martha Wells
- 1
Witch King
2023 · a demon, Kai-Enna, lives among the Kentdessa Saredi clan
- 2
Queen Demon
2025 · a fantasy novel from Tor Books
- 3
The Element of Fire
1993 · her first novel
If you liked it
- 1
Ancillary Justice
Ann Leckie · 2013 · the lone survivor of a destroyed starship carries its AI and seeks revenge
- 2
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
Becky Chambers · 2014 · a debut set in her Galactic Commons universe
- 3
Project Hail Mary
Andy Weir · 2021 · a science teacher wakes up on a spacecraft with amnesia
Quick answers
Which book is each movie and series based on?
| Movie or series | Book |
|---|---|
| Murderbot (Apple TV+) | All Systems Red (2017) · season 1 adapts the first novella; season 2 renewed, no book named |
In what order should I read The Murderbot Diaries?
Read All Systems Red first, then Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol and Exit Strategy, the first four novellas of the series by Martha Wells. Continue with Network Effect, Fugitive Telemetry, System Collapse and Platform Decay. The Apple TV+ series adapts the first novella in season 1.
What book is Murderbot based on?
Season 1 of the Apple TV+ series Murderbot adapts All Systems Red, the first novella in Martha Wells's The Murderbot Diaries, first published in 2017. Season 2 is renewed, but no book is named for it.
How many Murderbot Diaries books are there?
Eight novels and novellas so far, from All Systems Red (2017) to Platform Decay (2026). The first four form one overarching story, and the fourth book concludes it. Read them in publication order.
Do I need to read the books before watching Murderbot?
No. Season 1 adapts the first novella, so the show gives you the start without any reading. The book is told from the cyborg guard's point of view, so it adds what Murderbot thinks.
When does season 2 of Murderbot come out?
No premiere date appears in the sources checked as of November 2026, so check Apple TV for updates. Season 2 was renewed on July 10, 2025, and the renewal names no book for it.