The Murderbot Diaries

Eight books, one of them published sixth and set fifth, and a television series that stops adapting one book per season after the first.

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Where to start with The Murderbot Diaries

Publication order, with exactly one wrinkle, and it is an unusually clean one. Fugitive Telemetry came out sixth and happens fifth, and both camps about what to do with that are reasonable.

  1. 1
    All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy All Systems Red

    Four novellas that are one story. Artificial Condition introduces ART and is the one people are tempted to skip.

  2. 2
    Network Effect Network Effect

    The first novel, and the emotional payoff of the four. This is why publication order wins here: putting a self-contained murder mystery in front of it kills the momentum.

  3. 3
    Fugitive Telemetry Fugitive Telemetry

    Set before Network Effect and written to be read after it. Reading it in its chronological slot is a legitimate alternative and it is the weakest of the books either way.

  4. 4
    System Collapse, then Platform Decay System Collapse

    System Collapse is a direct sequel to Network Effect and nearly unreadable without it.

Then what? The three short stories are pleasant and nothing depends on them. If you are buying rather than borrowing, the omnibus of the first four is the sane purchase: each novella is short and was priced like a hardback.

A suggested way in, not an official one. The full list is below: tick anything off in either place.

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The Original Four Novellas

  • All Systems Red 2017
  • Artificial Condition 2018
  • Rogue Protocol 2018
  • Exit Strategy 2018

The Preservation Era

  • Network Effect 2020
  • Fugitive Telemetry 2021
  • System Collapse 2023
  • Platform Decay 2026

Short Fiction

  • Compulsory 2018
  • Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory 2021

On Screen

  • Murderbot 2025, 2 seasons, 10 episodes

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