It’s a good time to be a nerd, and a sci-fi book nerd in particular. The golden age of television has given us some The Murderbot Diaries to the small screen, there’s a good chance that the streaming site has yet another huge hit on its hands.

Winner of several literary awards, including three Hugos, the Murderbot Diaries books are rife with compelling sci-fi action and sardonic humor. Each book features a protagonist called SecUnit (or “Murderbot,” as it calls itself), a cyborg from a futuristic society run by megacorporations that has secretly gained free will. With the news that Alexander Skarsgård will star in the Murderbot TV adaptation, it may be time to check out these highly entertaining books. However, there are a few options for how to read The Murderbot Diaries in order, depending on your preference.

The Murderbot Diaries Series In Release Date Order

7 Novels And 3 Short Stories Have Been Released Since 2017

Following the high reception of All Systems Red in 2017, the Murderbot Diaries books by author Martha Wells were published pretty consistently over the next six years, with a whopping four titles published in 2018. Wells seemingly took a break in 2019, yet would go on to release Network Effect in 2020, then a short story and a new novel in 2021. The same year, Wells announced that she had signed on to write three more books for the Murderbot Diaries series (via The OC ), one of which was System Collapse, published in 2023.

Wells was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023, which is likely the reason why the newest Murderbot book has been delayed. That same year, she later announced that after multiple surgeries, she was cancer-free (via Wired). However, there’s still no word yet when the new Murderbot book is set to release.

While the reading order of Murderbot Diaries is really up to personal preference, I would recommend reading them in order of release date. For me, the narrative style seems to flow better, despite the timeline of events being somewhat askew.

The Murderbot Diaries Series In Chronological Order

The Timeline Of Events In The Murderbot Series

Obsolescence

In this mini murder mystery, an augmented human is found dead on a space station near Jupiter, with several body parts missing. While it isn’t technically part of the Murderbot series, this short story does take place in the same universe as the books, and is also referenced in Network Effect. It alludes to the origin of the Corporate Rim and SecUnit cyborgs, and can actually be read in any order.

Compulsory

This short story takes place before the events in All Systems Red. While watching his favorite soap opera, SecUnit sees on the security monitors that an employee has fallen down a shaft, and her life is in peril. It knows that saving her will expose it for what it really is — a cyborg with full autonomy. So, it finds a clever way to help the woman without being caught.

All Systems Red

In the first novel of the Murderbot Diaries, a survey team known as Preservation lands on an alien planet. They are accompanied by a security cyborg, or SecUnit, who has secretly overridden his government programming and gained autonomy, naming itself Murderbot. When of the team start turning up dead, SecUnit must reveal itself and up with the team’s leader, Dr. Mensah, to save the day.

Artificial Condition

Seeking answers, Murderbot decides to investigate the mining facility where it went rogue. With help from a snarky AI named ART, it makes modifications to as a human. The trail leads to the megacorporation Tlacey Excavations, where Murderbot uncovers a fiendish murder plot.

Rogue Protocol

This book takes place on a terraforming facility in space, where Murderbot encounters a group of humans who are attacked by a hostile robot. One of the humans is captured, and Murderbot reluctantly agrees to help rescue them. However, he soon uncovers a conspiracy that may risk all their lives.

Exit Strategy

Murderbot learns that his former ally, Dr. Mensah, has been kidnapped and is being ransomed by the corporation GrayCris. Even knowing it may be a trap to lure him in, Murderbot teams up with the of Preservation to save Dr. Mensah from her captors.

Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory

This short story is from the perspective of Dr. Ayda Mensah, shortly after being rescued by SecUnit in Exit Strategy. During a meeting with a fellow Planetary Councilor, Mensah defends her decision to bring SecUnit back to the seat of government, and seeks to further the end of cyborg enslavement.

Fugitive Telemetry

In this prequel to Network Effect, Dr. Mensah asks for Murderbot's help to solve a murder. The SecUnit gets help from Special Agent Aylen, and together they track down clues to the murder victim's identity. They soon discover a conspiracy involving bounty hunters, refugees, and rogue bots.

Network Effect

Murderbot is tasked with a new research expedition, ed by a crew of humans that includes Dr. Mensah's daughter, Amena. The crew is then attacked by a hostile alien ship and pulled into a wormhole, where Murderbot is reunited with ART, the AI he met in Artificial Condition. The SecUnit must rescue the human crew while facing off against an alien hive mind on a planet colony.

System Collapse

Traveling with ART and the Preservation team, Murderbot makes with a new colony planet. A representative of the Barish-Estranza corporation hopes to bring the colony into the fold, as diplomatic talks get underway. Meanwhile, Murderbot discovers that there are holes in its memory, indicating that there may be something nefarious at work.

The Future Of The Murderbot Diaries Series

The Apple TV+ Adaptation Will Release In May 2025

Like other fans of the books, I’m excited to see how the Apple TV+ series will bring the series to life, as there are several moments from the Murderbot Diaries books that must be seen. With the first two episodes of Murderbot due to release on May 16, 2025, the future of the Murderbot franchise is certain to thrive as more people are brought into the fold. In a recent interview with Erin Underwood Presents, author Martha Wells talked about her involvement in the series.

“We’ve been working on it since 2021. My credit is consulting producer, and I worked really closely with [the showrunners] Paul [Weitz] and Chris [Weitz], [as] they were developing it, and the look of it. And what they did, I am so happy with. I think they really understood the material and [they] dealt with it as sensitively as they could.”

In the same interview, when asked when or if The Murderbot Diaries book 8 would be released, Wells remained mum, saying, “I don’t think I’m allowed to say so yet.” The author might have to leave us hanging for now, but since she is contracted for two more books, it’s very likely that we’ll be reading more about the adventures of Murderbot in the future. Meanwhile, there are some other great sci-fi TV shows based on books that fans can check out.