All Systems Red

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussions of mental illness and ableism.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did your expectations of a story about an artificial intelligence shift as you read Murderbot's first-person narrative? Did its casual tone and love of entertainment media change your perspective on AI consciousness? Why or why not?

2. The novel balances humor with serious themes about identity and autonomy. How effectively did this blend work for you? Consider how this story compares to the tone of other AI-themed narratives, such as Isaac Asimov's I, Robot.

3. What was your reaction to Murderbot's decision to leave at the end? Did you find this choice satisfying or frustrating? Why?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Murderbot often retreats to entertainment media as a way to avoid social interaction. How do you relate to this coping mechanism? What are your own strategies for managing social anxiety?

2. The story explores the tension between independence and belonging. When have you experienced conflict between your desire for autonomy and others' expectations of connection? How did you resolve this issue?