BookBingeThe Murderbot Diaries Books in Order
The short answer
Martha Wells · 9 books
- How many books?
- There are 9 books in The Murderbot Diaries, published 2017–2026.
- Is it finished?
- No — it's ongoing, but the next book doesn't have a release date yet.
- Where to start
- Start with All Systems Red (2017).
About 1,800 pages — roughly 30 hours of reading
A rogue security android has hacked its governor module and really just wants to watch soap operas.
Here is the complete The Murderbot Diaries reading order — all 9 books by Martha Wells, in the order you should read them:
Reading order
- All Systems RedMurderbot is assigned to a survey team on an alien planet — things go very wrong very fast.2017158 pages
- Artificial ConditionMurderbot returns to the site of the massacre that first gave it autonomy.2018163 pages
- Rogue ProtocolA derelict terraforming facility hides a corporate conspiracy.2018158 pages
- Exit StrategyMurderbot reunites with its original humans in a hostile corporate station.2018182 pages
- Network EffectMurderbot, ART, and the humans face an impossible ghost ship.2020333 pages
- Fugitive TelemetryMurderbot solves a murder on Preservation Station.2021176 pages
- System CollapseMurderbot deals with its own malfunctions while trying to save a colony.2023203 pages
- HomeMurderbot confronts its past and its future at the place it calls home.2025
- Platform DecayMurderbot deals with the fallout of System Collapse while its found family navigates a fraying survey mission.2026
Good news: for this series, reading order and publication order are the same — just read straight down the list.
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Get BookBingeFrequently asked questions
How many Murderbot Diaries books are there?
There are 9 books in The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells, from All Systems Red (2017) to Platform Decay (2026). Together they run to about 1,800 pages.
Is The Murderbot Diaries finished?
No, it's ongoing. The most recent book is Platform Decay (2026), and Martha Wells hasn't dated the next one yet.
What is the first Murderbot Diaries book?
All Systems Red (2017) is book one, at 158 pages. Murderbot is assigned to a survey team on an alien planet — things go very wrong very fast.
Should I read The Murderbot Diaries in publication order?
Yes. For The Murderbot Diaries, reading order and publication order are the same — All Systems Red (2017) through Platform Decay (2026).
How long does it take to read all Murderbot Diaries books?
About 1,800 pages across 9 books — roughly 30 hours at a page a minute. The longest is Network Effect (333 pages); the shortest is All Systems Red (158 pages).