If you`ve been captivated by Season 1 of “Murderbot” on Apple TV+ and are eager to explore the critically acclaimed books that inspired this unique sci-fi comedy, the latest Humble Book Bundle presents an irresistible opportunity. The “Martha Wells – Murderbot & More” bundle is a treasure trove of ebooks, comprising every novella, novel, and short story from “The Murderbot Diaries” series, alongside a selection of the author`s highly praised fantasy novels.
For a mere $18, this comprehensive collection delivers an impressive total of nine novels, five novellas, and two short stories set in the dynamic Murderbot universe.
Humble Bundle Offer Details
All ebooks included in this Humble Bundle are provided in EPUB format, ensuring compatibility with virtually any e-reader or preferred reading app you use. As with all Humble Bundles, your purchase extends beyond personal enjoyment, contributing to a meaningful cause. A portion of your payment will be directed to World Central Kitchen (WCK), a non-profit organization dedicated to combating food insecurity worldwide. WCK is renowned for developing sustainable food programs and providing crucial assistance during humanitarian crises and natural disasters. The proceeds from your acquisition are distributed among WCK, Humble, and Macmillan Publishers, with the flexibility to manually adjust the percentage allocation for each beneficiary.
While the full bundle offers exceptional value, those looking to sample “The Murderbot Diaries” can acquire the first book for just $1. A mid-tier option at $10 grants access to the first three books. However, by investing an additional $8 for the full $18 bundle, you unlock the remaining four Murderbot books and seven acclaimed fantasy novels, making it the most advantageous choice.
“The Murderbot Diaries”: An Award-Winning Sci-Fi Saga
From an accolades standpoint, “The Murderbot Diaries” stands as one of the most distinguished science fiction series of this century. It boasts an impressive haul of four Hugo Awards, two Nebula Awards, and three Locus Awards. The series` award count would likely be even higher, but Martha Wells has commendably declined multiple nominations for her works in the series.
The “Murderbot Diaries” books included in this bundle are:
- 1. All Systems Red: A Novella (2017)
- 2. Artificial Condition: A Novella (2018)
- 3. Rogue Protocol: A Novella (2018)
- 4. Exit Strategy: A Novella (2018)
- 5. Network Effect: A Novel (2020)
- 6. Fugitive Telemetry: A Novella (2021)
- 7. System Collapse: A Novel (2023)
- Home: A Short Story (2020)
- Rapport: A Short Story (2025)
Additional Fantasy Novels by Martha Wells
Beyond the celebrated sci-fi series, the bundle also encompasses these captivating fantasy titles from Martha Wells:
- Witch King: A Novel (2023)
- City of Bones: A Novel (1995)
- Wheel of the Infinite: A Novel (2000)
- The Book of Ile-Rien: 2 Novels
- The Element of Fire (1993)
- The Death of the Necromancer (1998)
- The Emilie Adventures: 2 YA Novels
- Emilie and the Hollow World (2013)
- Emilie and the Sky World (2014)
Within the fantasy selection, you`ll find standalone novels, historical fantasy, and “Witch King,” the inaugural book in Wells` latest fantasy series. “Witch King,” published in 2023, earned the Locus Award for Best Novel and was a finalist for both the Hugo and Nebula Awards. With the second novel in “The Rising World” series scheduled for an October 7th release, this is an opportune moment to delve into its world.
“City of Bones” and “Wheel of the Infinite” are standalone fantasy works penned by the author in the 1990s. Wells` debut historical fantasy novel, “The Element of Fire,” is compiled within “The Book of Ile-Rien.” Completing the fantasy offerings, “The Emilie Adventures” is a duology of steampunk novels designed for young adult readers.
Exploring the Plot of “The Murderbot Diaries”
As depicted in the critically acclaimed TV adaptation, the central character of “The Murderbot Diaries” is a SecUnit—a humanoid security construct composed of cloned organic tissue and advanced mechanical components. After successfully hacking and disabling its governing module, this SecUnit attains autonomy. It self-designates as “Murderbot,” a moniker that succinctly reflects its primary function as a private security unit. To avoid deactivation for its act of rebellion, Murderbot maintains its cover, operating as a planet-hopping bodyguard. It protects and eliminates threats for the human clients who largely perceive it as a mere object. Murderbot copes with its often-miserable existence by indulging in an obsessive devotion to a sci-fi soap opera, which it “watches” internally, frequently distracting it from the actual missions at hand.
Books Versus Show: A Deeper Dive into “Murderbot”
The Apple TV+ “Murderbot” adaptation, starring Alexander Skarsgard, has achieved an impressive 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, as is frequently the case, the original source material offers an even richer and more profound experience. The books are presented from Murderbot`s first-person perspective, allowing readers to intimately view events through the internal lens of a being only recently in control of its own existence. While Murderbot`s narrative includes moments of dry wit and levity, the true strength of the character lies in its poignant internal struggle—a personal reckoning with an uncontrollable past and an ongoing quest for identity, purpose, and genuine connection within a largely unforgiving cosmos.
“The Murderbot Diaries”: Paperback Collections
Earlier this year, Tor Books released a trio of affordable paperback collections. Volume 1 brings together “All Systems Red” and “Artificial Condition,” the first two novellas in the series. “The Murderbot Diaries Volume 1” is currently available for $14.35 (down from an original price of $20). Notably, these first two Murderbot books secured the Hugo Award for Best Novella in successive years. Volume 2 compiles the third and fourth novellas for $20, while Volume 3 features the standalone novella “Fugitive Telemetry” and the full-length novel “System Collapse” for $17 (originally $23). The slightly higher MSRP for Volume 3 reflects the inclusion of “System Collapse,” a longer novel.
One potential point of confusion with these paperback collections is the absence of Book 5, “Network Effect.” “Network Effect” marked the first full-length Murderbot novel, and at 352 pages, it is lengthier than two novellas combined. If you opt for these paperback collections, you will need to purchase “Network Effect” separately, as “System Collapse” serves as its direct sequel. The paperback edition of “Network Effect” is priced at $13.89 (originally $20). Martha Wells was awarded the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Awards for Best Novel for “Network Effect.”
To acquire Paperback Volumes 1-3 along with a copy of “Network Effect” will currently cost you approximately $65.
- Books 1-2: All Systems Red & Artificial Condition $14.35
$20 - Books 3-4: Rogue Protocol & Exit Strategy $20
- Book 5: Network Effect $13.89
$20 - Books 6-7: Fugitive Telemetry & System Collapse $17
$23
“The Murderbot Diaries”: Hardcover Editions
All five Murderbot novellas and the two novels remain available as standalone hardcover books. With the exceptions of “All Systems Red” and “Network Effect,” Tor has not released individual paperback editions of “The Murderbot Diaries.” Consequently, if you prefer to own distinct, matching copies, hardcovers are currently your primary option. Fortunately, many are significantly discounted by 50% or more, making them an attractive choice. Based on current pricing, Books 1-7 in hardcover would collectively cost approximately $92 – about $27 more than the paperback collections detailed above.
- All Systems Red $14
$25 - Artificial Condition $11.74
$20 - Rogue Protocol $10.35
$25 - Exit Strategy $12.31
$24 - Network Effect $16
$29 - Fugitive Telemetry $11.87
$25 - System Collapse $16.20
$25 - Platform Decay $25 (Releases May 5, 2026)
The Murderbot Diaries: 4-Book Hardcover Collection
The first four novellas were compiled into a single hardcover box set in 2020. This set is currently available with a 20% discount on Amazon, but its price of $79.59 is considerably higher than the combined cost of purchasing Books 1-4 individually at their present reduced prices.