All Systems Red (Dramatized Adaptation): The Murderbot Diaries, Book 1

I have all the Audible Murderbot books and I've listened to the entire series multiple times. It's one of my very favorite books series. I have also read all the print versions.That said, all I had to do was listen to part of the preview for this dramatized version to decide it wasn't worth the time or money. Admittedly, I'm spoiled by Kevin R. Free's narration of the audiobooks. To me Murderbot will always be in Kevin's voice. Even when I was reading the print books that's how I heard it in my head. Like Ben Aaranovich's Rivers of London series, the synergism provided by the narrator is 50% of the joy.Still, a dramatization would be fine if it was well done. The sample was not encouraging in this regard. The Murderbot voice just seemed inappropriate and rushed. Murderbot is cynical and wry, which this narrator is not. A lot of the reviewers agreed. Other voices were miscast also.I only feel sorry for the people who stumble on this dramatization without having listened to the other versions or read the print versions first.

This is my 3rd time reading this book. I read it the first time in print, then audio version with the single narrator then this dramatized version. Obviously the print version was the best but the dramatized version comes close. The various actors do a great job with their characters and the sound effects add to the mood of each scene. I already purchased book 2 of the dramatized version and plan to get the rest. The single narrator version was just okay for me. The only advantage it has over the dramatized version is that it is synced to the book so you can go back and forth.I couldn't understand why this version has a rather low rating here of 2.9 stars so I read the other reviews. I was shocked to find the "best" bad review was from someone who only listened to the sample. I don't believe that's a valid basis on which to write a review. A sample is just a sample.Another review mentioned the lack of an accent for the characters with East Indian names. I would point that the series is set far, far in the future and the characters are not from Earth. Why would they speak in a 20th century Earth accents? A single narrator has to use techniques like accents to differentiate characters so I did not offensive that the original audio version used accents. But the dramatized version has different actors for each character, negating the need for the use of accents. I find the lack of accents a lot more authentic to the characters.

I love the Murderbot books! I bought the other (no-dramatized) audible version for my husband to listen to during his commute, but it was awful. It was so monotone that we started to drift off while listening. He said he just couldn't do it. This version is listenable. So glad I found it!

I'm a Murderbot fanatic, and so started listening to this version of a story I practically have memorized. I was appalled to find that the human characters, most of whom are clearly Indian/AAPI by name and physical description, are all voiced by white actors who all use the same accents. In Kevin R. Free's version you can hear regional accents and variation among the voices - how is it that one narrator provides more diversity than this entire cast? Strongly DO NOT RECOMMEND.

Really enjoyed this, have already listened to second book in series. Narrator does a great job with characters.

Murderbot will always be Kevin R Free. It’s impossible now to listen to anyone else deliver SecUnit’s sublime, sardonic, inner angst. Kevin’s timing and wit are perfect, so any redo will suffer in comparison. The voices, tempo and dearth of emotion in this dramatized version make it simultaneously sterile and nails-on-chalkboard annoying. Avoid this version. Dig up the audiobooks, sit back and let them cure you of all your ills.

I am a big fan of certain BBC dramatizations of books I have read, so I wanted to like this, but having just listened to the sample, I was immediately turned off. The main character Murderbot, as written, is cyborgesqe, albeit with a reluctant heart--an asexual introvert. This narrator's staccato delivery sounds like he's auditioning for Mad Men.Whoever cast this is dead off on the book's vibe. Try again, or whatever--Kevin Free's narration its excellent.