Kindle Price: $0.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs

Follow the author

Martha Wells
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Compulsory Kindle Edition

by Martha Wells (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 4,803 ratings
#1 Best Seller in 15-Minute Literature & Fiction Short Reads
See all formats and editions

Murderbot—the sardonic, almost-homicidal, media-loving android created by Martha Wells—has proven to be one of the most popular characters in 21 st century science fiction. Everything that makes this protagonist (it would be wrong to call Murderbot a hero) beloved of fans is on display in Compulsory.

While trying to watch episode 44 of The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon, Murderbot is—again, what is it with humans?—distracted by something that is technically outside its purview. A miner is suddenly in danger following a pointless (to Murderbot’s way of thinking) argument, and the choice is to risk discovery and leap into action, which would require hitting the pause button during a very exciting part of SanctuaryMoon, or to follow orders and stay still.

This is a tougher choice than it seems. But then, when has Murderbot ever been faced with an easy choice?

A shorter version of this story originally appeared in Wired magazine.

Previous page
  1. Print length
    8 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    July 28, 2023
  5. File size
    1319 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
Next page
Popular Highlights in this book
What are popular highlights?
Previous page
  1. Since I hacked my governor module, it’s not like I haven’t thought about killing the humans. But once I started exploring the company servers and found hundreds of hours of downloadable entertainment media, I just thought, there’s no hurry. I can always kill the humans later, after the next series drops.
    Highlighted by 161 Kindle readers
  2. Sekai made an “eep” noise. I wanted to make an “eep” noise too but I was busy.
    Highlighted by 158 Kindle readers
  3. Since I hacked my governor module, I sometimes do things and I’m not sure entirely why. (Apparently suddenly getting free will after having 93% of your behavior controlled for your entire existence will do weird things to your impulse control.)
    Highlighted by 125 Kindle readers
Next page

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CD39L16K
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Subterranean Press (July 28, 2023)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 28, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1319 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 8 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 4,803 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Martha Wells

Martha Wells

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Martha Wells has been an SF/F writer since her first fantasy novel was published in 1993, and her work includes The Books of the Raksura series, The Death of the Necromancer, the Fall of Ile-Rien trilogy, The Murderbot Diaries series, media tie-in fiction for Star Wars, Stargate: Atlantis, and Magic: the Gathering, as well as short fiction, YA novels, and non-fiction. She has won Nebula Awards, Hugo Awards, and Locus Awards, and her work has appeared on the Philip K. Dick Award ballot, the BSFA Award ballot, the USA Today Bestseller List, and the New York Times Bestseller List. Her books have been published in twenty-two languages.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
4,803 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Patiscynical
5.0 out of 5 stars Why do they say SecUnits can't talk?
Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2023
Verified Purchase
I love this story, but I don't understand why the humans here think SecUnits can't talk. Don't they have to occasionally tell people that they're in a danger zone, or something? He talks in the other books. But other than my bewilderment about the talking, I've completely enjoyed the story. It's very, very short, sadly, but it covers all the bases. My love for Murderbot grows with each book.
Results: I'd give this a G or PG rating. You could read it aloud to your kids or your grandmother without embarrassment. Also it's humorous. And extremely short. Read it, you won't regret it.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
T. J. Trentadue
5.0 out of 5 stars too short
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2024
Verified Purchase
What a super condensed short story packed with action character development and the usual delightful murderbot humor. Just wish it was longer. 😘
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Karissa Eckert
4.0 out of 5 stars Well done short story, nice intro to Murderbot
Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2024
Verified Purchase
Series Info/Source: This is a short story related to the Murderbot world, I believe it is a prequel to the series. I bought this on ebook for my Kindle.

Thoughts: I enjoyed this quick look into earlier in Murderbot's life. This takes place shortly after Murderbot hacked his governor module, when he is still working as a SecUnit for a corporation. I believe this is the story that started it all.

This only took me 5 minutes or so to read. However, it packs a lot of story for its short length and I enjoyed it. It starts to take a look at what can happen with a robot/human has to start making decisions on its own rather than decisions driven by commands.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I enjoyed this and I think it is worth reading if you are a Murderbot fan. This also works fine as a stand alone since it introduces us to Murderbot. It is a very short story though, so the Kindle price was a bit steep for what you are getting.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Evelyn P.
5.0 out of 5 stars Some Days You Just Need Murderbot
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2024
Verified Purchase
For me this short book is THE perfect 'It just makes me feel better now'. I think that if I had found this story first, I still would have enjoyed it! I am just glad that I read the first Murderbot novel and all of the others to date.
Helpful
 Report
Eric Wardowski
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! I've heard rave reviews but now I see!
Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2023
Verified Purchase
Just from friends talking about murderbot introduced me to this author. I sought out a book. When I found a small book, I purchased it to see if it was any good.

Let's just say that I will be reading more of Martha Wells books! This was short, but this was excellent. I encourage all to take a byte of this story with this book.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
TPG
5.0 out of 5 stars Great, but really short.
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2024
Verified Purchase
I've read several of the Murderbot series and have enjoyed them. I saw the new 7th novel and purchased it... then noticed this short story. So I purchased "Compulsory" and read it right away. It is a fun and good little story... but at 8 pages, it is short even for a short story. But... on the positive side, it reminded me how fun the Murderbot novels are! So I am back on the series as of tonight!!!!
5 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Tamara
3.0 out of 5 stars Love Murderbot but this should have been free
Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2023
Verified Purchase
I love Murderbot and this is a great short story (very short, incredibly short) of its time before Book 1. It’s just so short. It’s not a novella. It’s barely a short story length. If this was an actual book it would be less than 10 pages long. Maybe 5?

It’s silly that we had to pay .99 cents for it.

I’m wondering if the author or publisher is making a money grab and cashing in on the popularity of Muderbot by releasing anything that Wells wrote about Muderbot. This occurred to me after I realized that Book 6 took place BEFORE Book 5.

I still love Muderbot and will read/pay for any of its stories.
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Lynn
4.0 out of 5 stars Anything Murderbot is a fun read
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2024
Verified Purchase
I love seeing the beginning of Murderbot’s journey to be a sec unit with free will and the struggles that come with that in making hard choices and his relatable anxiety in dealing with humans
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

H. H
5.0 out of 5 stars Sci-fi with humor.
Reviewed in Canada on February 27, 2024
Verified Purchase
Too bad the story wasn't longer, but it was very good. Interesting sci- fi content with clever humor.
Report
jabgoe
5.0 out of 5 stars murderbot short
Reviewed in Germany on February 20, 2024
Verified Purchase
a short book of the murderbot series.
Report
Karen Gray
5.0 out of 5 stars more, more, more
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 26, 2023
Verified Purchase
Please can we have some more…

I love Murderbot and it’s stories…I wait impatiently for each new novel or short story.

If you like sci-fi, a good story, well told, and a world that grows, along with a fair bit of snark, then this would be a great series to start reading. Murderbot has a fabulous voice, and like the best characters you can hear it!
Report
RICHARD CULLIN
5.0 out of 5 stars good stuff
Reviewed in Australia on April 26, 2024
Verified Purchase
cannot get enough murderbot
Report
Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Very good. Too short.
Reviewed in Canada on March 9, 2024
Verified Purchase
Very good. Too short. Surprisingly short. But consistent with the author’s talent. Readers should be told in advance the number of pages.
Report
Report an issue

Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report