#murderbot fandom

https://bookwyrmsbuttons.etsy.com

If you prefer small-scale servers, there are several, again with notable differences. My personal experience in them are limited but I will try to describe them, in the chronological order of their foundation, in as unbiased a manner as possible.

(1) Preservation

An aroace/aspec friendly server where discussing Murderbot in a romantic/sexual manner is prohibited.

Canon-consistent discussion of ships (e.g., Mensah and her spouses, Arada/Overse) are fine but mostly take place in the designated area.

Letting off steam by sharing negative views on the books and adaptations is allowed

AKA "Tree server" as you can 'water' the tree to make it grow

There are both on-topic and off-topic categories with multiple channels

Not a place if you are primarily interested in the TV adaptation

Automated welcome message alerts your joining the server to all the members in the welcome channel and you may get welcoming reactions. But they will leave you alone until you initiate interactions.

(2) Moistbot

Adult-only server primarily focused on romantic/sexual relationships among characters, including Murderbot

Highly creative and members often jointly create stories ('noodle') in threads

Weekly prompts are suggested and selected by members to explore various kink ideas

Recommended for those interested in fan-creations than discussing canon materials

Automated welcome message in the welcome channel alerts your appearance to all the members upon joining the server. People may react with a 'wave' to welcome you!

(3) Murderbot Transit Hub

All-age, beginner-friendly server (for both the Murderbot Diaries series and Discord Servers)

Primarily a place to discuss book-canon materials, with separate channels for each book, audiobook, and other adaptations

Non-canon consistent shipping is discouraged and there are no NSFW channels

Has been running weekly listen-along events for Murderbot audiobooks, as well as other popular audiobook (e.g., Project Hail Mary, Mickey 7)

Since it's created as a "transit hub", too, info and links to other servers are found

There is no automated welcome channel, so you can quietly enter and observe without being noticed until you are ready.

(4) Murderserver

Sister server of Moistbot for all Murderbot fans

Fanwork centric with weekly prompts (gen) and lots of lively discussion, but other general channels also exist

Shipping (including Murderbot) is allowed with lots of separate channels for different ships

There are channels for discussing the TV adaptations

There are lots of creative events, movie streaming sessions, voice chat, etc.

Automated welcome message in the welcome channel alerts your appearance to all the members upon joining the server. People may react with a 'wave' to welcome you!

More book edits! Go read the Murderbot Diaries if you haven’t already, especially if you liked the TV show! They’ll make you laugh and break your heart.

I would like to request any fic recs you may have that deal with the fallout of murderbot freeing more barish estranza secunits.

I’ve been thinking about “Don’t like, don’t read” since an anon asked me about it. I’ve also been thinking about fandom communities that discourage negative views and promote positivity.

On the surface, these ideas sound perfectly reasonable. Fandom spaces are meant to be places where we share our joy in the media we love, right? Why spoil someone else’s enjoyment by expressing negative opinions? It’s like going to a restaurant regularly and complaining about the food every time. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to go there. Keep your opinions to yourself and let others enjoy things!

That’s surely the logic and it's the correct attitude.

But is it always?

On further reflection, I’ve come to think that even in fun, voluntary communities, having space for both positive and negative views is essential for a healthy environment. Not all “negative” opinions are the same, and not all of them are harmful.

I think there are broadly two kinds of negative reactions:

1. Simple venting

This is mostly about taste. “I didn’t like the casting.” “I wish they’d kept that scene.” “That's not the voice I'd imagined for ART”

It’s emotional, subjective, but it's human. Venting helps people process disappointment, and it doesn’t have to hurt anyone if it’s kept in the right space, such as sharing with like-minded friends through direct communications or posting with appropriate tags.

2. Constructive criticism

This is thoughtful, grounded, and often comes from a place of care. It includes things like:

concerns about representation

noticing harmful tropes

pointing out narrative changes that shift meaning

discussing industry biases

talking about why a change matters

For example, in the Murderbot Apple TV adaptation, some fans felt disappointed that the focus shifted away from Dr. Mensah – a middle‑aged Black woman who is central to Murderbot’s emotional development – toward Gurathin, a white‑adjacent male character. Many people loved the show, and that joy is wonderful. It was lovingly created with blessing from Martha Wells herself. The actors played the characters powerfully and memorably. The music and cinematography were beautifully crafted. It brought new people into the fandom.

Nevertheless, the disappointment is also valid, and worth discussing.

This is not the same as “I don’t like Kevin R. Free’s voice” or “The cover art in that edition isn’t my cup of tea.” It is part of engaging with media thoughtfully. What do the choices they made – regarding actors, scenes to include or cut, scenes to newly introduce – mean? Were they commercial choices to bring in existing fans of popular actors? Were they meant to make the show more accessible to viewers who don’t usually watch sci‑fi? Did unconscious social bias play a role in sidelining a Black woman protagonist? What does the change say about the target audience and the society producing the adaptation?

These questions aren’t negativity. They’re analysis. They’re care. They’re part of loving a story deeply enough to think about it.

Constructive discussion, including criticism, has always been part of healthy fandom communities. It’s one of the ways we think about the stories we love, and how we connect with each other. But when communities treat any discomfort as unwelcome, or insist on constant cheerfulness, it can slip into toxic positivity: a pressure to only express joy, and to hide anything that might be complicated or critical. That isn’t healthy for anyone.

At the same time, it’s completely valid that some people may not want to see criticism at all, especially if they already have a lot going on in their real lives and want fandom to remain a space of comfort and escape.

I think a good fandom community doesn’t choose one group over the other; it helps everyone curate their experience. Clear tagging, opt‑in threads, and designated spaces for venting or analysis let people enjoy what they want to enjoy, and avoid what they need to avoid. Joy and critique can coexist, as long as we make room for both.