Redshirts (2012) (edit title/settings)

• Rated 3 stars

“Lightly humorous.”

• Rated 5 stars

“To: John Scalzi
You are most welcome. (He thanks us for reading his works)
I will definitely keep reading you. Write faster.”

• Rated 4 stars

“I picked up John Scalzi's Redshirts because I needed something like to read and enjoy after my last epic fantasy jaunt. I was a little hesitant because I had heard very mixed reviews, because full fledged satire isn't usually my gig and because I assumed that by not being a trekkie, I'd tire of the Star Trek jokes soon enough.

The book begins very much in line with what I had been led to expect. On a Star Trek - like ship the ensigns, who wear red uniforms, tend to die on away missions. It's revealed before long that this coincidence has not gone entirely unnoticed. In fact a significant amount of effort and lore exist around how a person avoids away missions and if on one, survives. It plays to all the Star Trek stereotypes very strongly.

The book takes a slightly campy but still interesting turn as the protagonist chooses to do something about his lot in life. Without too many details, he leads his friends in trying to fundamentally change the rules of the universe. As this section of the book wraps up, I began to wonder why I had so many pages left to read. I was worried that this book was about to drag on.

The final act of the book is a little hard to approach but once I got my brain around it I found it to be fantastic. This act is written in an entirely different style and may appear superfluous at first. In fact, I think this act makes the story meaningful. While the preceding had been quaint and pleasant, it is only through the light of the final act that the book took on meaning. This act too this book from a dubious 3 stars to a glowing four. I didn't quite feel compelled to give a full five but don't let that dissuade you, it's a really good book.

This book is right if you'll get the Star Trek jokes (if you've watched at least half a dozen episodes from more than two series then you're more than covered) but won't be disappointed when you find out that it's not just about Star Trek. Don't be tempted to stop reading when the primary plot resolves. As you read the last bit, think about what it means. If you can handle all that, you really should read this book.”

• Rated 4 stars

“There's something delightfully tongue-in-cheek about this book, from the scenario to the setup to the snappy dialogue.
Scalzi sets up a world in which adventures of the Enterprise (or a ship very much like it) are real and have actual consequences, including the deaths of the unnamed "Redshirts" which have become a pop culture running gag.

The plot starts out with the feeling of the original series and moves into what feels like "The Voyage Home" (the one with the whales). There are adventures and improbable developments, and everything gets wrapped up nicely, more or less, by the end of the book.

Humor, adventure, and a relatively short length make this a fun book for anyone who likes Sci Fi television as well as light-hearted Sci-Fi novels.”

• Rated 5 stars

“Wonderful, funny book! ”

• Rated 3 stars

“Good book. Fun book. But it has its flaws. As Scalzi was well aware when he wrote this book, it becomes very "recursive and meta" to think a story about a story with problems can also have problems itself. Was it an intentional point he was making, or is he just not that good of a writer? That's for you to decide.”

• Rated 4 stars

“While not very deep or "meaningful", this book is a lot of fun and very enjoyable. I liked the basic idea going in, and I thought the author did a fine job handling the situations he created. The dialogue was funny and well-done, and I liked the three codas in my edition.”

• Rated 2 stars

“Too bad I can't give this 2.5 stars. It's not that I didn't like the book. It just wasn't anything special. Sort of a gimmicky book. But it made me a laugh a couple of times.”

• Rated 5 stars

“I loved this book. It was fun, interesting, and also touching. I wanted to see what crazy thing would happen next and I hoped the Redshirts would stay alive.”

• Rated 4 stars

“Very funny account of what meta means and how the redshirts should rise up and take control of themselves. ”