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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
Ha ha ha ha ha! Most fun I've had reading a book in a while.
A solid four stars; while I really enjoyed it and it's excellently written, I probably won't reread it.
As someone who prefers her sci-fi to look a lot like high fantasy (e.g. Diana Wynne Jones), I made an exception for Redshirts because the idea of a critically-acclaimed novel of tongue-in-cheek Star Trek fanfiction was too good to pass up. This description is not actually quite fair to the book, but that's why I picked it up--at which point the story itself pulled me in and kept me reading.
The premise of Redshirts is pretty straightforward: a group of new recruits to the starship Intrepid realize very quickly that something is awry when fellow newbies and low-ranking officers die left and right, often in stupid or extremely implausible ways, when out on away missions with key senior officers. Anyone who's been on the ship for a while seems to mysteriously vanish when the ship's Captain or Chief Science Officer happen by, and a strange hairy man keeps telling them to "avoid the Narrative."
As they try to solve the mystery of "what the hell is happening on this ship?" the only hypothesis that seems to explain the situation is as ridiculous as it is horrifying to contemplate: somehow, they are extras on a bad science fiction TV show in some other universe.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book not only delivers on its premise (and executes it well), but also explores bigger questions of agency, parallel universes, and finding meaning in your life while maintaining a sense of humor. The codas, which exist at least halfway outside the scope of the "real story" (is there really such a thing here?) were the perfect way to end, and upped my review almost an entire star. John Scalzi does a fantastic job of developing his characters and the story so that they are self-aware, and at least partially aware of the narrative structures in which their universe operates, but without being "cute" or too cloyingly meta. (I admit that it did toe the line occasionally.)
If you, like me, love stories that explore the concept of parallel universes and doppelgängers, find that reading fiction helps you think through the big questions and find meaningful answers, and thought The Voyage Home was the best Star Trek movie, I think you will really love this book.
Alternatively, if you just like well-written and deceptively light sci-fi or are curious what kinds of things are winning Hugos nowadays, you'd probably like it, too.
As someone who prefers her sci-fi to look a lot like high fantasy (e.g. Diana Wynne Jones), I made an exception for Redshirts because the idea of a critically-acclaimed novel of tongue-in-cheek Star Trek fanfiction was too good to pass up. This description is not actually quite fair to the book, but that's why I picked it up--at which point the story itself pulled me in and kept me reading.
The premise of Redshirts is pretty straightforward: a group of new recruits to the starship Intrepid realize very quickly that something is awry when fellow newbies and low-ranking officers die left and right, often in stupid or extremely implausible ways, when out on away missions with key senior officers. Anyone who's been on the ship for a while seems to mysteriously vanish when the ship's Captain or Chief Science Officer happen by, and a strange hairy man keeps telling them to "avoid the Narrative."
As they try to solve the mystery of "what the hell is happening on this ship?" the only hypothesis that seems to explain the situation is as ridiculous as it is horrifying to contemplate: somehow, they are extras on a bad science fiction TV show in some other universe.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book not only delivers on its premise (and executes it well), but also explores bigger questions of agency, parallel universes, and finding meaning in your life while maintaining a sense of humor. The codas, which exist at least halfway outside the scope of the "real story" (is there really such a thing here?) were the perfect way to end, and upped my review almost an entire star. John Scalzi does a fantastic job of developing his characters and the story so that they are self-aware, and at least partially aware of the narrative structures in which their universe operates, but without being "cute" or too cloyingly meta. (I admit that it did toe the line occasionally.)
If you, like me, love stories that explore the concept of parallel universes and doppelgängers, find that reading fiction helps you think through the big questions and find meaningful answers, and thought The Voyage Home was the best Star Trek movie, I think you will really love this book.
Alternatively, if you just like well-written and deceptively light sci-fi or are curious what kinds of things are winning Hugos nowadays, you'd probably like it, too.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Read as part of the 2013 Hugo packet, though I also own a hardback version.
Normally, this is honestly not something that I'd buy for myself. I actually bought the hardback for my husband, a die hard Star Trek fan. But I'm seriously glad that the Hugo packet forced me to read it. It's just damn clever and funny, though I wonder if someone who hasn't watched Trek would take it.
Normally, this is honestly not something that I'd buy for myself. I actually bought the hardback for my husband, a die hard Star Trek fan. But I'm seriously glad that the Hugo packet forced me to read it. It's just damn clever and funny, though I wonder if someone who hasn't watched Trek would take it.
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Really fast, quick, and entertaining. There are others in this genre like Galaxy Quest and the Black Mirror episodes, but this was my favorite and the most meta. Book itself was 5 stars but there were a few novellas after that kind of missed the mark for me. Still great!
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This one overstayed its welcome for me. I thought it was a fun concept, though. My last read was about unveiling the mysteries of quantum mechanics, and it hurt my brain less than trying to make sense of this plot at times. The ending was interesting and tried to layer on some philosophic depth, but I disagreed with one of the assertions—that a character needed to settle in to one interest/career and “grow up” to make their life worthwhile. I really don’t see any moral superiority in advancing in one field instead of bouncing from one to another. It’s just an economic necessity for most people. If you have the means to study and try many new things, I think you are absolutely still living your life. And then also a bit of melodrama in the ending felt a bit hokey. I liked his Interdependency trilogy much much better.