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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
I really wish that I could give this book 4 and a half stars because I don't think it's quite deserving of five but man I think it was better than some of the things I've given four stars on here...
Firstly though I have to admit that I had to take some time to come around to this book. I read it on recommendation from my girlfriend who has never once given me a book that I didn't love on recommendation, so when I found myself entirely uninterested by the writing of the first 50 pages of the book I kept on trucking, hoping (pretty confidently too) that something would end up happening and grabbing me, and then lo and behold, it sure as hell did. I've always been a fan of what many people (myself included that is) would call "existentialist bullshit", and while I quite frankly found Scalzi's writing to be entirely unimpressive when it came to dialogue until the later "codas" of the book, I was completely and totally hooked by the story that I couldn't put it down. Redshirts has times when it is very clear that Scalzi thinks he's the next god damn Douglas Adams and really truly thinks that's absolutely hilarious and clever. I saw some reviewers say that this was really the funniest book they've ever read: the back of the book included, which promised it to be "ruin-your-underwear funny" (thank you, Joe Hill. I'm really glad that you enjoyed the book so much), and to be frank I only really actually audibly laughed at a few points in the book... If you want something that funny I recommend [a:Terry Pratchett|1654|Terry Pratchett|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1235562205p2/1654.jpg]. But if you want some damn good existentialist science fiction that crosses lines that you hadn't even imaged were even lines when you started the book than give this book a shot.
In conclusion, Redshirts takes a little time to get going, but when it does get going damn does it go. I was unimpressed with Scalzi's writing for the most part, but still couldn't put the book down from the minute I started reading and was even drawn to tears at the end of the book. Maybe Scalzi's odd writing and cardboard dialogue was just a super meta way of characterizing characters that don't normally get characterization? Maybe the book was just too meta for me...
Then I got to the second part of the story. That created some mixed feelings.
I would have liked a more "scientific" solution or how Star Trek would explain and solve it.
After shifting my expectations, I was also happy with the second part. Probably, character Hanson's part in the book was what made me rethink about the things that I didn't like in the second half of the book. In the end, I was still happy with the book.
I also liked the 3 codas at the end, even if they didn't seem necessary. After the story is over, I like when I can still linger in that world a little. Codas gave a little more closure.
Redshirts: A Novel in Three Codas. John Scalzi. Tor Books, 2012. 320 pages.
Here's another fun break from history, another fun sci-fi read written by John Scalzi and audiobook-narrated by Wil Wheaton. Again, it does nod to history, specifically the history of science fiction television, especially "Star Trek," and this book will definitely appeal to fans of humorous and irreverent sci-fi and especially to fans of "Star Trek." The title refers to one of the most common tropes in the Star Trek universe, going back to the original series: if red-shirted security extras accompanied were art of an away team beamed to another planet, the chances are very high that at least one of them would die.
Ensign Andrew Dahl has been assigned to the Intrepid, the flagship of the Universal Union, a prestige posting. He soon realizes that something is amiss: Every away mission is a harrowing and dangerous encounter that results in either serious injury or death to at least one low-ranked crew member while the five highest ranking officers always either escape unscathed or recover very quickly, if not miraculously, from some life-threatening condition. Along with his small group of friends and a mysterious crewmen who hides in abandoned holds and tunnels of the ship, Dahl comes to a shocking conclusion and effects a plan to set things right. Okay, yes, I'm seeing patterns as I read more Scalzi works: the hero is a young intelligent smart-alec who is kind of floundering because of circumstances beyond his control, and he finds a small, equally intelligent, witty, and misfit-y friends, and together they meet and conquer the obstacle. Characterization and character development are not Scalzi's strengths; wit and creativity are. While there is a lot of familiarity, the story is original and different, and I love the humor, and Wil Wheaton's narration makes it even better.