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adventurous
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Finally someone takes the idea we'd have as a kid, like Toy Story, where we're convinced objects or people we've incarnated outside of the story world, can go on and live their own lives and decisions without our interference, which forces those objects/characters to move exactly in the way we see fit. Bypass Toy Story, actually, this is more like a non-thriller and more comedic version of Jordan Peele's <I>Us</I>.
Ensign Andrew Dahl is recently assigned to the ship <I>Intrepid</I> straight out of the Universal Academy, and things aren't adding up. From the weird way the crewmembers seem to act around certain senior officers, to the frighteningly high new member turnover. Not to mention, the weird events that cannot physically be possibly or logically make any sense whatsoever. With his new friends, the other new bodies on the ship catching on to the phenomena, Dahl's only chance of making sure no one else dies in a ridiculous manner lies in the Xenobiology's unspoken sixth member, Jenkins.
In classic Scalzi fashion, something as routine as starting a new job takes such a crazy turn that only our smart main character notices and questions it, only for the tables to turn and the old hands and pros there before them question why the main character is rebelling and going against the process. Every character is witty, and our main character has sarcastic dry humor.
Also in classic Scalzi fashion, there's some normal everyday convention being made fun of. Here, it's the classic science fiction tropes (hence the reference to <I>redshirts</I>). Commenting anything more about how fun the writing and story progresses ruins the experience of reading it. There's no need to have any working knowledge about anything scientific, just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Ensign Andrew Dahl is recently assigned to the ship <I>Intrepid</I> straight out of the Universal Academy, and things aren't adding up. From the weird way the crewmembers seem to act around certain senior officers, to the frighteningly high new member turnover. Not to mention, the weird events that cannot physically be possibly or logically make any sense whatsoever. With his new friends, the other new bodies on the ship catching on to the phenomena, Dahl's only chance of making sure no one else dies in a ridiculous manner lies in the Xenobiology's unspoken sixth member, Jenkins.
In classic Scalzi fashion, something as routine as starting a new job takes such a crazy turn that only our smart main character notices and questions it, only for the tables to turn and the old hands and pros there before them question why the main character is rebelling and going against the process. Every character is witty, and our main character has sarcastic dry humor.
Also in classic Scalzi fashion, there's some normal everyday convention being made fun of. Here, it's the classic science fiction tropes (hence the reference to <I>redshirts</I>). Commenting anything more about how fun the writing and story progresses ruins the experience of reading it. There's no need to have any working knowledge about anything scientific, just sit back and enjoy the ride.