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Remember those ill fated extras on the Star Trek TV episodes who perished on every away mission? REDSHIRTS begins with the posting of a group of new ensigns to a very Star-Trek-like flagship. They begin to notice that on every mission, crew members perish in horrible ways, and further that everyone else on the ship avoids those away missions like the plague. From this satirical perspective the novel takes off into something more, and greater, as the characters realize they are . . . well, characters . . . trapped in a second rate TV show. The fourth wall thus broken, the narrative becomes a box in a box, as it expands outward. So clever and utterly fun! The three codas as the end of the book serve as the book's heart, proving that the book takes its message seriously. This book is enjoyable on many levels, as amusing commentary on badly written TV, as head scratching puzzle, and as sheer entertainment. Read this for a lark if you are a Star Trek fan, if you fly your geek flag with abandon, or simply if you want to broaden your literary palate and enjoy a zany escapade that is sure to have you laughing. And thinking.