Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas

· Sold by Macmillan
4.3
694 reviews
Ebook
320
Pages
Eligible

About this ebook

Redshirts is John Scalzi’s Hugo Award-winning novel of the starship ensigns who were expendable...until they started comparing notes.

Tor Essentials presents new editions of science fiction and fantasy titles of proven merit and lasting value, each volume introduced by an appropriate literary figure.

Ensign Andrew Dahl has just been assigned to the Universal Union Capital Ship Intrepid, flagship of the Universal Union since the year 2456. It’s a prestige posting, with the chance to serve on "Away Missions" alongside the starship’s famous senior officers.

Life couldn’t be better...until Andrew begins to realize that (1) every Away Mission involves a lethal confrontation with alien forces, (2) the ship’s senior officers always survive these confrontations, and (3) sadly, at least one low-ranking crew member is invariably killed. Unsurprisingly, the savvier crew members belowdecks avoid Away Missions at all costs. Then Andrew stumbles on information that transforms his and his colleagues’ understanding of what the starship Intrepid really is...and offers them a crazy, high-risk chance to save their own lives.

With a new introduction by Mary Robinette Kowal, author of the Hugo-winning The Calculating Stars.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Ratings and reviews

4.3
694 reviews
A Google user
November 15, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. In a way, I am surprised that it had not been written before. Let us all be glad that it had not, because it is doubtful that anyone else could have given the topic the treatment that it deserves. Scalzi takes the science fiction television (particularly Star Trek) tropes and thoughtfully skewers them, bringing the reader into the "minor" characters lives and helping us to see the world through them. And what a world it is. A world where death is a certainty not because of random chance, ill luck, superior strategy or forces, or the like ... but because of plot device. And as the characters realize their plight ... well, that is when things get interesting. The book flows along nicely, and Scalzi, always a master of witty banter and tense action, finds his groove, it really shows. But in my opinion, as good as the main book was, it was the codas which really made the read worthwhile. They elevate Redshirts from a light-hearted satire to an examination of the writer's responsibility to the art that they create. If you are looking for a fun and yet thoughtful science fiction comedy adventure, look no further. Scalzi has this in his pocket.
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Anthony Giacalone
June 7, 2013
An excellently written roast of Star Trek with some nice plot twists. I'm a big Sci-Fi fan, and while this story isn't quite as captivating as his other works (Old Man's War in particular), it did speak to my inner trekkie. Definitely add to your reading list of you enjoy the classic Trek series.
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Scott Bruntmyer
September 5, 2015
I enjoyed the light hearted nature of much of the dialogue. It was a nice break from the more heavy handed sci-fi I had been reading. However, the story still has great depth and character development. Finn's lines were some of the best. "Oh, please stop. I'm going to have to frag you." Finn needs to show up in another book.
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About the author

JOHN SCALZI is the author of several SF novels including the bestselling Old Man's War sequence, comprising Old Man's War, The Ghost Brigades, and the New York Times bestselling The Last Colony. He is a winner of science fiction's John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, and he won the Hugo Award for Your Hate Mail Will Be Graded, a collection of essays from his popular blog Whatever. His latest novel, Fuzzy Nation, hit the New York Times bestseller list in its first week on sale. He lives in Ohio with his wife and daughter.

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