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Redshirts

The laugh out loud meta sci fi adventure
3.87 goodreads logo

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( 115,875 ratings, 12,654 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Redshirts by John Scalzi is a witty and imaginative sci-fi novel that follows the adventures of a group of low-ranking ensigns aboard a starship. As they begin to notice troubling patterns in the fatal missions they are sent on, they uncover a strange connection to a television series. Their realisation challenges their understanding of reality, prompting them to fight for their survival in a universe governed by narrative tropes.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate a clever and humorous take on the classic space exploration trope with a focus on the expendable crew members. It's perfect for fans of science fiction who love stories filled with meta humour, self-awareness, and a fresh spin on the usual storyline conventions.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

They were expendable ... until they started comparing notes! This is a must-read novel for all fans of smart, witty SF.

They were expendable...until they started comparing notes! This is a must-read novel for all fans of smart, witty SF.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

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, and Andrew is even more delighted when he's assigned to the ship's Xenobiology laboratory. Life couldn't be better... although there are a few strange things going on...

(1) Every Away Mission involves a lethal confrontation with alien forces.

(2) The ship's captain, the chief science officer, and the handsome Lieutenant Kerensky always survive these encounters.

(3) At least one low-ranked crew member is, sadly, always killed.

Suddenly, it's less surprising how much energy is expended below decks on avoiding, at all costs, being assigned an Away Mission. Andrew's fate may have been sealed... until he stumbles on a piece of information that changes everything... and offers him and his fellow redshirts a crazy, high-risk chance to save their own lives.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Redshirts by John Scalzi is widely appreciated for its humorous and satirical take on science fiction tropes. Critics praise its entertaining exploration of the expendable crew members often seen in sci-fi settings, alongside its clever narrative twists. Some reviewers also highlight its deeper existential themes, blending wit with thought-provoking questions about fate and storytelling.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780575134300

Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 09 May 2013

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Gollancz

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 24.0mm

Width: 201.0mm

Height: 133.0mm

Weight: 280g

Pages: 320

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 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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