• Redshirts

  • A Novel with Three Codas
  • By: John Scalzi
  • Narrated by: Wil Wheaton
  • Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (23,060 ratings)

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Redshirts  By  cover art

Redshirts

By: John Scalzi
Narrated by: Wil Wheaton
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Publisher's summary

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 thrilled all the more to be assigned to the ship’s Xenobiology laboratory. Life couldn’t be better…until Andrew begins to pick up on the facts that (1) every Away Mission involves some kind of lethal confrontation with alien forces; (2) the ship’s captain, its chief science officer, and the handsome Lieutenant Kerensky always survive these confrontations; and (3) at least one low-ranked crew member is, sadly, always killed.

Not surprisingly, a great deal of energy below decks is expended on avoiding, at all costs, being assigned to an Away Mission. Then Andrew stumbles on information that completely 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.

©2012 John Scalzi (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Redshirts

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A Fun Ride Back to the Future

Last night I had dinner with two true intellectuals, (a rarity I assure you), and when I told them I was reading Redshirts their faces lit up with joy. This made me feel very accomplished and just a bit guilty because I was sure it would be seen as juvenile.

Redshirts is a sharp, witty mind bending ride that I'm sure to read again and again. It's bizarre science fiction, something that rarely attracts me. For sure, had it not been for Audible offering Redshirts as a daily special there is no way I would have purchased this gem. As it stands now, (and on the recommendation of my friends), I have purchased Scalzi's Old Man's War.

I really don't know how to review this book without spoiling the story. Suffice to say its inconceivable to me that anyone could imagine where it takes them.

The characters and dialogue is first rate. It's lol funny and read by a professional with impeccable timing.

Not my usual cup of tea, but another 5 star effort from Audible!

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It's all about the codas

Before he wrote novels himself Scalzi was one of the best reviewers of science fiction in all of fandom (on his "Whatever" blog, still enormously popular), and in this book he takes the task of commenting on science fiction to new heights of humor and recursive, post-post-modern meta. The novel itself looks like a simple commentary on an oft-noted trope in the Star Trek series where nameless characters in the opening scene's away mission inevitably wind up dead in some dramatic fashion, but in fact it is a commentary on science fiction writing (for television in particular) and science fiction watching, a commentary that itself becomes the target of commentary in the codas, sort of, if you think about it the right way, maybe. In short, this is navel gazing at its most amusing, and in the end you have to stop thinking about it because either this book is just plain silly and not worth taking seriously, or the the actual world is just plain silly and not worth taking seriously. You decide.

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Fun, entertaining, and worth it.

The first 80% of the book is quite entertaining and funny. My only complaint, the constant, use of the word "said". No one remarks, commented, replies, asks, etc. There must be 10 or 15 ways to say "he said", it would have been nice to use any of them in addition to the he said/she said combination. After awhile your brain gets numb to it. The last part (20%) of the book is what I would call a 3 part epilogue, and without giving anything away, is some of the most human writing I've read in a while, and by itself, almost worth the price of admission. I've new found respect for John Scalzi. Wil Wheaton does a very good job reading. I'd be surprised if anyone buys this audiobook (or the real book) and feels that they didn't get their money's worth.

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I'm Glad This Universe has a Scalzi

I've always really liked Scalzi books and this latest one is a fine addition to an impressive body of work. The main story is a lot of fun and occasionally provokes some deep thinking. It ended too quickly and I wondered what the heck could John do with three Codas - I wanted more of the main characters. But, leaving the reader wanting more isn't a bad thing for any author. The Codas actually turned out quite well and interweaved into the story with some new characters in a different time and place. I actually got choked up at the last spoken sentence of the final coda.

Wil Wheaton gives a magnificent performance and I hope he and Scalzi will team up again in the future.

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From Amusing to Amazing

John Scalzi blends well written sci fi romps with thoughtful twists. Redshirts starts about as campy as expected ??? Star Trek from the Redshirt point of view. It is funny and silly, and if that was all it was, I would have been very happy; instead, when the silliness is almost ridiculous, the story morphs into an insightful character analysis with a thought provoking story ideas. There are jokes, meta-jokes, and meta-meta-jokes, which I really enjoyed. This book succeeds at several levels. The narration is spot on, sometimes getting laughs beyond the writing.

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Everything I like in one book.

Time travel. Parallel dimensions. Space ships. Battles with explosions on decks six through 12. Love. Humor. Characters I care about when they die. Characters I care about when they come back to life. And a Wil Wheaton Narration. More. I must have more!

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For the Trekkie inside you.

Ever wonder what life would be like on the Star ship Enterprise as a Red shirt? Well this book gives you that spin on the classic (Star Trek TV show)/ generic sci-fi TV show. Well here’s your chance to see what life is like from a Red Shirts perspective. Follow along as they try and make sense of this crazy world where things don’t always make sense. I especially enjoyed the reading by Wil Wheaton who played the role of Wesley Crusher in Star Trek Next Generation.

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JOHN SCALZI! DO YOU NEED ANY OTHER REASON?

This is the most humorous, relaxing, entertaining book.
John Scalzi's parody on all sci-fi tv shows hits like a typhoon!!!

My ribs were aching, I've been crying because I couldn't laugh anymore!!!!

PS
I've enjoyed 3/4 of the book, the last quarter was too philosophical for my taste and not consistent in style to the beginning of the book.

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I Want My Money Back

What disappointed you about Redshirts?

I couldn't wait for it to be over. Take the Star Trek theory that wearing a red shirt gets you killed, throw in some time travel and a TV show - You have 'Red Shirts.' I really liked his "Fuzzy Nation" and hoped "Red Shirts" would be just as good or better. I just couldn't get into the story line or ID with any of the characters.

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i enjoyed it; it's a john scalzi book; it's meta

Redshirts was definitely fun to read through and the Codas at the end were a very lovely addition that John Scalzi like's to write.

This book won't be for the average reader, the level of meta-ness that exists to the point where the 4th wall is shattered. This novel explores a layer of philosophical existential crisis that (I hope) we have all played with.

I was expecting a sci-fi romp featuring Redshirts but this book went beyond that trope and went into unique and unexpected places.

Give it a listen.

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