• 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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Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    11,373
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    7,604
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Performance
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    5,225
  • 3 Stars
    1,786
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    470
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    274
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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    10,279
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  • 3 Stars
    3,136
  • 2 Stars
    762
  • 1 Stars
    439

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Lack of creative license

Way too a literal work. Instead of having unique voices/tones for chars Wheaton just repeats "he said" or "X said" for every line of dialogue. Waaaaaaaaay too repetitive. Couldn't get thru that far because it just irked me way too much.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Please stop saying "he said"

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Maybe it would be better if you read it instead of listened to it.

What was most disappointing about John Scalzi’s story?

Almost every line in the book ended with "he said" or "she said" or "insert character name" said. How about "he replied" or "she sneered" every so often.

What about Wil Wheaton’s performance did you like?

Wil tried. He really did. But you can only repeat "said" so many times before it starts to grate.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

I could see the twist coming

but it didn't matter, it was still fun to roll with the premise. Loved the 3 codas, particularly the end of the second one.
My question is: Are Jess Walter and John Scalzi the same person? Redshirts (and Agent to the Stars) and Beautiful Ruins share an identical take on Hollywood. Or maybe they've both just tried their hand at screenwriting. In any case, what will be the most meta of all will be when a movie version (or better a cable version) of Redshirts is made.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A Fun Little Meta Story

There is a lot to like about Redshirts and Scalzi creates an interesting meta-universe that gives a backstory to the disposable extras the filled many an episode of Star Trek. The book pokes fun at a storied television franchise and goes from silly to absurd as the junior crew members do what they can to avoid going on away missions. One inside joke after another keeps things entertaining and the tale goes from simple to complex as it unfolds.

Be warned that there is also a lot to dislike about Redshirts. The characters aren’t very deep and the story is more about the running joke than it is about the characters. You will also quickly grow tired of hearing “he said/she said” in the dialogue.

As a self-proclaimed geek and former actor on a Star Trek series, Wil Wheaton is a natural fit as the narrator here. I have enjoyed other books read by Wil but I didn’t feel like this was one of his better readings. He doesn’t do a lot of voices so it can be hard at the beginning to keep track of all of the various characters; however, Wil is still adequate and it is the story itself that will either keep you entertained or drive you away. If you are a SciFi fan capable of having fun at the expense of a beloved television series then this book is for you.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Can you *get* any more meta?

Buckle up, friends, because the way this book shifts gears around 2/3 of the way through puts the likes of Million Dollar Baby to shame.

I've enjoyed Scalzi books before and since, and I'm always glad to hear Wil Wheaton narrate, particularly when you get the uncanny sense that he's poking gentle fun at the author's awkward-to-read bits. You could turn his delivery of "Dahl said--Duvall said--Dahl said--" into a nice hip-hop remix.

Just as he has in his other books, Scalzi treats a farcical and absurd premise with a surprisingly naturalistic tone and serious philosophical meditation. Still quite funny in places, though not as raucously as the likes of Galaxy Quest, which I suppose it still most closely resembles.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good tale, but the Narration could use work.

Would you consider the audio edition of Redshirts to be better than the print version?

I prefer Audiobooks when I can get them, because most narrators do different voices.

Who was your favorite character and why?

There were good characters throughout the book, and because of the writing all were equally interesting to me.

Would you be willing to try another one of Wil Wheaton’s performances?

I do not know, I expected an actor to read in different voices. All of Will's characters sounded alike, he was just reading the novel, not acting it. I read a review (false as to turns out) that said Will's Captain sounded like a Shatner styled character. I was more than disappointed to find this was not the case. I would have to listen to a sample of another Wheaton performance before purchasing another.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Volunteer for Nothing on the Intrepid!

Any additional comments?

I was every disappointed in the performance of Will Wheaton, I expected the characters to sound different, he was just reading the book. This made it more difficult to follow because the Author has characters who's names sound alike. When the narrator stated that one person with the D last name, and the other person has a D last name. The way its read it make you wonder just who is speaking in a given section of the story.

Sorry Will, I like most of the other things you do, this was not one of them.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting story, too many he said she saids

What did you like best about Redshirts? What did you like least?

The story was odd enough to be interesting. Listening to the reading, sometimes I got lost with who was said what to whom. One reader, sounding the same for most characters, with a lot of similar sounding names, ie: Dahl and Duval made listening confusing. Also a lot of conversations with the character saying something followed by "he said" or "she said" or "Dahl said" or "Duval said". Once I picked up on that, it made it groan worthy listening to an exchange of conversation between characters.

Would you be willing to try another book from John Scalzi? Why or why not?

Perhaps. I would wait for some reviews.

What three words best describe Wil Wheaton’s voice?

little character variation

Could you see Redshirts being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Probably not.

Any additional comments?

Still kept my attention, overlooking the he said she said moments.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not his best work

As in most, if not all, Scalzi books, I found the plot absolutely spell binding. Which was a really good thing, as the writing was very much not. Seriously, Scalzi is one of those authors who needs to obtain a thesaurus. The repetition of the word "said" almost made me stop reading the book. Which would have been a shame, as, like I said, the plot was fantastic. Writing might have gotten a "C" in any college Creative Writing course, but the plot might have made a professor "grade kindly." There was definite character development, which is almost unheard of, in a Scalzi character. Except, possibly, with the Old Man's War saga.

The only problem I had (aside from the thesaurus issue) with this book was the ending. Or series of endings. The whole code part of the title made sense at the end of the book, but honestly, I almost wish he hadn't put those series of endings in. Yes, it wrapped up story lines that otherwise wouldn't have been wrapped up, but as they were tangential arcs, I'm not entirely convinced they were important for the story. Unless it was a statement that reached back to the existential issues the book was talking about. In which case, thank you Scalzi for not hitting us over the head with the point, but I think a little more clarity that that's what you were doing would have been nice. I rarely do this with books but, I would suggest that, if you were to read this, stop at the end of the first ending. Because, while the rest is not likely to hurt your eyes to read, it's certainly not going to leave you with any Lasting Impressions, if you're anything like me. And, if you're NOT anything like me, then this entire review is sort of meaningless anyway.

I would recommend it to other Scalzi fans, but I certainly wouldn't want this to be anyone's intro to him. Due to the repetition and ending(s,) I would have to say that this is a two out of four paw book.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

A Sleeper

Let's start this review with the positives. It has good acting, voice characterizations, and the mental image is adequately presented. One cannot fault the production...it was excellent.
The negatives.
The only interest of the story presents is the point of view taken by the characters. It is a sarcastic slap against the STAR TREK script formula (from the original series). I understand the humor intended...but I find it contrived. The story, as a whole, is about the common crew member of the starship avoiding being selected as an "Away Team" member....who, by the way, never seems to return from the missions....aka...Redshirts.
It is a great idea for a story but the author tries (in vain) to inject humor with a bucket load of sarcasm, much sexual references, and other off-the-shelf- tools to garner interest in the story....sorry, I simply didn't fall for it. This one is a sleeper....which I did almost every time I tried to listen to it.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great Fun!

Let's be clear...Redshirts is not great science fiction.

What Redshirts IS is a rollicking good time fueled by a highly imaginative and unique story line and a pitch perfect performance by Wil Wheaton.

This audiobook grabbed me from the very start and did not let go....I just did not want to stop listening.

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