Redshirts

A Novel with Three Codas

By: John Scalzi

Narrated by: Wil Wheaton

Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins

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.

Fun Ride

I love Will Wheaton as narrator! His love of Scalzi's books just adds nuance and impact to these very well written books.
This book opened another avenue into the multiverse and gave me pause. Well done!!!

Not Scalzi's best work, but a fun listen

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

Okay, let me start by saying that this was a fun book - the story was engaging and humorous. The writing could probably use some help though - there are long stretches where it's "'blah blah blah', This Character Name said" followed by "'yadda yadda yadda.' That Character Name said," followed by "'blah blah blah,' This Character Name said." Very choppy and a lot of "Name said" lines. It got noticeable. The codas at the end, where the author ties up loose ends that the genre he's satirizing would have just let hang, are probably the best writing of the book. Touching, even. Unlike "Agent to the Stars" Wil Wheaton's voice doesn't work well with this book - his vocal characterizations aren't defined enough that you can generally tell what character he is voicing just from his voice.

Would you recommend Redshirts to your friends? Why or why not?

Sure - despite the "said" stuff mentioned above - which might indeed have been deliberate - it's a fun story, with a lot of clever in-jokes for the science fiction/space opera community.

What three words best describe Wil Wheaton’s voice?

Monotone, flat, uninflected

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Probably. It's the sort of subject matter I like, and it has a sort of reverse-GalaxyQuest feel to it.

Stellar Narration!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely. There is a goofy charm coupled with real pathos that will endear this book to a science fiction lover's soul,

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jenkins. He could have been lost in grief, but instead he is redeemed by it.

What about Wil Wheaton’s performance did you like?

Everything. He is one of my favorite narrators ever. He is one of the few male narrators that can do a natural sounding female voice. In addition, he is able to voice multiple characters distinctively without sounding cartoonish.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not at all. I wanted to make it last.

Any additional comments?

I loved the ending. I actually cried. They were happy tears. I didn't expect that.

A great story

Believe it or not the last 3 chapters were the best for me.
I was completely taken in by the aftermath of the main story line.
Money well spent.

A love letter to sci-fi

What an incredible book - definitely deserving of the Hugo. Kudos to Scalzi and Wheaton! Wheaton's performance brings Scalzi's characters to life, all of whom you can't help but fall in love with at least a little. Satisfying to the max.

Funny enough to make me laugh at the airport

There are not many books which make me laugh, Tina Fey could not make me do it, but Al Franken could, and so can this book. If you love Star Trek (any version) this will make you laugh and I can't wait to watch the show on cable TV if I can find it. I was hooked but you need to get about 2 hours into it.

Got what I expected... and then some

When I picked up Redshirts I was expecting a parody/deconstruction of the much-beloved, much-maligned Star Trek formula. Being familiar with Scalzi's work on the web, I also expected it to be engaging, clever, and funny.

I got all that, of course.

What I didn't expect was for Redshirts to be poignant, emotionally resonant, and deeply satisfying. Scalzi presents not only the silly sci-fi and narrative tropes of Trek that we all love to poke fun at-- chief among them the OSHA's nightmare of a work environment for the eponymous red-shirts-- but also the well-rounded people and interpersonal themes that have drawn so many to Trek's setting and characters.

The narration by Wil Wheaton is masterfully done to the point that it would have been criminal to give the job to anyone else. Wheaton's voice hits just the right tones and attitudes. There's a particular scene in which a character is drunk, and I had to rewind and re-listen because Wheaton's drunk-voice was so funny.

You don't even have to be a fan of Trek to enjoy this book-- anyone even passing familiar with the sci-fi genre could roll through this story and come out the other side feeling not only entertained, but uplifted. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a book this much. Thank you, Mr. Scalzi.

A SyFy Love Story

Okay maybe not your standard love story and the underlying theme doesn't break the surface until the end. But now thinking back it was there from the start.

Think i may have something in my eye

John has done it again. Redshirts is equal measure of silly, action, adventure, surrealism and "heart". I truly enjoyed this book and would love to see it brought to hmmm would comedy central, the syfy channel, or a fx be the right venue to do the series it would take to do justice to the material. I can just see a number of the usual suspects having a ball making this happen.

Just another really good book

I loved it stuff said
Child of the 80's star trek fan. . . .
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