danga5's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
lissajean7's review against another edition
4.0
This book was really funny and extremely irreverent...for Trekkies or sci-fi fans in general (of which I count myself). But it worked. Really well. There were several laugh-out-loud moments for me, but many more shockingly amused moments. There was more language in the book (the F word in particular) than I am used to (which is none, usually) so that is something to know before-hand. There's also a lot of sexual humor. Just fyi.
There are so many awesome things about this book. From the idea of a redshirt getting to be the star, to the explanation of bad science on sci-fi dramas, to the writer/character relationship thing, it was well-crafted and smart. His characters were vivid and dynamic even as they were fulfilling their roll in a badly scripted show... So funny.
Anyway, I highly recommend reading it. It was light and fun and amusing. Plus, it's longer than most light and fun books, so you get more bang for your buck! :)
There are so many awesome things about this book. From the idea of a redshirt getting to be the star, to the explanation of bad science on sci-fi dramas, to the writer/character relationship thing, it was well-crafted and smart. His characters were vivid and dynamic even as they were fulfilling their roll in a badly scripted show... So funny.
Anyway, I highly recommend reading it. It was light and fun and amusing. Plus, it's longer than most light and fun books, so you get more bang for your buck! :)
nglofile's review against another edition
4.0
Great fun! Mostly. I confess to being conflicted by the three codas. They are intriguing and certainly add a degree of depth, but tonally they are so different that it is jarring. They seem more of a creative writing exercise than part of a cohesive novel, but at the same time, now that I've finished, it's difficult to extract them from my reading experience. Perhaps it's the length of them? [Imagine my surprise -- and, frankly, slight disappointment -- when I reached the end of the core story with two and a half discs (1/3 of book) remaining.] I did find it interesting that the codas took on different perspectives (1st, 2nd, and 3rd person) when POV was something that seemed a bit distracting in the text for me. I kept thinking it would have been smoother in 1st person via Dahl and was curious why it wasn't written that way.
audiobook note: I waited nearly a full year to hear Wil Wheaton read this, and it was completely worth it. He has become one of my favorite narrators, due almost entirely to the purposeful way he chooses his material. He may not be a technical master (though certainly no slouch in that department), but his understanding of and enjoyment of his projects permeate his performance, translating easily to the reader. I appreciate his ability to play the quieter moments just as well as he does the more kinetic scenes, and any underlying humor is highlighted via intonation without becoming cartoonish. His passion for his projects becomes ours, and there's no arguing with that success.
audiobook note: I waited nearly a full year to hear Wil Wheaton read this, and it was completely worth it. He has become one of my favorite narrators, due almost entirely to the purposeful way he chooses his material. He may not be a technical master (though certainly no slouch in that department), but his understanding of and enjoyment of his projects permeate his performance, translating easily to the reader. I appreciate his ability to play the quieter moments just as well as he does the more kinetic scenes, and any underlying humor is highlighted via intonation without becoming cartoonish. His passion for his projects becomes ours, and there's no arguing with that success.
ktxx22's review against another edition
3.0
This is a fun read! I laughed out loud multiple times. Really enjoyed the characters and how everything played out. Wil Wheaton narrated this audiobook and I am always here for his narration! It’s not a great book but it is an easy enjoyable sci-fi book. 3/5 I think a lot of people will read this and enjoy it on some level.
randomprojects's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
It's been YEARS since i've read it, but i have very fond memories of it. I love meta-fiction, and Redshirts is a love letter to Star Trek much like Galaxy Quest.
cdeane61's review against another edition
4.0
What I thought would be an amusing, quick read, take-off on the nature of the Star Trek universe turned out to be just that, and maybe a little something more.
Ever think you've finished a book but there still seems to be a few chapters left? What could have stood on its own as a 3 star sci-fi, with a very engaging plot, turned instead into a 4 star exploration on the nature of reality, on missed opportunities, on the fact that everything you do might just in some way affect someone far from you.
The last three chapters of this book caught me by complete surprise, moved me to tears, and made me late to work getting back from lunch.
Nicely done Mr Scalzi.
Ever think you've finished a book but there still seems to be a few chapters left? What could have stood on its own as a 3 star sci-fi, with a very engaging plot, turned instead into a 4 star exploration on the nature of reality, on missed opportunities, on the fact that everything you do might just in some way affect someone far from you.
The last three chapters of this book caught me by complete surprise, moved me to tears, and made me late to work getting back from lunch.
Nicely done Mr Scalzi.
jbmorgan86's review against another edition
5.0
Patrick Rothfuss, one of my favorite writers, rants and raves about Jon Scalzi. A few of my friends do as well. One was kind enough to send me a copy of Redshirts from the other side of the continent. I was not disappointed!
The less you say about this book, the better. Yes, it is sci-fi and it ties into Star Trek . . . but it is not actually a Star Trek novel. And it is hilarious. That is all you need to know.
The less you say about this book, the better. Yes, it is sci-fi and it ties into Star Trek . . . but it is not actually a Star Trek novel. And it is hilarious. That is all you need to know.