Comments (61)

What did you think about this title?
1 to 25 of 61 items
Nov 17, 2023crimsonsparrow rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Would have been only 3 stars if not for the absolutely incredible 3 epilogues. Judge for yourself the depth of meaning and wonder they add. MPA ratings: R for language and violence PG-13 for suggestive dialogue
Sep 24, 2021ckapadia rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I've only read the Locked In books so far, this is very different but very fun. I like the different perspective.
Nov 18, 2020Tony_Jeffers rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Suppose that whenever an insignificant fictional character gets killed off in a movie or TV show a real person somewhere really dies! I enjoyed the Twilight Zone, Star Trekky style mystery very much. Though it has it's amusing moments it…
Aug 12, 2020Keeper_of_the_Book_Hoard rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
Amusing, but ultimately unsatisfying. I suspect there are other great novels for Star Trek fans that would work on more levels.
Jul 28, 2020cac27701 rated this title 1.5 out of 5 stars
I have to agree with the low ratings. The book is just ok even for ST fans. If you're going to try to twist the belief of the readers in this manner, it has to make more creative sense in the end.
Jul 20, 2020janetheostrich rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I very much enjoyed this book. It tapped into my life-long love of Star Trek (TNG) and took an amusing perspective on the typical plots and tropes. There were a few slow spots but overall this was an engaging and enjoyable read.
Apr 10, 2020OPL_JacobL rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
A humorous sci-fi novel about a "Star Trek" like world in which the security officers, AKA "Redshirts", start to notice that anytime someone from their ranks goes on an away mission, that person ends up dead. Then, metaphysical hilarity…
Feb 07, 2020apnonimus rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed the first 3/4 of this book. The last quarter was a bit hard to get through; cool premise but drawn out, however heartfelt.
Jan 10, 2020janajensen rated this title 1 out of 5 stars
This somewhat cleverly subtle parody of Star Trek TV scripts was ruined by the unnecessary frequent use of the f-word and crass references to sex acts in might have been attempts at juvenile comedy. I could not finish the book.
Dec 16, 2019VCarvalho rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Remember when Star Trek didnt suck balls?? Remember? I do. This is a love letter to classic Trek and all Star Trek fans (before the abomination known as Discovery). Amazing characters, laugh out loud funny scenes and moments, a parody…
Dec 31, 20187626dee rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
I have to agree, 2/3 of the novel was interesting, ending chapters were simply awful and I am ashamed of Scalzi for publishing a book with such a nonsensical ending, he usually does so much better.
Oct 08, 2018chazbufe rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
This won a Hugo primarily because of its subject matter (Star Trek). The first two-thirds of the book are very funny (probably as funny as the film "Galaxy Quest"), but the last third, an entirely unnecessary epilogue, is a meandering…
Sep 26, 2018BritCrimeDramaFan rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Fun fiction lampooning Star Trek (TOS) where crewmen wearing "red shirts" were often the first to die on an away missions. This novel is parity, but all in good fun and a stimulating read if you can suspend belief and realize this is…
dupree905
Jun 16, 2018dupree905 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
One of the best books I have read
Jun 01, 2018JCLIanH rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
The elevator pitch for Redshirts is effectively "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead meets Star Trek" and that's a pretty good summation. Yet where this could easily be a gimmick--it's a story about the background characters on a Star…
Feb 27, 2018seanabbott rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This book was even lighter weight than most of Scalzi's (this is not a criticism), but it was quite often laugh out loud funny. The plot was a bit strained (one might say not as strained as the plot within the plot...), but it was a very…
Feb 25, 2018kwsmith rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
I think that a book which lampoons the overall silliness of the old Star Trek TV shows is a brilliant idea. And the first half of this book was interesting enough (and even genuinely humourous at times), but the last half gets way too meta…
Jan 29, 2018LesliePACL rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
As a Star Trek fan, I really enjoyed this different point of view. It's one of those rare books that had me actually laughing out loud.
Jan 15, 2018DPLSaraQT rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Well-known and well-loved for good reason. Scalzi creates a delightful romp through the tropes and silliness of nostalgic sci-fi. Even people (like me) who have not seen every Star Trek episode ever made will still appreciate the satire.…
Nov 12, 2017Carolina_C rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
Great concept, but poor execution. The story is fun, but the writing isn't great. As several have said, the story would be improved greatly without the three, awkward epilogues tacked on. The book would also benefit from a good, strong…
Aug 19, 2017
I wish I hadn't wasted my time reading this book in the hopes that it would improve! Choppy sentences, a "cute" plot and no substance The best line is on page 14-"But the worm ate his face and he died anyway. One of the least…
Jul 26, 2017SCL_Justin rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
So the joke in John Scalzi’s Redshirts is that in a Star Trek-like future a bunch of expendable crewmembers on a starship figure out that something is hinky about their incredible death rate. Anyone who goes on a mission with one of the…
Jul 21, 2017
Cheerfully spoofed television industry in general in breaking the fourth wall adventure. So producer went into near nervous breakdown & closure.
Mar 01, 2017isaachar rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
I loved this book. The author was a creative consultant on Stargate: Universe, and it shows through the extent of 'meta' story-lines in the book. The story itself is a humorous blend of 'Galaxy Quest', 'Star Trek: TOS' and 'The Never…
Nov 01, 2016ehc2125 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Loved, loved, loved this book. The story was interesting, as were the characters, the style of writing was fast and snappy.