Redshirts
by John Scalzi · first published 2012
65% recommend29% neutral6% critical
Why HN recommends it
A funny, accessible science fiction parody of Star Trek that follows the expendable crew members of a starship. It is a light, quick read, especially for Star Trek fans.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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, with the chance to serve on "Away Missions" alongside the starship's famous senior officers. Life couldn't be better...until Andrew begins to realize that 1) every Away Mission involves a lethal confrontation with alien forces, 2) the ship's senior officers always survive these confrontations, and 3) sadly, at least one low-ranking crew member is invariably killed. Unsurprisingly, the savvier crew members below decks avoid Away
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…War series is fantastic, if you're into military science-fiction, or even if you're not. Smart, funny, engaging and accessible, and reminiscent of Heinlein at his prime, minus the weird incest fetish. Redshirts, a Star Trek parody, rivals Galaxy Quest and only falls short because Galaxy Quest is so goddamn brilliant. Agent to the Stars is less appreciated, but in my opinion his finest novel, rising way above…
on “Ask HN: I only read tech/business books – recommend me some fiction?” ↗For anyone unfamiliar with Scalzi, he’s an accomplished science fiction author. My favorite of his is Redshirts, an odd take on a Star Trek-esque world. https://whatever.scalzi.com/about/books-by-john-scalzi/
on “The Failure Mode of Clever (2010)” ↗…("HPMOR") - the premise is that Harry Potter is raised by a good aunt and uncle, and is taught the Scientific Method and so he uses that when encountering magic. Old Man's War (and sequels) by John Scalzi Redshirts by John Scalzi Science-reality: Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! Ra by qntm There is no Antiemetics Division by qntm
on “Ask HN: What sci fi books are you reading now?” ↗…Man's War universe that much, his one-off books and smaller series have been absolute delights. They become even better when he gets Wil Wheaton to narrate his audio releases (I still smile thinking of Redshirts). Nice to see Scalzi use what influence he has to actually help someone else like this.
on “Ági Szabados Does Not Need to Apologize to Me” ↗…he's Golden Era so suuuuper soft SF and doesn't have the humor. Bujold's "Vorkosigan" saga is one of the funnier SF books (while still being amazing and serious), and I hear good things about Scalzi's "Redshirts" PS - Also checkout out what Hannu and Rameez get up to outside of writing, it's super cool.
on “I don't know, Timmy, being God is a big responsibility (2007)” ↗Wouldn't call it must read, but I found Joyce's Dubliners quite entertaining and at least close to stuff that's recommended for serious reading. The last book I thoroughly enjoyed was Scalzi's Redshirts, but it's probably less funny if you're not familiar with Star Trek at all.
on “Ask HN: What are some great fiction reads for someone that reads non-fiction” ↗…am considering just getting a laptop instead. i'll need one anyways so i can travel for work. but that means external disks (2x5TB) if i don't take the case too. though choices. John Scalzi: i read redshirts some time ago and recently the kaiju preservation society. very enjoyable!
on “Not getting a new computer” ↗…wheel spinning and padding. You can pick up something like Starter Villain and read it in an afternoon and thoroughly enjoy it. Other novels to check out include Androids Dream, Agent to the Stars, Redshirts, and Kaiju Preservation Society.
on “Ági Szabados Does Not Need to Apologize to Me” ↗Redshirts was great. I think I tried to read Old Man’s War but it got kind of mixed up in my brain with, and I think almost entirely eclipsed by, The Forever War. Maybe I should give it another try though. Scalzi…
on “A moment of financial clarification (2013)” ↗If you haven’t read it, you may enjoy Red Shirts a book about the lives of extras from sci fi shows. https://www.amazon.com/Redshirts-John-Scalzi-audiobook/dp/B0...
on “Antarctic Explorers Wrote Cute, Funny Stories to Hide Dangerous Stunts” ↗…books felt like it channeled Matlock or CSI with their endings, with exposition and some kind of reveal that felt out of character. I also admit lost interest in Old Man's War after The Last Colony. Redshirts however is a master class in satire of Trek, and Starter Villain made me laugh. I also admit Wil Wheaton's narration of his books always feels spot on to me.
on “Murderbot, she wrote” ↗…with psychology and religion in interesting ways. There's a sequel, but it's not as good. I also liked The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, which is also on the softer side. I read Scalzi's Redshirts and liked it (especially if you're familiar with the Star Trek universe), it feels similar to Ready Player One in some ways. Daniel Suarez's (or Leinad Zeraus as he originally published them) Daemon is…
on “Ask HN: What are the best Sci-Fi books you've ever read?” ↗…his most "clever" book, using contrivances for humor. In most of his other books the humor is not the primary goal. But they're filled with witty characters, so contain much more good humor IMO than Redshirts where humor is the primary goal. John Scalzi writes some of my favorite books, but Redshirts isn't among them. Our disagreement is another example of the central thesis of his linked essay!
on “The Failure Mode of Clever (2010)” ↗…a minor way that it didn't bother me even once. Scalzi then turned that book into a series, all very well worth reading (except Sagan's Diary - give that a miss). After his Old Man's War series I read Redshirts (so and so), Agent to the Stars (good read) and now I'm reading Fuzzy Nation, which is shaping up nicely. In the afterword to Agent to the Stars Scalzi actually recommends other scifi books, and per…
on “Ask HN: Which book are you reading these days?” ↗Sorry - I meant is this the same John Scalzi who wrote novels like "Redshirts"? And it sounds like the answer is "yes".
on “GeForce Now: A Review” ↗