Book Review: Redshirts by John Scalzi

This may be the best Star Trek novel I've read, and it's not really a Star Trek novel. It's clearly derived from Star Trek (a debt made explicit as the plot unfolds), in that the plot follows a group of red-shirted ensigns on a starship who have figured out that something very bad always happens to their type on away missions. How they find out and then what they do about it is a hilarious and even touching journey. This is like Star Trek IV if that movie was funnier, more self-aware, and more deeply moving. The audio book is even read by Wil Wheaton of all people! It really shines in the few moments of melancholy, and it's just sweet enough to balance the satire. My only real complaint is that many things are never explained that I thought would be possible to explain/not-explain in yet another homage to Star Trek, so to me the book didn't feel tied together, but that's also part of its charm. File this one under "better than I thought it would be."