RedShirts

Redshirts  by John Scalzi  was the Alternate Pick to the official Sword and Laser Book Club selection Ringworld by

Reading period:  Jul 1, 2013 - Jul 31, 2013

How/Why was this book chosen:

It was selected as an alternate pick because it was a very close second in the Poll of Sword &Laser's Goodreads Group members. Ringworld by Larry Niven 242 votes 23.0%

Redshirts by John Scalzi 234 votes 22.3%

Sword & Laser Goodreads Group Discussion of Redshirts

Sword & Laser Podcasts:  Kick Off: S&L 135  Check In: S&L 137  Wrap Up: S&L 138

Redshirts by John Scalzi
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 fact 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.