In ‘Redshirts’, by John Scalzi, a group of low-ranking crew members aboard the starship Intrepid discover a strange pattern of mortality among their peers. Those who go on away missions with the ship’s command staff have a shockingly high chance of dying. As they investigate, they uncover the unbelievable truth: they are all actually characters in a poorly written science fiction TV show, and the more dangerous the mission, the more likely they are to die a gruesome death. Determined to take control of their destinies, the crew hatches a plan to confront the show’s writers and producers. They embark on a time-traveling journey that pits them against their creators, all while struggling to avoid the usual pitfalls of TV tropes and keep themselves alive. The novel playfully explores the premise of characters in a fictional world who become self-aware and rebel against their creators, providing both humorous and thought-provoking insights into the nature of storytelling and existence.
Andrew Dahl
Authors: John Scalzi No Year(s) tags for this post.
