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  • Redshirts

  • A Novel with Three Codas
  • By: John Scalzi
  • Narrated by: Wil Wheaton
  • Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (405 ratings)

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Redshirts cover art

Redshirts

By: John Scalzi
Narrated by: Wil Wheaton
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Publisher's Summary

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 facts 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.

©2012 John Scalzi (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Redshirts

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    204
  • 4 Stars
    135
  • 3 Stars
    42
  • 2 Stars
    16
  • 1 Stars
    8
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    238
  • 4 Stars
    102
  • 3 Stars
    16
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    4
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    180
  • 4 Stars
    114
  • 3 Stars
    52
  • 2 Stars
    13
  • 1 Stars
    8

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

An enjoyable story

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I found the concept quite fascinating, but as with other books by Scalzi, I struggle with his incessant use of the word "said".

"So you're a friend..." Handson said
"I am" Duvall said ...
"Great" Hanson said ...
"I would hope so" Duval said
"I'm going to get myself..." Hanson said ...
"I'm fine" Dahl said
"I could go for another" Duvall said, waggling...
"One of the same" Hanson asked
"Sure" Duvall said
"Great" Hanson said ...
"You got it" Dahl said...
"He seems nice" Duvall said
"He is" Dahl said
"Not hugely full of personality" Duvall said
"He has other qualities" Dahl said
"Like paying for drinks" Duvall said
"Well, yes..." Dahl said
"You mind..." Duvall said
"Seeing as..." Dahl said

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good book, but!

Any additional comments?

I really like Wil Wheaton as a reader. The first book I listened to by Wil Wheaton was " Ready play one". I enjoyed that story and the way he read it. In fact I never wanted it to end. He has an infectious warm energy in his reading. I am a fan. So marking a 2 for performance does not feel right as he is better imho than that. Please take my 2 as a comment on editorial decisions and not the reading.

This is my first book by this writer. I really enjoyed the last few chapters. This is a good writer. The problem is the use of the words "said"! it detracts from the reading and all I heard for the first 20+ chapters. I think in book form using "said" would be ok. But in audio you are hearing it sometime every few seconds. It does not translate from paper to audio. I would avoid books by this author if they had the same issue despite liking his writing.

Please take some editorial license and work out a better way to edit the use of "Jon said, "Mike said", "fred said". It detracts from enjoying the story.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Said

The story was an interesting concept which I enjoyed. I never want to hear the word "said" again for as long as I live though.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Was looking forward to it but ...

I never believed the 'he said', 'she said' conversations could be as bad as other reviewers said. But they are. Distracting and devastating every time there is a conversation. Story seems okay, and Wil Wheaton is fine but 20 minutes in and already I'm questioning my choice. I will avoid other works by this author. Shame. Seems to have a sense of humour.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Sue
  • 15-01-2021

He said , she said...

Nice audio book, with good narrator. As an audio book, the phrase "he said" or "said, Dahl" was so repetitive that it became distracting. Had the author used other phrases as "he replied", "she asked" rather than the word "said" the audio book would have flowed more smoothly. Other than this pickiness, a story worth reading!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

interesting story, awkward voice acting

The story was interesting and for a fan of starwas in my childhood it scratched a geeky nostalgic itch. However the story was interrupted every now and then with awkward voice acting. I've listened to books read by Will before but this one felt clunky. There shouldn't be a need to read: he said, she said, Jim said, the voice acting should be sufficient for you to tell who is acting.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great concept

The story was great and typical of John Scalzi Humour. I really enjoyed the plot. My only very slight criticism is the narration. Don't get me wrong I think Will Wheaton is a great narrator but I enjoyed him in Ready Player One so much that hearing him as more adult characters is tough sometimes. With that being said him being a glorified extra (Redshirt) on Star Trek meant he was hard to go passed. All in all I loved the book.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Redshirts red hot read

I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did. I mostly got it as I enjoyed listening to Wil Wheaton's narration, which is excellent. However I was pleasantly surprised to find a funny, thoughtful, imaginative book that had me really caring for those characters that we usually toss aside. Will definitely have to give it another go though and probably buy the actual book as well. Brilliant!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Repetitive, redundant & not entertaining

Terribly written, extremely repetitive regarding details only just explained, redundant by unnecessarily over explaining a point that was just barley cleverly implied. We got through 10 chapters (2.5hrs) and read the synopsis on Wiki at which point we were SO glad we stopped.

I was enjoying it when I thought it felt like a cross between “Cabin in the Woods” and “Star Trek: Lower Decks”. I was extremely disappointed when the Wiki synopsis revealed it to be a poor rip-off of Red Dwarfs 9th season, “Back to Earth” which aired 3yrs before this trash was published.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

glorious comedic scifi

this is my second Scalzi book and for those who love Star Trek and various Sci fi tropes, this turns them into an hilarious escapade. a light and funny story that will make you chuckle and is full of fine wit and irony.

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