Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas - John Scalzi
A short, but nearly perfect novel. Scalzi asks: what do you do when you discover that you're one of the redshirts? Each member of the cast has a different response, all of which are utterly believable. The result is old-school space opera, TV criticism, a serious inquiry into how to write fiction well, an extended riff on the 21st century world of fandom and wikipedia. It could have gone horribly awry, but it works as a thoughtful adventure story and as humor with emotional depth and a bit of slapstick. I enjoy reading a book that raises serious issues without faking a pose of seriousness. And there's a yeti. Highly recommended.Oh, and just a note about the three codas: well played. Scalzi is a good short story writer, and I like that he added a little extra follow-up without trying to pad the novel. It's an unusual structure that works well because, I suppose, the author made it work. It doesn't come across as gimmicky at all.If you're at all a fan of scifi, either written or performed, you should be reading Scalzi. And if you're not a fan of scifi, but just enjoy an entertaining fiction, then you should read Scalzi and become a fan of scifi. I mean it, get on that right now.
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