He had me crying within the first ten pages. I was hesitant, because it was military SF, which is not usually my jam. Redshirts is way in the future of this story. You want to read their work and you are also terrified to read it, because what if it sucks? The novel that everyone was talking about was Old Man’s War, which is not this book. There’s a thing that happens when all of your friends are writers. What I do remember was thinking, “I need to read one of his books.” I honestly don’t remember what we talked about, because we talked for hours over a huge range of subjects. What struck me was that he was clever and funny, but that he also used that humor to make points about real things that were important. He was nominated for it, but I’d never heard of him or anything he’d written. With a new introduction by Mary Robinette Kowal, author of the Hugo-winning The Calculating Stars.Īt the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.I met John Scalzi at a writers’ conference when he was already well known for his blog, Whatever, but before he had won the Astounding Award for Best New Writer. Then Andrew stumbles on information that 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.

Unsurprisingly, the savvier crew members belowdecks avoid Away Missions at all costs.

Life couldn’t be better…until Andrew begins to realize that (1) every Away Mission involves a lethal confrontation with alien forces, (2) the ship’s senior officers always survive these confrontations, and (3) sadly, at least one low-ranking crew member is invariably killed. It’s a prestige posting, with the chance to serve on 'Away Missions' alongside the starship’s famous senior officers. Tor Essentials presents new editions of science fiction and fantasy titles of proven merit and lasting value, each volume introduced by an appropriate literary figure.Įnsign Andrew Dahl has just been assigned to the Universal Union Capital Ship Intrepid, flagship of the Universal Union since the year 2456.

Redshirts is John Scalzi’s Hugo Award-winning novel of the starship ensigns who were expendable.until they started comparing notes.

Redshirts by John Scalzi