This book was the perfect little bit of escapism to get me through a long, challenging weekend recently. It’s a really funny little book that goes a lot deeper than you think it would on the surface.
Andrew Dahl has been posted in the Intrepid, the flagship of the UU fleet. It seems like a real career boost and he’s looking forward to it. Until he gets to the Xenobiology lab. Why does everyone hide when the senior officers arrive? Why is it everyone is suddenly very busy when the Captain is looking for folks to accompany him? Why does the Intrepid have such a high casualty rate?? Because Redshirts are always expendable. So, what do you do if you don’t want to have your face eaten by space spiders?
It’s a really great concept- the epic exploration story told from the perspective of the bit players.
I don’t want to give too much away about the plot, it’s way more fun to just let it play out without too much foreknowledge. It’s a fast read, I got through it in a weekend no problem, and it’s lighthearted and quite funny while still having a well thought out plot and concept. I even got a little weepy a couple of times.
I very much recommend this book if you have read a bunch of heavy, dark books and need a little palate cleanser. This is not a deep, serious book. This is a fun little romp through a fun world. Don’t think to hard about it, just enjoy the ride.