This book *could* be a one-joke wonder – “Huh. Redshirts die a lot. Huhuhuh.” This book *could* be a good satire, like GalaxyQuest was.
Redshirts is neither.
Redshirts takes the primary joke, the biting satire, and then once it’s just about got you thinking that you know where it’s going, it slams down a sharp right turn and throws in solid characterization and an unexpected huge helping of solid plot and suspense. There is a reason this book has gotten so much attention. It’s that damn good, with special delights for fans of a specific franchise….
Highly recommended.