The novel “Redshirts” by John Scalzi was published for the first time in 2012. It won the Hugo and Locus awards as the best science fiction novel of the year.

Ensign Andrew Dahl has been assigned to the Intrepid, the Universal Union flagship. Initially he’s happy for the prestigious position but soon discovers that the away missions seem incredibly dangerous. Senior officers always manage to survive, some lieutenant get wounded but ensigns tend to be killed.

Intrepid’s low-rank officers have become very superstitious and do everything to stay on the ship and avoid being sent on away missions. Andrew Dahl, along with some fellow ensigns, tries to understand the reasons for that very unusual situation but the explanation seems really crazy and the solution to the problem even crazier.