Saturday 7 September 2024

Book Review: Red Dwarf - Discovering the TV Series Vol. 1 by Tom Salinsky (Non-Fiction/TV)

Red Dwarf: Discovering the TV Series Vol. 1
Tom Salinsky
White Owl
30 October 2024
192
eBook - PDF
Non-Fiction/TV
ARC via NetGalley

Red Dwarf is virtually unique among British sitcoms. It began in 1988 and was still releasing new episodes in 2020, making it one of the longest running sitcoms of all time, but the core cast has remained largely unchanged. And its science fiction flavour contrasts strongly with the drawing rooms and sofas which were the norm when it launched, and the fast-cut mockumentary style which is popular today. And yet, this is a show which nobody wanted to make, and which only barely made it to our screens at all. In this work, Tom Salinsky will look at exactly how it came to be; who was considered for the cast but didn’t make it; how it was radically reinvented for the third, sixth, seventh, ninth and tenth seasons; how it survived the breakup of its key creative partnership, the loss of the original spaceship models, BBC strikes, the departure of a major cast member, and the seemingly self-defeating rules which the writers imposed on themselves. But this isn’t just a behind-the-scenes account. It’s also a detailed critical analysis, examining why the best episodes succeed and why the less impressive episodes struggle, while also finding time to ask just how a hologram made of light can smell burning camphor wood, why a creature evolved from a cat is familiar with Wilma Flintstone, or just how long Lister and Kochanski were dating for. How can all this possibly be contained in one book? It can’t! Volume I will cover the first six series and Volume II will conclude the story of Red Dwarf on television as well as looking at the novels, comic strips, computer games and more.


As a huge Red Dwarf fan, Tom Salinsky's Red Dwarf: Discovering the TV Series Vol. 1 seemed right up my alley, and it was indeed fun to think back on the episodes. I liked the fact that the book considered each series as a whole before zooming in on the individual episodes. I also enjoyed the breakdown of the episodes with mention of any cultural references and continuity errors. However, there were some negative points too. Firstly, I cannot understand the need for two volumes. This first book is less than 200 pages. Assuming the second volume is a similar length, what was wrong with a single book of 400-500 pages? I also got a bit annoyed at the author's negativity at times. I am all on board with pointing out the flaws, but it sometimes felt like complaints outweighed the praise, which could be irritating to fans of the show. As I read, I also found myself thinking some images would be nice to accompany the text. When I reached the end there was a brief selection of images included; however, half of these were not even of Red Dwarf but rather other shows and films that may have inspired some of the episodes, and that felt pointless to me. Overall, I am giving this book three stars. I enjoyed reminiscing about the different episodes as I read, but I thought there was room for improvement in the way the book was presented and in the author's focus if he is wanting to appeal to the show's fans.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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