We really lean into our Books-and-Media season theme this time:John Scalzi's Redshirts is an award-winning novel about what might happen if the "redshirts" on Star Trek ever noticed how often they die in terrible, meaningless ways. Or how the science they do on the show makes no sense. Or how anytime someone's life gets interesting, they're about to snuff it to make a main character's emotions more compelling in response.

But if you stay with us past our MAJOR SPOILERS warning about ten minutes in, we'll take you with us through the rest of the book, and talk about the kinds of conversations these ensigns get into, and what they decide to do about the way their fate has been, shall we say, written in the stars.

Plus, does Job (you know, the Bible one we always bring up?) count as the first Redshirt, a plaything in the hands of heaven? Come find out, Believers!