Mixed response to this one - sometimes I'd think the humor was pretty juvenile, but then I'd come across a gem like this one:

“The GAS (Genetic Alternative Sports) … Sports fans were no longer interested in seeing a conventional boxing match, when they could witness two genetically engineered pugilists — who were created with their brains in their shorts, and all their other major organs crammed into their legs and feet, leaving their heads solid blocks of unthinking muscle — knock hell out of one another for hours on end in a way that normal boxers could only manage for minutes.” Red Dwarf Omnibus (Better than Life) p490 ( )

This was an audiobook 'read' and I have read both Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers and Better Than Life before as stand alone books. This audiobook mashes both those books together and also some other parts from the TV show into one big story covering the Red Dwarf world. It is narrated by Chris Barrie who is frankly superb and I listened to this over the course of 2 nights while at work. I love everything about this, the story is great, the characters strong, the performance superb, and to top it all off it's really funny as well. I would highly recommend this to any Red Dwarf fan. ( )

I listened to the audiobook (abridged version) narrated by Chris Barrie. He did a brilliant job and I would definitely like to purchase the full version at some point. ( )

Relives the television series, but there isn't too much added value. The only exception is Rimmer, whose neuroses are made much more obvious with a narrator's insight. ( )

I have not seen the TV series, so I can't say I am a fan of the TV series like most other reviewers. But certainly, I loved the books. I think most people who like The Hitchhiker's Guide, for example, will enjoy these books as well. The humor is less subtle than Douglas Adams, but the story is more action packed (it has a more 21st century feel, not surprisingly.)

The main characters are brilliantly done. The lazy guy who loves curry, the loser technician who blames everyone else for his failures, the guilt-ridden cleaning android, the highly-evolved Cat, and of course, the irritating toaster that won't shut up. Let's not forget Holly, the super genius computer. I think I had greater expectations from Holly, though. I think I probably expected something more like Marvin, the paranoid android, something with more of a character, but the "character" from others makes up for this lack, for sure.

The story is an action-packed, silly adventure through space and time. Hilarious and horrible things happen to them from beginning to end and the characters, so beautifully crippled by their own flaws, try to survive it all.

All in all, a blast to read. ( )