Hi everyone! Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. Today, I am reviewing the second book in the series of Red Dwarf novel adaptations, Red Dwarf: Better Than Life, by Grant Naylor.

Ref Dwarf: Better Than Life was published in October 1990 by Penguin Books and is 224 pages long.

The Plot
This instalment continues directly on from the first, following Lister and the crew of Red Dwarf as they attempt to escape the fully immersive and addictive virtual reality game Better Than Life.

Characters
Dave Lister
Having decided at the end of the previous book that he would spend just one more Christmas in Bedford Falls with his fictional family, Lister has succumbed even more to the effects of the game, living permanently in the town from the movie It’s A Wonderful Life. That is until a twelve-wheeled truck barrages through town, destroying everything in its path.

Arnold Rimmer
Rimmer is as neurotic as ever, and in Better Than Life, he discovers that his own subconscious mind is actively working to sabotage him and not only him, much to the chagrin of the others.

Cat
Cat has been spending his time in the game surrounding himself with beautiful Valkyrie women who cater to his every whim. However, when Rimmer and Lister show up, Cat’s fantasy falls apart thanks to Rimmer’s self-sabotaging nature.

Kryten
Initially believing that mechanoids are immune to the addictive nature of Better Than Life, Krytan plugs himself in, attempting to rescue the crew. However, once inside the game, the game delves deep and discovers the one thing that makes him most happy in the world — cleaning.

Holly
Holly, the ship’s senile computer system with a former IQ of 6,000, is convinced to repair his memory to regain his intelligence. However, things take a turn for the worse when, instead of getting his original IQ back, he gets it back twofold, with a new IQ in excess of 12,000. The only problem is that in doing so, his life span is reduced dramatically to mere minutes.

Talkie Toaster
Talkie Toaster is a bright red, talking kitchen appliance that Holly repairs so that he has some company while the crew are in the game. Talkie is irritating and constantly asking if anyone and everyone wants toast, crumpets or muffins. In an attempt to talk about things other than bread products, Talkie convinces Holly to repair his memory systems to get his original IQ back.

Writing Style
The authors, Grant Naylor (Rob Grant and Doug Naylor), have created an exceptional, highly imaginative story that keeps the readers engaged and entertained.

Like the first book, Better Than Life is full of humour, action, and suspense, making it a thrilling read.

The characters are well-developed and entirely faithful to their TV counterparts, and the interactions between them are as witty and funny as ever, adding to the overall comedic tone of the book.

Furthermore, as they did in the first book, the authors have expertly weaved in important philosophical themes such as the nature of reality, escapism and the consequences of addiction, giving the story a deeper layer of complexity.

Again, just as with the previous instalment, the world-building here is top-notch, with vivid descriptions of frozen landscapes (which turns out to be a place the crew know very well indeed) and futuristic technologies that bring the story to life.

Final Thoughts
Red Dwarf: Better Than Life is a captivatingly enjoyable read that is funny, exciting and thought-provoking.

If you love Red Dwarf, then you will love this book. It has all the hallmarks of the TV series (this book uses storylines from Series Three episodes ‘Backwards’, ‘Marooned’ and ‘Polymorph’, and Series Four episode ‘White Hole’) but brilliantly expands upon them all.

If you enjoyed Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers, you will love this one too.

I am giving Better Than Life a 9/10.

Do you love Red Dwarf? Have you read Better Than Life? What did you think?

As ever, thank you for stopping by to read my review!

Until next time,

George

© 2024 GLT

Categories: Book Reviews, Reading

Tags: Better Than Life, book review, novelisation, Novelization, Red Dwarf, review, Sci fi, science fiction, sitcom