Let’s Talk About Red Dwarf: Titan (SPOILER-FREE) News Posted by Ian Symes on 13th July 2026, 09:43 We were planning on saving this until Thursday, but it seems that significant numbers of fans have managed to get hold of a copy of Red Dwarf: Titan before its official release on 16th July. These illicit copies have been obtained by such nefarious methods as going into a shop and asking for it, or even going as far as to order it as a click-and-collect online. While we somewhat lament the fact that we’ve been denied the opportunity to have the entire community reading and reacting at the same time, in a development somewhat reminiscent of the old UKTV Play days, we have to acknowledge that an awful lot of people are absolutely bursting at the seams to discuss what they’ve seen. So we thought it best to herd all you lucky early-readers into one thread, before anyone starts over-excitedly spilling their beans all over the forum. But please note that the comments on this post are to be kept free of any significant details of the book. You can share your opinions and emotions, but please don’t say anything about the plot, which characters are present, or anything else that risks spoiling any surprises for other people. On Thursday, there’ll be multiple threads in the forum for as much detailed discussion as you like, with a dedicated thread for each part of the book for everyone to jot down their thoughts and theories as they go. But let’s keep this particular thread safe for anyone who’s not yet got hold of the book please. With all of that said… what did you think of it? EDIT: It is now Thursday. When you’re ready for the spoilery chat, you can find it in the forum: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
I will admit I wasn’t sure about it at first. But the more I read of it, the more I started to appreciate it as its own thing, and the more I enjoyed it. In some ways it reminded me as much of Rob’s solo novels like Colony and Incompetence as much as it did Infinity, BTL or Backwards. I won’t say more other than to say that the best thing about it is that it feels like a genuinely new take on Red Dwarf, and I think that’s what it has going for it most of all.
I’m struggling to work out how to describe my feelings without giving away too much. I’d definitely second Dave’s comment and say it reminded me of Colony. Rob’s voice is very apparent throughout, and fans of gratuitous baroque violence and genital torture will not be disappointed. I thought the central conceit, the setting and the various plot twists and turns were really well done, it felt quite filmic, in a weird way. The pace was frenetic throughout, unlike some of the more sedate chapters of IWCD/BTL, but this is a very different book in a lot of ways. The dialogue feels a bit overwrought at points, the jokes are crammed into almost every line – but then this is a comedy novel first and foremost, so that probably makes sense. I think ulitmately it’s just quite different to the earlier novels, which isn’t necessarily a negative. There are some genius set pieces and ideas, and some fun additions and retcons to the canon, which can be handwaved through with the ‘one universe to the side’ rule. In conclusion, I liked it and if there are any publishers reading, I would happily buy any other Red Dwarf related books from Andrew, Doug or anyone else.
i’ll be try and be vague here: it’s the first time Red Dwarf has had women in it who actually are written as people with interiority and motivations and decision-making capacity. about bloody time.
I feel like it really needs to be a film/series, or at least is really suited to being one. Some scenes are very visual in a way that wouldn’t really work on radio, and only just work in book form. The twist at the end of a certain figure’s identity. I can’t wait to see the fandoms reaction to that. I feel like Rimmer’s first negative thoughts about Lister could be considered racially insensitive in these times. Look up what happened with Naomi Novik’s novel for example. But yeah…it’s really good. So fast and frantic
The pace was frenetic throughout, unlike some of the more sedate chapters of IWCD/BTL, but this is a very different book in a lot of ways. The dialogue feels a bit overwrought at points, the jokes are crammed into almost every line – but then this is a comedy novel first and foremost, so that probably makes sense. I think ulitmately it’s just quite different to the earlier novels, which isn’t necessarily a negative. Yes. I felt like you could tell it had been developed as/alongside a treatment for a TV show. Most of what is in the book feels external (dialogue and descriptions of action) and it wouldn’t take a huge amount of effort to convert it into a screenplay. The chapter titles even feel like scene descriptors. As a result, what it doesn’t have very much of – with a few small and enjoyable exceptions – is the kind of internal exploration of character and personality that was such a revelation in Infinity and BTL. This feels much more like a wacky page-turning caper without much time to stop for self-examination.
The bit at the end where someone asks the Cat’s name and he triumphantly says “Cat 2X4B-523P” as though that was ever the point of the story
Im getting more out of this than I thought. I set my expectations to “Colony / Quanderhorn” levels and i mean that as praise a bit below the level of Robs Red Dwarf era, as others have already compared it to. My experience 200 pages in though is that it is Red Dwarf. It’s Novel red dwarf, not as contained as episodes. It’s a thriller. Its charcter packed on the shore leave theme and i love all who are appearing both old and new and new angles. Ultimately the bantering between Rimmer and Lister is fresh and sparkling and has me grinning constantly. The plot is intriguing me. They are really getting into a very twisty situation and the stakes and pace are page turning awesome. Im loving it. I think rob has turned a situation of “that’s the bit your allowed, pre accident” and alternative universe thread into a compelling bonus. Whats both eyebrow raising, but pretty easy ultimately to reconcile is the modern world of now that Rob and Andrew weave into a world that’s so close to Series 1. (1988’s vision of the future is update to 2026s vision of that same future and then given the busget of the fifth element)
yeah, I really enjoyed it. It managed to fit some plot twists and genuine canon/character developments while still being silly and funny. There’s a super obscure possible influence which I want to mention after the 16th
i’ll be try and be vague here: it’s the first time Red Dwarf has had women in it who actually are written as people with interiority and motivations and decision-making capacity. about bloody time. That scene with the killer bikini vampire girls was actually quite progressive and thought provoking in a way. All I really have to say at the moment is that I enjoyed every single line of that book and it kept pulling me back for me. It’s got Rob’s voice all over it, it felt like Red Dwarf (albeit one reality to the side), the characters are really well written and their voices emanate from the page. This isn’t quite the Red Dwarf we’re used to but it is a version of Red Dwarf that works really well and just shows what putting Red Dwarf into this medium can do when unrestrained from the continuity of TV.
All I really have to say at the moment is that I enjoyed every single line of that book and it kept pulling me back for me. I agree. It has a real page-turner quality that makes it hard to put down.
Given my curmudgeonly attitude to the rapid pace of BTL and Backwards I can’t say you guys are wetting my appetite much. For the record, Colony was okay.
I loved it, diving back into the Red Dwarf Novel-verse was such a treat after so many years of rereading the same 4 books! Agree with the comments above that some of the gore/violence of Colony has snuck in, but I’d say things are far more tame than Last Human! So much more I want to talk about, but it’s so hard to gauge what will be considered a ‘spoiler’ so I’ll wait till the 16th! Anyhow, awesome work by Rob and Andrew… and also so sad to think of what future work we’ve been robbed of :-(
I’m about 70 pages in and am enjoying it, I have found some of the dialogue a little verbose as alluded to earlier and I’m a bit impatient to get to the point where it crosses over with the future but I have noticed that I am absolutely dying to know the whole story.
Agree with the comments above that some of the gore/violence of Colony has snuck in, but I’d say things are far more tame than Last Human! Was Last Human that gory/violent? I remember a sequence of Lister constantly being knocked out to the point I wondered how he wasn’t concussed. And he nearly drowned, got shot in the groin.
Last Human always felt cartoony in its violence, Backwards had the infamous Cat sex scene, the torture device descriptions, and Rimmer getting melted.
Here’s a question for you all, the kind of question my mind comes up with – are you picturing it in your mind as an episode of the TV show and, if so, have you also conjured up a studio audience to laugh at the right moments? I don’t remember doing this with the previous books but this one is so overtly comedy, so far, I can’t help but hear the laughs. (I’m aware that some people don’t “see” books when they read and I’m sure this sounds absolutely mental to them)
Last Human always felt cartoony in its violence, Backwards had the infamous Cat sex scene, the torture device descriptions, and Rimmer getting melted. Last Human does feature Lister getting raped by his GELF bride.
Agree with the comments above that some of the gore/violence of Colony has snuck in, but I’d say things are far more tame than Last Human! Was Last Human that gory/violent? I remember a sequence of Lister constantly being knocked out to the point I wondered how he wasn’t concussed. And he nearly drowned, got shot in the groin. I remember being quite horrified by the scene of them discovering the alt-universe Starbug with the dead crew when I read it as a teen.
Agree with the comments above that some of the gore/violence of Colony has snuck in, but I’d say things are far more tame than Last Human! Was Last Human that gory/violent? I remember a sequence of Lister constantly being knocked out to the point I wondered how he wasn’t concussed. And he nearly drowned, got shot in the groin. Well there was all the stuff about Lister being framed for the crew getting slaughtered horrifically, and there was the hideous prison guard creature that makes you vomit on sight! Plus by things being more ‘tame’, I was also including the sexual stuff in Last Human.
Last Human does feature Lister getting raped by his GELF bride. I can’t be disturbed by it when its written so patently comedic I’m more embarrassed it was put to print.
Here’s a question for you all, the kind of question my mind comes up with – are you picturing it in your mind as an episode of the TV show Well since its a book, id assume its best to picture it like another novel like the other 4. But having read some reviews of this book. And I haven’t read it yet so i could be wrong. But it sounds like a lot of the supporting cast characters have more to do in this book. Taking more center stage. Which does seem like a tv show to do. I dunno.
I can’t be disturbed by it when its written so patently comedic I’m more embarrassed it was put to print. Arguably worse to make light of arranged marriage and spousal rape than to play it straight when you think about it.
I just visualised it like a cyberpunk shanty town. Like Camden in London if it had neon lights. Most of the action seemed to take place in this one small area of cramped, busy streets and shops, so I could sort of imagine it on a BBC budget. On the scale of neverwhere or Dr who’s beast below.
Definitely some of the dialogue exchanges feel like clear “laugh lines” that would play well to an audience.
So my question is would this have worked as a single limited series or need multiple seasons? It’s a difficult question to answer without getting a bit spoilery, but I would say a single short season at most.
Makes me laugh that some of the pop culture references (like ‘The Ronnettes’) are as dated as they were in the original series when viewed today, but I guess that’s consistent?
Would have made animating it relatively feasible then. Animation is expensive, especially if you want to not look like a cheap Flash cartoon, so not necessarily.
Finished it last night and… it takes a bit of a strange turn towards the end, doesn’t it? The big twist feels almost a bit *too* silly.
Finished it last night and… it takes a bit of a strange turn towards the end, doesn’t it? The big twist feels almost a bit *too* silly. I think it manages to stay *just* the right side of implausibility, in contrast to something like, say, The Creator scene from Back to Earth.
I read a meta interpretation into one or two of the developments towards the end, which added an extra dimension to it for me.
Here’s a question for you all, the kind of question my mind comes up with – are you picturing it in your mind as an episode of the TV show and, if so, have you also conjured up a studio audience to laugh at the right moments? I don’t remember doing this with the previous books but this one is so overtly comedy, so far, I can’t help but hear the laughs. (I’m aware that some people don’t “see” books when they read and I’m sure this sounds absolutely mental to them) That’s interesting, it’s never occurred to me to put anyone else’s laugh track into my imagination. But I see your desire to do that and make it feel like a series 1 episode. I see it more as a big budget mini series without laugh track, but I do laugh out loud at the text and my imagination of the pictures. I’ve got every known character as a series one era age look with a few modifications certainly when clothes are directly mentioned or off duty being an aspect. There is one character who is significant early on that I’ve reimagined which i will explain more to you on the 16th. When it’s a new character entire I tend to cast people I would like to see in dwarf and make it a star packed story.
What do you mean? Are you surprised it was left open for a sequel? Because if that’s the case, it’s not surprising, as the plan was originally that there could be more. But things happened, and now it’s not likely.
Animation is expensive, especially if you want to not look like a cheap Flash cartoon, so not necessarily. Key word was relatively. Cheaper to animate a miniseries than a going multiseries concern. Granted the same logic technically applies to live action, but we have a little more evidence the animated option was a bit further explored.
I read a meta interpretation into one or two of the developments towards the end, which added an extra dimension to it for me. I’m guessing this is the same thought I had about how particular events regarding a character are described…
I’m guessing this is the same thought I had about how particular events regarding a character are described… Very likely.
Without spoilers if the answer is anything i have not figured out. But what is the use of language in the chapter titles. Is it Esperanto? Is it to use language they use on Titan about locations? As so far I’m getting a mixture of Dutch and Afrikaans when I translate it on Google. All words that are things related to place names.
I just finished it. I’ll reserve full judgement until I’ve gone through it again with the audiobook (though feelings are mostly positive!) but my impression has been thus: The first half felt like a fresh, new take on Red Dwarf and the second half felt like the kind of story you’d see in the Smegazine. Take that how you will..!
I think the implication is that Titan is a Dutch colony, like how Mimas was Spanish in Infinity. I am reading all Domer dialogue in a South African accent, much like The Expanses’ Belters.
I am reading all Domer dialogue in a South African accent There are parts of the book that gave me a District 9 vibe too, so maybe that’s apt.
There is one glaring plothole thats gnawing at me but shall have to wait for the spoiler discussion thread!
I am reading all Domer dialogue in a South African accent There are parts of the book that gave me a District 9 vibe too, so maybe that’s apt. FOCKEN SPACE WEEVILS
There is one glaring plothole thats gnawing at me but shall have to wait for the spoiler discussion thread!
I only got it today and I’m just up to the bit where the book sings the theme tune, I hope that’s not a spoiler (because it is of no consequence)
I only got it today and I’m just up to the bit where the book sings the theme tune, I hope that’s not a spoiler (because it is of no consequence) Wow! In my copy it’s just written out.
Andrew Marshall interview. He talks a bit about the book. No spoilers. https://youtu.be/zR2-7FGm0AM?si=8fpZNXl-KWrjfjHZ&t=999
I don’t know how I feel about there being not one acknowledgement of Doug Naylor, even just as a mention as co-creator of Red Dwarf. Rob’s bio in the book says he co-authored two Red Dwarf book, but that’s it. I know it’s likely a contractual thing, but Rob is at least credited in every non-Rob written episode of the show.
Well, they give special acknowledgement to each other in Backwards and Last Human, but that seems to be because the novels adapted storylines from the shows they co-wrote together. To which, yeah they probably were contracted to acknowledge that.
I also thought elements of the plot kinda felt like a flicking-the-Vs to all other Dwarf. I’m absolutely sure it’s just a by-product of having to come up with a way to tell the kind of story he was allowed to tell but it does change how you view existing RD, if viewed through this continuity. I’m also not really sure I fully understood the “why” of what was happening, but a bit too early to discuss that!
The question we will never have answered is how much of Titan was because of the court agreement versus actual artistic inclinations.
Those who have read it, when are you planning to listen to the audiobook? I was going to right away but I think I might wait a bit so having new RD to consume lasts a bit longer.
Bothers me too. It’d taken all of 10 seconds to bash out a ‘based on the TV show co-created by’ and / or a perfunctory ‘thanks to Doug Naylor’ line. Hopefully it’s just an oversight due to the publishers finalising the book in the sad aftermath of Rob’s passing. Andrew was complimentary about Doug’s writing in the video interview someone posted above. I don’t know how I feel about there being not one acknowledgement of Doug Naylor, even just as a mention as co-creator of Red Dwarf. Rob’s bio in the book says he co-authored two Red Dwarf book, but that’s it. I know it’s likely a contractual thing, but Rob is at least credited in every non-Rob written episode of the show.
There are definitely big things to only reveal in the spoilers thread, from obvious fan service to bold new takes. Read or listen in full to the book before going into the other thread.
Gather as many of you fuckers together as you can and deliver a group photo, please! Even if it’s just Ian and Morwen.
Hurrah! I have no idea what you look like, but if you see this face <—– , say hello. I’ll going to be wearing a Gang of Four T-shirt (if I can find it), and my hair is a variety of bright colours so I’m usually pretty spottable.
Just received my copy. It’s weird because I’ve been looking forward to this for months and now that it’s here I don’t know if I want to start it because once I finish it I think there’s a very strong chance that’s the end of a journey I’ve been on for three quarters of my life.
Some new info https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/red-dwarf-musical-adaptation-exclusive-newsupdate/
I’ve just finished Part 1 this afternoon and so far I’m really enjoying it. Jam packed with ideas and larger than life characters and jokes. As others have said it’s very much its own thing, but it sets out its stall very well I think, and it didn’t take me long at all to get to grips with the kind of tone it’s going for and get invested in the story. There’s some great dialogue, but also some that’s a bit clunky or cringey or unnatural sounding. That’s really my only nitpick. There’s no contents page, so when the discussion threads appeared in the forum I was surprised to see that there are four more parts, as the end of the first part isn’t very far short of the halfway mark. I wonder whether the book will be divided up differently for the book club. IIRC that’s what happened when we did Last Human. Anyway, now to read the G&T review and then delve into the Part 1 forum thread.
Hurrah! I have no idea what you look like, but if you see this face <—– , say hello. I’ll going to be wearing a Gang of Four T-shirt (if I can find it), and my hair is a variety of bright colours so I’m usually pretty spottable. I found it!
Is anyone going to the Forbidden Planet signing this afternoon? Not today’s one but there’s an FP Birmingham one in a couple of weeks that I might try and get to.
Those who have read it, when are you planning to listen to the audiobook? I was going to right away but I think I might wait a bit so having new RD to consume lasts a bit longer. Because Amazon still haven’t delivered the book I’ve listened to nearly half of the audiobook. It’s great! Laughed out loud and said ‘ugh’ out loud at a ratio of 70:30.
Hurrah! I have no idea what you look like, but if you see this face <—– , say hello. I’ll going to be wearing a Gang of Four T-shirt (if I can find it), and my hair is a variety of bright colours so I’m usually pretty spottable. You’ll recognise Morwen straight away as she comes storming up to you through the crowd shouting “Ian!” With a cider and black in her hand. Because yes even though it’s at FP, I expect she’ll find a way to smuggle a pint in
I have my issues with some of his views but my goodness Chris Barrie is a mega talent. Two chapters in and his reading of Titan is a reminder of just how good he is. His Young Rimmer is like stepping back in time and his heartbroken Young Lister genuinely moving.
Still awaiting the arrival of my signed copy (it’s now been despatched, it’s arriving Monday), so I’ve been listening to the audiobook since yesterday evening. I’m now up to Chapter 28, just over four hours in. All jolly good fun. Looking forward to having a physical copy in my hands, though.
Does every copy have three title pages? One with just the title and logo, a second with the signatures, and a third with the names in print. The “for Paul Jackson” dedication made me think he’d died! I realise now that plenty of book are dedicated to people who haven’t died.
Does every copy have three title pages? One with just the title and logo, a second with the signatures, and a third with the names in print. The “for Paul Jackson” dedication made me think he’d died! I realise now that plenty of book are dedicated to people who haven’t died. My unsigned edition* goes blank – title logo page – title page with authors – dedication page. So skipping the signatures page someone else posted. * (Timeframe of purchase: Undecided if I’ll get a cheaper ebook/audiobook > Rob dies, so getting in a preorder is the least I can do… but I don’t really need a signed one now).
I realise now that plenty of book are dedicated to people who haven’t died. They all do eventually though. A little suspicious if you ask me…
They all do eventually though. A little suspicious if you ask me… Oh so that’s why Rob got taken out.
The “for Paul Jackson” dedication made me think he’d died! I realise now that plenty of book are dedicated to people who haven’t died. I get the feeling, and I have for some time, that Paul Jackson helped Rob Grant get more of these options open to him when it comes to Red Dwarf. And i think that’s the reason he got this dedication. Because Red Dwarf: Titan probably wouldn’t have happened without Paul Jackson.
