The Making of Red Dwarf
by Joe Nazzaro (Penguin, 1994)
Behind the scenes of Red Dwarf Series VI, especially ‘Gunmen of the Apocalypse’. After three months spent shadowing the production, Nazzaro wrote a stunningly dull (though mercifully short) exposé, bland as tofu. If not for the photographs, no-one would ever read this.
Red Dwarf: The Promised Land
dir. Doug Naylor (Dave, 2020)
Nostalgic and fun, packed with gags both familiar and unpredictable. Production values are surprisingly high and the feature-length format allows for a better story than those of recent series. Ray Fearon plays a first-rate villain. A fitting endpoint (maybe?) for the franchise.
Crime Traveller
by Anthony Horowitz (BBC, 1997)
Quirky police investigations marbled with time paradox. Though made in the late 1990s, Crime Traveller gives off a 1970s vibe (with commensurate production values plus Michael French doing his best Bodie impersonation). As a boon for Red Dwarf fans, Chloë Annett co-stars.
Red Dwarf, Series XII
by Doug Naylor (Dave, 2017)
In which Red Dwarf becomes a shadow of even the shadow of earlier series. Lister jamming with a reformed Hitler is admittedly a highlight, but for the most part the boys from the dwarf are putting on a fannish tribute to themselves.
Red Dwarf: Last Human
by Doug Naylor (Viking, 1995)
A competent SF novel that broadens the Red Dwarf canvas but relies a little too much on prior knowledge of the show (while at the same time rehashing chunks of televised stories; these are the book’s weakest parts). Funny, but somewhat scattershot.
Red Dwarf, Series XI
by Doug Naylor (Dave, 2016)
Even though it’s comprised now solely of what in earlier series was incidental humour, and careful plotting has been replaced by a laissez-faire ‘Let’s see where we are when we run out of time’ approach, it’s hard not to love Red Dwarf.
Red Dwarf IX: Back to Earth
by Doug Naylor (2009)
Though much welcome after the decade of Dwarflessness following Series VIII, this three-part 21st anniversary special exhibits a slow-moving stiltedness that belies its imaginative premise. Fans are encouraged to create their own director’s cut: a ruthless edit down to one regular-length episode.
Red Dwarf X
by Doug Naylor (Dave, 2012)
Although still somewhat an aging caricature of its earlier series, Red Dwarf X brings back the laughs through six cleverly constructed (if frivolous) episodes. ‘Lemons’, in which the Dwarfers misassemble a flat-pack anti-aging machine, consequently time-travelling and meeting Jesus, is a highlight.
Red Dwarf VIII
by Doug Naylor (BBC, 1999)
Returning to the eponymous mining ship, Red Dwarf became unabashedly silly and yet managed also to transmogrify into a creature of ephemeral comedic brilliance. ‘Cassandra’ is a classic episode, while elsewhere, amidst the rampant caricaturing, a long-suffering Captain Hollister steals the show.
Red Dwarf VII
by Doug Naylor (BBC, 1997)
Danny John-Jules’ portrayal of the Cat remains tainted by cross-pollination from buck-toothed alter-ego Duane Dibbley, but the (re)introduction of Kochanski is enough to shake up what had become a staid crew dynamic and revitalise — at least somewhat — Dave Lister’s comically vagabond existence.