Fans of Red Dwarf are in for a treat this July, with the release of all-new prequel story Titan, the first new Red Dwarf novel in 30 years. Set “three million and thirty-nine years ago”, this fun origin story of sorts explores the early days of our favourite crew members, before the events of the original TV series. While it’s technically not 100% canon, taking place “one universe to the side”, this hilarious and suitably wacky tale shows there’s plenty of life in the old ship yet.
Television has changed a lot over the last 30 years, but the crew of the Red Dwarf have remained consistent in their appeal. First gracing our screens from 1988 to 1999 on BBC Two, the series, created by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, was later brought back from 2009 to 2020 on Dave.
With Titan, returning legend Rob Grant (one of the TV show’s creators) and long-time comedy writer Andrew Marshall (2point4Children, Quanderhorn) have created a fresh story that can be enjoyed by fans old and new. The novel functions as a standalone adventure and serves as a great jumping-on point.
The mining ship Red Dwarf is orbiting Saturn’s moon Titan, its crew preparing for a shore leave packed with drinking marathons, culinary bean feasts and painfully dull cultural tours. Lowly chicken soup machine repairman Dave Lister is busy pining after his ex, Kristine Kochanski (who fans will be pleased to see gets a little more character development this time around). Meanwhile, his long-suffering bunkmate Arnold Rimmer is determined to cheat his way through his exam and get promoted by any means necessary… Naturally, nothing goes according to plan.
A cryptic message from the future means the pair suddenly find themselves faced with a reality-threatening crisis. They are quickly plunged into a race against time involving Titan’s criminal underworld, dangerous new enemies, and the kind of complicated science fiction plot that could only be the brainchild of Rob Grant and may be some of his finest work to date.
Sadly, Grant passed away in February 2026, just one week after Titan was announced, making this his final work. Fans of Grant’s earlier Red Dwarf novels, particularly Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers and Better Than Life, will appreciate his signature storytelling. Freed from the confines of television budgets, Titan explores some dramatic locations and action sequences that would have been impossible to portray on screen.
The sheer volume of different ideas and perspectives incorporated in the novel does mean it can occasionally become convoluted, particularly for readers less familiar with the franchise. Red Dwarf has never been afraid to introduce bizarre concepts, and Titan is no exception, so you’ve certainly got to pay attention. However, it’s a writing style that feels in keeping with the eclectic spirit of the original Red Dwarf.
While the book introduces plenty of new characters, including a lovable ally in the form of overly helpful mechanoid Carzon, longtime fans will enjoy the return of familiar faces. Lister remains a loveable slob, although he appears to have developed a little more maturity this time around and, dare we say, may even have some hidden depths. Rimmer’s inflated sense of self-importance is every bit as painful yet funny as fans will remember. Their love-hate relationship remains at the heart of the story, with plenty of signature sarcastic exchanges.
Bursting with the same vivid imagination and razor-sharp dialogue that helped establish Red Dwarf as one of the greatest sci-fi comedies, this triumphant return for the crew feels like the start of an exciting new chapter. Andrew Marshall’s contribution adds enough new perspective to keep everything feeling fresh while the series’ distinctive voice remains intact.
Underneath the dimension-hopping cosmic chaos, Titan gets to the heart of what makes Red Dwarf tick; it’s a story about flawed people muddling through impossible situations with very little competence, but plenty of determination!
RED DWARF: TITAN will be released in hardback, ebook and audiobook (narrated by Rimmer star Chris Barrie) on July 16th 2026.
