It is definitely not Eddie O'Hare's day. Somehow his computer has stolen over two million from a local gangster and unless he finds a way to return the money by the end of the day he is a dead man. When he realises that a couple of hired hitmen have been sent to kill him he goes on the run while he finds a way to replace the money.

Down to his last fifty he decides to risk all at the casino. As he ponders which table to use he becomes aware of a neon sign flashing "Eddie to win." As he approaches the table he is shocked to find his virtual double gambling and wining at the table. And when I say winning I don't mean small-time, I mean millions. Eddie follows his double's lead and wins sufficient money to save his life. But... the doppleganger has broken the bank so Eddie's chips are worthless.

When Eddie is approached by his double, Gordon, and offered an apparent route to salvation he grasps it with both hands. Little did he realise that he would end up stranded on a spaceship, generations later, with the virtually psychotic descendants of the original crew and being pursued by a murderous cyborg. Surely things can only get better?

Colony is Rob Grant's first non-Red Dwarf novel and, as such, it shares a number of similarities with the TV series. The main character accidentally finds himself on a deep space mission and, after receiving a mysterious invitation he wakes up and finds that ten generations have passed and he definitely not quite the man he used to be.

Although Colony is not set in the Dwarf-world the overall concept is similar and there are moments when it feels rather like an extended episode. I suppose this is inevitable when the Dwarfers have been such a major part of Rob Grant's working life. However, by the time Grant writes Incompetence (his second book) the Red Dwarf influences have worn off.

I did enjoy Colony, there's some good humour in here, but I feel that it suffered from being stuck between Backwards (the best Red Dwarf Novel) and Incompetence (the first truly original Grant novel). Somehow it doesn't quite feel comfortable with its self.