The crew of the Jupiter Mining Corporation mining ship Red Dwarf dies in a radiation accident and the only survivor, third technician Dave Lister is revived after three million years in suspended animation. His only company, besides Holly the ship's computer, is a hologram simulation of his much loathed immediate superior, Arnold Rimmer, and the the last descendant of a species that evolved from his stowed-aboard cat. On the way back to Earth they encounter future echoes, the difficulties of the chef's exam, the Lister-Cat race relationship, contract mutated pneumonia, and meet a double of one of the crew.