  Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are still an enigma. In particular the central
engine, the total energy, and the very narrow distribution of peak energies
challenge model builders. Motivated by recent theoretical developments (string
theory, quantum gravity, critical collapse), which suggest that complete
gravitational collapse can occur without singularities or event horizons, we
explore how red-hole models (which lack singularities or event horizons) can
solve these problems better than black-hole models.
