Category: John Scalzi

Dusted Off: Old Man’s War by John Scalzi

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On November 18, 2013

In Authors, Fiction, John Scalzi, P-U, Science Fiction

Old Man's War (Old Man's War, #1)Old Man’s War

by John Scalzi
Mass Market Paperback, 362 pg.
Tor Books, 2007

I have to admit, I came to this with a degree of trepidation. I’ve really enjoyed Scalzi’s “lighter” works and wasn’t sure I was going to be able to get into his more serious SF. Boy, was I wrong. This was a blast–sure, not as funny as Agent to the Stars or The Android’s Dream, but it wasn’t supposed to be, it was still a rollicking good time–action, hard SF, and heart (even a couple of laughs)–everything you could ask for.

It starts out as sort of an inverse Ender’s Game, instead of kids being recruited to fight far-off aliens, we get senior citizens enlisting. Humanity’s colonies are spreading through the galaxy and running into all sorts of other species who are trying to do the same, and conflicts ensue. I can’t think of much more to say here without major spoilers.

Great cast of characters, believable future tech, creepy aliens, intense battles…fun, solid read, really looking forward to the sequel.

—–

4 Stars

Dusted Off: Redshirts by John Scalzi

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On October 28, 2013

In Authors, Fiction, John Scalzi, P-U, Science Fiction

RedshirtsRedshirts

by John Scalzi
Hardcover, 217 pg.
Tor Books, 2012

This warmed the cockles of my Geek Heart like no book since Ready Player One. I’m not sure how much I can say without getting into spoiler territory, but I’ll try.

It starts off as a funny–but obvious–Star Trek parody, where all the lower ranking crewmen are terrified to go on away missions, for fear of getting killed in stupid and/or horrible ways. Entertaining enough, but…after a couple of chapters, I started to worry this gag was going to get really old over 300 pages.

Which is when Scalzi shook things up by a clever spoilery twist, which he followed quickly by another spoilery twist. And before I knew it, this had become a serious SF book with a comic flair. The codas at the end turn this from a fun adventure into something with a lot of heart and soul–and even more cleverness than the large amount displayed in the main body of the novel.

I so less-than-three this book. Go and read.

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5 Stars

Dusted Off: Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi

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On April 13, 2011

In Authors, Fiction, John Scalzi, P-U, Science Fiction

Agent to the StarsAgent to the Stars by John Scalzi

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Short Version: A good, good story told in a fun–often funny–way.

Long Version: In the Author’s Note, while Scalzi is describing the long, strange journey this novel took to get to this particular edition, he calls it the “book that won’t quit.” It took me maybe 50 pages to see why. This is one froody book.

The tone is great, the style is spot on, good satire/commentary on Hollywood’s place in the world, everything about the alien race–their language, appearance, spaceship, ways to interact with humans/other creatures…just wonderfully imaginative.

In case you haven’t read the blurb–an up and coming Hollywood agent is hired by a (by human standards) ugly, nauseatingly smelly alien race to help their “image” so they can make first contact with humanity. Why an agent, why not a President or something? ‘Cuz the aliens know where real power and influence are centered. So, our hero has to balance his Hollywood weirdo clients, the aliens and a nosy journalist who won’t leave him alone; while he comes up with a way to sell this species to humanity.

Funny, funny stuff on many levels and in different ways. But the book has a lot of heart, too. Just a pleasure to read.

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