Since Angela recently conceded her struggle to get through The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein I thought I should review a recent science fiction read of mine that I really think she will like. The book, chosen to be one of the Sci Fi Essential volumes, is Old Man’s War by John Scalzi. I remember seeing the book in the store when it was released in trade paperback and absolutely loving the cover art. It is the work of John Harris and is reminiscent of the covers of science fiction books that caught my eye as a young man and first interested me in this genre. I decided to pick it up and read it after this review by Nic on the Eve’s Alexandra site. Her description of the story made me rush right out to get it.
What may initially turn you off to this volume Angela, is its comparison to the Master himself, Robert A. Heinlein. Don’t let that throw you. I agree that there are parts of this story that remind me alot of Heinlein’s work, especially Starship Troopers. This is the story you were asking for. Humor, action, a fairly quick pace…this is a fun book and one that I would love to see adapted to a film at some point.
This description from Booklist does a really good job of introducing the story: “With his wife dead and buried, and life nearly over at 75, John Perry takes the only logical course of action left him: he joins the army. Now better known as the Colonial Defense Force (CDF), Perry’s service-of-choice has extended its reach into interstellar space to pave the way for human colonization of other planets while fending off marauding aliens. The CDF has a trick up its sleeve that makes enlistment especially enticing for seniors: the promise of restoring youth.” John Perry is a very likeable character, it was a pleasure to follow him around through this new adventure in his life. During the early part of the novel relationships are formed and the idea of aging is explored. It is a very interesting part of the novel and yet it is not long before that part of the tale gives way to the promised battles out in space.
John Perry turns out to be a tough minded soldier and yet I never found him to be an overbearing, macho-type individual. I felt Scalzi does a great job keeping Perry’s voice in line with that of a 75 year old man who was close to the end of his life even after he is transformed by the CDF’s version of the fountain of youth. I found the whole story a fast paced read and one that I didn’t want to put down until it was over. The last third of the novel reveals things only hinted at in the beginning and though the story itself has a definite end it is obvious that this is to be the first of subsequent stories. In fact Scalzi’s second novel, The Ghost Brigades, looks to be a great sequel that picks up right where the first story left off.
For me this novel was the very best of what I have read of both Robert A. Heinlein and Harry Harrison. Romance, adventure, and humor are mixed with standard science fiction elements to produce a very entertaining novel. This is John Scalzi’s debut novel and at this year’s Hugo Awards he won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer for Old Man’s War. I personally think it was a well-deserved honor. Publisher’s Weekly, in their starred review of Old Man’s War, said it better than I ever could: “The story obviously resembles such novels as Starship Trooper and Time Enough for Love, but Scalzi is not just recycling classic Heinlein. He’s working out new twists, variations that startle even as they satisfy. The novel’s tone is right on target, too: sentimentality balanced by hardheaded calculation, know-it-all smugness moderated by innocent wonder. This virtuoso debut pays tribute to SF’s past while showing that well-worn tropes still can have real zip when they’re approached with ingenuity. I look forward to reading more of John Scalzi’s work in the near future.
hah! thanks, that does sound good! i’ll add it to my library list.
since my buying of books is done till the end of the year.. or until my roomate actually starts paying me her rent.
I’m going to have to give up reading blogs and desiring new books. Or I will have to admit that I won’t live long enough to read everything I want–unless I get a chance to have my youth restored as did this protagonist.
Ugh…sorry about the roomie troubles Angela. So glad I never had to deal with that!
Living forever until at least the end of time is my plan…can’t leave books unread and movies/tv shows unwatched.
Sigh. Carl, I must admit, it’s the end of October (nearly) and I’ve completely failed at my RIP challenge. I hang my head in misery and shame.
I have an excuse (don’t we all!) but I’m not going to offer it. I’ll take the responsibility for dropping the ball.
I am, however, I think, going to play hookey on Monday and go see The Prestige.
Thanks for coming by my TT today!
Hmmm…I’m curious to know how the book distinguishes between the “humans colonizing other planets” from the “marauding aliens.” (Seems to me that might depend on one’s perspective.)
oooo…Suzanne’s guessing plot points!
I am inherently afraid of sci fi, and I always feel like the authors are just plain excluding readers such as myself.
You shouldn’t be afraid of it Miss Jay. So much of it, like fantasy, is really the same plots and story structures that are in literature only told in another universe or world setting. There is alot of ‘easy’ science fiction out there. I rarely read what would be termed ‘hard sci fi’ which is much more technical and ‘scientific’. Much of science fiction and fantasy is actually very easily accessible to readers.
Sounds great. Another one to make note of
yep, i’ll take “Brainless SciFi” for 100, Alex.
Sounds like a book I would enjoy, too. In fact I have slotted in July of 2008 as the Target month for me to get to it on my enormous reading pile. 🙂
That soon Jeff? 😉
Carl, do you think I’ll like the Prestige? James and I are going to see it tomorrow. I have no idea what lse is playing.
Sorry, ELSE. I can’t type what I can’t see. It’s a disability.
Where the heck are the Friday Favorites???
I think so Jules. It is a dark but interesting story.
Hopefully they will be around this afternoon Suzanne. Work has been dominating my life lately.
I really enjoyed Old Man’s War. It was a nice sensible action adventure. By sensible, I mean the characters all rang true and the storyline at least felt plausible. You know, for a galactic off world war with clones.
I think I’m on my last of the 5 RIP Autumn Challenge books. I might have actually read two or three that I meant to.
Another one to add to my never-ending list? Just an update – I’m on #4 of RIP, but I still don’t recall what #5 is.
I really need to read some science fiction–I am pathetically bad about not ever reading it! Maybe there needs to be a “read five books you wouldn’t normally read” challenge! I think that will have to be one of my goals next year! I have a few of my own books and a bunch on a list–it is just a matter of reading one of them!
Thanks for recommending this one Carl. I thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact I read it cover to cover in 3 days which is unique for me, as you know. I can’t wait to dive into The Ghost Brigades later this month.
Glad you enjoyed it Jeff! As soon as you want Ghost Brigades, let me know. I will also loan you my copy of the Sagan Diaries once it comes out and is shipped to me…and after I read it, of course. I am about 25 pages into Scalzi’s newest book, The Android’s Dream, which reminds me of Gaiman and Prachett’s book Good Omens in its humor.
I am determined to finish Good Omens this year. It’s the only Gaiman book I haven’t read yet and I need to remedy that as soon as possible. 🙂
Loser…. 😉
Just had to drop a quick comment (it’s 1am here and I should rightly be sleeping!) just finished OMW and found it to be brilliantly entertaining, a full review on by blog will be forthcoming, but first sleep and then work must intervene!
Bart: That is great! I really look forward to your review. I think you’ll find The Ghost Brigades gets even better and then The Last Colony wraps it all up nicely…and then you can get another perspective on TLC with Zoe’s Tale. In between Ghost Brigades and Last Colony I recommend finding The Sagan Diary online. It is a short novella that is different but really worth reading before you start Last Colony.