Book Review: Old Man's War by John Scalzi
Print date: 2005 (20s: 1, 60s: 1, 70s: 1, 80s: 2, 90s: 1, 00s: 3)
Page count: 311 (3536 total)
The cover copy said this book was in the tradition of Heinlein, and they weren't kidding. It's a view-from-the-ground space-war saga in the tradition of.. well about half of RH's books. It's is also a really excellent novel, as you can probably tell since I blew through it in three days.
I picked it up knowing it was going to be a) good and b) funny, since it's a book by an author I know and trust. It was both. Scalzi is one of the few authors that can actually make me laugh out loud, and the book frequently did. I think the bit with the drill sergeant may be my favorite from the book ("I'm sure many of you are thinking, 'Oh! He's acting just like they do in the movies!'"), but there were many laughs. The setup of the universe is one which I thoroughly appreciate as well; different enough from our world to have actual science fiction to explore, but grounded enough that we can still believe in it.
From a certain perspective it's a little light on plot, but Vietnam-style war stories aren't about plot-- the weird crap isn't supposed to hang together because it doesn't for the people experiencing it. All this kind of war story needs is characters you care about, and I'm happy to say that I loved the people who populate this book.
If you haven't read any Scalzi, please do so. I'd be happy to loan this one to you.
Verdict: Keep and lend to as many people as possible. (5/11 keepers)
Next book due: A Fisherman of the Inland Sea by Ursula K. LeGuin, 4/14