siborg237's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
ferrisscottr's review
5.0
This is the first novella in the serialized sixth book in Scalzi's Old Man War series and holy crap is it good!
I've been kind of down on sci-fi this year as I've been scoring a bunch of misses in my selections but Scalzi knocks it out of the park again. This novella tells the story of the brain in the box (if this sounds unfamiliar then you need to read the earlier books in the series) from joining the CU to getting captured and separated from his body all the way to his first mission for the aliens.
This had it all...the usual great Scalzi storytelling, amazing characters, wonderful plot...pretty much everything you could want in a book.
All hail Scalzi - he's back!
I've been kind of down on sci-fi this year as I've been scoring a bunch of misses in my selections but Scalzi knocks it out of the park again. This novella tells the story of the brain in the box (if this sounds unfamiliar then you need to read the earlier books in the series) from joining the CU to getting captured and separated from his body all the way to his first mission for the aliens.
This had it all...the usual great Scalzi storytelling, amazing characters, wonderful plot...pretty much everything you could want in a book.
All hail Scalzi - he's back!
laurao's review
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
acreech's review
4.0
I really liked the storytelling style. I haven't read a bad Scalzi book yet, and this one met my expectations nicely. I need to re-read the series, because there were details and Easter eggs on the edge of my memory, but the universe isn't fresh enough for me to catch them all.
colossal's review
5.0
This is the story that the whole of [b:The Human Division|15698479|The Human Division (Old Man's War, #5)|John Scalzi|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1341582413s/15698479.jpg|21356077] is the prologue to.
Simple, but excellent story of brains triumphing over force. Quite literally in this case as the unfortunate protagonist is the same sort of brain-in-a-box as the unfortunate in the previous book.
Moving on to the rest ...
Simple, but excellent story of brains triumphing over force. Quite literally in this case as the unfortunate protagonist is the same sort of brain-in-a-box as the unfortunate in the previous book.
Moving on to the rest ...
kevinwkelsey's review
5.0
This novella is Scalzi firing on all cylinders. Transhumanism, some cyberpunk elements, and a grounded human story all wrapped into one.
conalo's review
5.0
I have to say that I really enjoyed this episode. It is a direct continuation of the Human Division so you will want to have read that one prior to reading this one. This one fit all the hallmarks I have come to expect from Mr. Scalzi, great characters, intrigue and lots of action. I can't wait to continue with the new episode next week!!!!
5 stars for a really fun read!!! if you are reading the Old Man's War series, this is one you have to read!!!!
5 stars for a really fun read!!! if you are reading the Old Man's War series, this is one you have to read!!!!
catevari's review
4.0
I really love the Old Man's War series and the previous story, The Human Division, is what got me into serial fiction. So I'm predisposed to like this new serial novel from Scalzi.
I do wish that I'd gone back and reread The Human Division before starting this, because the narrative does rely strongly on events from it (and I might go back and reread it before the second installment comes out) but I was definitely able to remember and follow along enough that I didn't feel lost, just missing some of the finer details.
Like The Human Division, this is a somewhat self-contained story that has threads that lead to a larger, overarching arc. I'm not sure how much I can say about it, seeing as how it's the first part of a 4 part story, other than it was enjoyable, and it was like meeting up with an old friend to ease back into Scalzi's world.
I do wish that I'd gone back and reread The Human Division before starting this, because the narrative does rely strongly on events from it (and I might go back and reread it before the second installment comes out) but I was definitely able to remember and follow along enough that I didn't feel lost, just missing some of the finer details.
Like The Human Division, this is a somewhat self-contained story that has threads that lead to a larger, overarching arc. I'm not sure how much I can say about it, seeing as how it's the first part of a 4 part story, other than it was enjoyable, and it was like meeting up with an old friend to ease back into Scalzi's world.
More...