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A review by jenbsbooks
Old Man's War by John Scalzi
4.25
I liked this a lot - very imaginative set-up, futuristic sci-fi world, going out into space. I think I was more impressed with the premise and creativity than the characters though. I never really felt that connected. I'm not on the edge of my seat to continue on with the series, but I think I'll give the next book a go and see if it clicks more ... or less.
There was ONE connection ... when the MC is recounting how his wife passed away (he had a stroke in their kitchen. It was a Sunday, she went down, hitting her head on the countertop as she fell. He was there trying to control the bleeding and shaking as the paramedics came and took her ...) That's SO similar to a scene from my own life (not a stroke but a seizure, and ... as I'm writing this review, I didn't die). But it was a Sunday and I was in the kitchen, my son in the other room heard the crash and thump. I'd cracked my head on the countertop on the way down. There was blood and shaking and the paramedics came ... just interesting to read such a similar scene!
I think we all wonder what the future might hold, and I admire author's and their imagination! Here, to think of the elderly population being the ones enticed into the armed forces, and with promises (although not a full understanding) of a body refresh, many join up. The actual details were very interesting. All the different worlds and aliens encountered. This could be a book club discussion, with conversations about what is right/wrong, is it Humans above all others, regardless of the cost to other species? Is signing an "Intent" to join a commitment, even if one doesn't live long enough to fulfill it? What would YOU do if you were 75 in this society? There weren't any discussion questions (this was published in 2005, not sure if including them in the text is a more recent thing?) The title ties in - I like it.
I LOVED Scalzi's LockIn and Dispatcher series ... thought Starter Villain and Kaiju were just okay. This falls between them. I think I got pulled into the Hell Divers series a bit more. I read a few of the Expeditionary Force series and liked it a lot. Heard rave reviews about Bobiverse, and liked it, but didn't feel compelled to continue after the first book. I've read a lot of other "similar" sci-fi, but these are the ones that stand out in my memory, and I believe this one will too.
There was quite a bit of proFanity (x84) and sex, nothing as explicit/spicy as some of the romances, but when our characters get their beautiful new/young bodies ... they want to put them to use!
There was ONE connection ... when the MC is recounting how his wife passed away (he had a stroke in their kitchen. It was a Sunday, she went down, hitting her head on the countertop as she fell. He was there trying to control the bleeding and shaking as the paramedics came and took her ...) That's SO similar to a scene from my own life (not a stroke but a seizure, and ... as I'm writing this review, I didn't die). But it was a Sunday and I was in the kitchen, my son in the other room heard the crash and thump. I'd cracked my head on the countertop on the way down. There was blood and shaking and the paramedics came ... just interesting to read such a similar scene!
I think we all wonder what the future might hold, and I admire author's and their imagination! Here, to think of the elderly population being the ones enticed into the armed forces, and with promises (although not a full understanding) of a body refresh, many join up. The actual details were very interesting. All the different worlds and aliens encountered. This could be a book club discussion, with conversations about what is right/wrong, is it Humans above all others, regardless of the cost to other species? Is signing an "Intent" to join a commitment, even if one doesn't live long enough to fulfill it? What would YOU do if you were 75 in this society? There weren't any discussion questions (this was published in 2005, not sure if including them in the text is a more recent thing?) The title ties in - I like it.
I LOVED Scalzi's LockIn and Dispatcher series ... thought Starter Villain and Kaiju were just okay. This falls between them. I think I got pulled into the Hell Divers series a bit more. I read a few of the Expeditionary Force series and liked it a lot. Heard rave reviews about Bobiverse, and liked it, but didn't feel compelled to continue after the first book. I've read a lot of other "similar" sci-fi, but these are the ones that stand out in my memory, and I believe this one will too.
There was quite a bit of proFanity (x84) and sex, nothing as explicit/spicy as some of the romances, but when our characters get their beautiful new/young bodies ... they want to put them to use!