Paperback, 318 pages
English language
Published Oct. 16, 2007 by Tor.
John Scalzi channels Robert Heinlein (including a wry sense of humor) in a novel about a future Earth engaged in an interstellar war against more advanced species. Citizens volunteer for the Colonial Defense Forces after retirement, in exchange for which they have their consciousness transferred into a young body, cloned from their DNA but enhanced. If, against the odds, they survive two years of combat (or 10 years if things aren't going well, which they're not), they get another body and enjoy a fresh start on a colony. This is Scalzi's first novel, and it creates a future he will revisit in subsequent stories.
John Perry did two things on his 75th birthday. First he visited his wife’s grave. Then he joined the army. The good news is that humanity finally made it into interstellar space. The bad news is that planets fit to live on are scarce—and alien races …
John Scalzi channels Robert Heinlein (including a wry sense of humor) in a novel about a future Earth engaged in an interstellar war against more advanced species. Citizens volunteer for the Colonial Defense Forces after retirement, in exchange for which they have their consciousness transferred into a young body, cloned from their DNA but enhanced. If, against the odds, they survive two years of combat (or 10 years if things aren't going well, which they're not), they get another body and enjoy a fresh start on a colony. This is Scalzi's first novel, and it creates a future he will revisit in subsequent stories.
John Perry did two things on his 75th birthday. First he visited his wife’s grave. Then he joined the army. The good news is that humanity finally made it into interstellar space. The bad news is that planets fit to live on are scarce—and alien races willing to fight us for them are common. So: we fight. To defend Earth, and to stake our own claim to planetary real estate. Far from Earth, the war has been going on for decades: brutal, bloody, unyielding. Earth itself is a backwater. The bulk of humanity’s resources are in the hands of the Colonial Defense Force. Everybody knows that when you reach retirement age, you can join the CDF. They don’t want young people; they want people who carry the knowledge and skills of decades of living. You’ll be taken off Earth and never allowed to return. You’ll serve two years at the front. And if you survive, you’ll be given a generous homestead stake of your own, on one of our hard-won colony planets. John Perry is taking that deal. He has only the vaguest idea what to expect. Because the actual fight, light-years from home, is far, far harder than he can imagine—and what he will become is far stranger.
I plan to keep reading the series, as it's very engaging and the pages go by fast. On top of that, the world feels massive with so much left to explore. With that said, the main character falls a bit flat. We don't see much of his life pre-war and as a result the affect it has on him isn't a very strong dichotomy.
Kindle app said I'd not read it, so I started late on an evening when I was too tired for anything too hard. Enjoyable adventure
Military maneuvers, advanced science, aliens of various weird types? Check! But that's not it. It's a fun romp, but don't get it confused with a book just about war and science fiction. It has a heart. It asks what about us is human--our body? Our mind? Experience? It explores the relationships we form with others--from those that we feel related to simply because they are human, all the way up to our closest family members. Don't expect any life-changing philosophy, but I felt that the relationships between characters were interesting and more realistic than in some books. It made for an enjoyable read when paired with Scalzi's humor. I'd gladly recommend it to others.
Loved the premise, love the writing. Second book in a row of Scalzi's I've read... don't know how I missed reading him sooner!
Simple premise, well-executed: humans are colonizing other planets, and need soldiers to defend the colonists from alien races who want the same thing the colonists want. Their recruits: retirees who get new, young bodies in exchange for their service.
Scalzi has fun with the premise, but always in service of the story. Thoroughly enjoyed the book, and look forward to many more in the series!
Comparing this novel to Robert Heinlein (particularly Starship Troopers) is fairly apt. In both cases, we have an interesting central concept, some interesting situations, some interesting tech, fast-paced story telling, and an almost complete lack of "meat". It's the sort of science fiction novel that is fun to read but would rightfully be considered "junk" (as in junk food). Nothing wrong with some candy once in a while, but too much of only this stuff will rot your mind!
Having also read Scalzi's "Lock In", I have read his first published novel and his latest published novel. It is interesting to note that Scalzi really does not grow as a writer from this first novel to his latest outing. In fact, the main difference is that Old Man's War has a considerably more humor than Lock In. This is not necessarily a condemnation, since it demonstrates a sort of "if …
Comparing this novel to Robert Heinlein (particularly Starship Troopers) is fairly apt. In both cases, we have an interesting central concept, some interesting situations, some interesting tech, fast-paced story telling, and an almost complete lack of "meat". It's the sort of science fiction novel that is fun to read but would rightfully be considered "junk" (as in junk food). Nothing wrong with some candy once in a while, but too much of only this stuff will rot your mind!
Having also read Scalzi's "Lock In", I have read his first published novel and his latest published novel. It is interesting to note that Scalzi really does not grow as a writer from this first novel to his latest outing. In fact, the main difference is that Old Man's War has a considerably more humor than Lock In. This is not necessarily a condemnation, since it demonstrates a sort of "if you like one book by Scalzi, you'll like them all!" Of course, that also means this is not a commendation either. It is what it is, Scalzi writes, in part, to entertain... and that is what you get.
Now, having said that, I was impressed by the spiel of one of his characters regarding multiple universes. Particularly the following: "the universe you're in- the universe we're in right at this moment- is only one of an infinite number of possible universe whose existence is allowed for within quantum physics." Emphasis is mine to point to the fact that though Scalzi does not use a lot of highly complicated scientific rigmarole, he does make sure that the reader understands the concept of "boundary conditions!" I find conversing about the multi-verse in real life irritating because many people are not... sophisticated enough, we'll say...to take this into account and assume that infinite universes mean a Harry Potter type universe exists! NO! That's complete and utter garbage! Something HAS to be possible before it is a POSSIBILITY!
Originally, I had awarded this book three stars, but after raising my blood pressure slightly with that rant, I've decided to award this book an extra star for getting something very right! Do not spend it all in one place, Scalzi!
Great book. Great character. This is very much like Starship Troopers. I would even call it more of a homage to that book and to Heinlein. This was fun to read and I really cared about all the characters. I really can't wait to read the next in the series but I have other books in my Kindle Library to read first so I'm moving on to them. But this is a series I can't wait to come back too.
Mindblowing! I fell in love with this book immediately. It is not your typical story - it doesn't flow, it is a collection of flashes that tell the story. I must read more Scalzi. Not too quickly, though, I don't want to run out!
Read this as the first entry of a new SF book club I joined. This is not a book I would typically pick up, but I enjoyed it anyway. The book's Big Idea (What does it mean to be human?) generally takes a back seat to the military action. The characters behave like soldiers typically do in 20th century fiction (the basic-training drill sergeant even says so!). The battle scenes (which do not play out like in WWII novels and movies) move quickly, while the between-battle scenes are quite entertaining.
Fabulous! I can't wait to read more of Scalzi's work. He's one of the best authors I've read lately.
A good, solid military SF tale, OMW doesn't break any new ground but entertains with humour, incident and not too much sentimentality, though it borders on that near the end.
Lengthy setup, then a second half that is nearly all action. I believe I'm going to lift a couple of ideas, though not the style as a whole.
Great book. Not a particularly original storyline, but very well written, fun, and entertaining. I'll definitely be reading more John Scalzi books.
