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.