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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
This was a really fun book that I enjoyed immensely, that I really couldn't stop reading and, quite frankly, I was pretty upset when I got to the end.
It's a pretty fast-paced story about a surveyor, sub-contracted to a large corporation, hunting for minerals one of many non-colonised planets. Said surveyor is a smart, sarcastic and stunningly arrogant guy and the story kicks off with him and his dog, Carl, partaking in their surveying duties. What happens next starts the ball rolling on a non-stop series of action, adventure and legal battles that doesn't give up until the Epilogue.
The method by which the story is told put me in mind of [b:The Martian|18007564|The Martian|Andy Weir|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1413706054s/18007564.jpg|21825181], although I'm not sure how much of this was due to the smart-ass, wisecracking protaganist, or the Will Wheaton narration that I listened to.
Anyway, it was a fantastic book and I guess I now have to go and read [b:Little Fuzzy|1440148|Little Fuzzy (Fuzzy Sapiens, #1)|H. Beam Piper|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348972417s/1440148.jpg|1876891] to see what the original was like.
It's a pretty fast-paced story about a surveyor, sub-contracted to a large corporation, hunting for minerals one of many non-colonised planets. Said surveyor is a smart, sarcastic and stunningly arrogant guy and the story kicks off with him and his dog, Carl, partaking in their surveying duties. What happens next starts the ball rolling on a non-stop series of action, adventure and legal battles that doesn't give up until the Epilogue.
The method by which the story is told put me in mind of [b:The Martian|18007564|The Martian|Andy Weir|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1413706054s/18007564.jpg|21825181], although I'm not sure how much of this was due to the smart-ass, wisecracking protaganist, or the Will Wheaton narration that I listened to.
Anyway, it was a fantastic book and I guess I now have to go and read [b:Little Fuzzy|1440148|Little Fuzzy (Fuzzy Sapiens, #1)|H. Beam Piper|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348972417s/1440148.jpg|1876891] to see what the original was like.
I haven't read everything by Scalzi, but I've read enough to know he's got a distinctive style that's snappy, fast paced, clever, and funny, while being just serious enough to address meaningful issues. So I picked this up in a used book store, and I'm glad I did. Yes, this is a "reboot" of Piper's story, which I read originally in The Fuzzy Papers (a book club edition including both Little Fuzzy and Fuzzy Sapiens) when I was about 13. I re-read it at least once in the intervening 40-ish years - not recently, but I remember it fondly and pretty clearly.
This book reworks the characters and plot, but keeps the basic theme securely intact, and Scalzi does a fantastic job with it. After a bit of a slow start, the action picks up and the story proceeds at an engaging clip, tossing out throwaway details that Scalzi brings back to mind exactly when needed to spring his carefully planned surprises on the reader. I laughed out loud multiple times, as well as having a tear in my eye at the height of the drama.
It's not perfect - there's some cartoonishness in some of the characters - but appropriately so for the story, in my opinion. And in the beginning there are ever-so-slight hints of a bit of slapdash writing - as if Scalzi himself was impatient to get to the main events of the book. But when those events arrive, all is redeemed, and it's enough for me to round up to a full five stars.
This is a classic SF story with a heart of gold, with a bit of silliness just for fun, plenty of clever twists, and it's a thoroughly enjoyable read from beginning to end. Highly recommended.
This book reworks the characters and plot, but keeps the basic theme securely intact, and Scalzi does a fantastic job with it. After a bit of a slow start, the action picks up and the story proceeds at an engaging clip, tossing out throwaway details that Scalzi brings back to mind exactly when needed to spring his carefully planned surprises on the reader. I laughed out loud multiple times, as well as having a tear in my eye at the height of the drama.
It's not perfect - there's some cartoonishness in some of the characters - but appropriately so for the story, in my opinion. And in the beginning there are ever-so-slight hints of a bit of slapdash writing - as if Scalzi himself was impatient to get to the main events of the book. But when those events arrive, all is redeemed, and it's enough for me to round up to a full five stars.
This is a classic SF story with a heart of gold, with a bit of silliness just for fun, plenty of clever twists, and it's a thoroughly enjoyable read from beginning to end. Highly recommended.
Fuzzy nation is full of memorable characters, funny moments, some well written action, and a great climax. Sure, the premise is more than a bit cliche (an evil corporation takes advantage of an innocent native population), but Scalzi is smart enough to either lampshade or avoid other played out tropes. Plus, the book is easy reading and just plain fun, so it's easy to forgive the author for retreading over territory that feels played out. A great, quick read.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Imagine Han Solo as a lawyer-turned-prospector-turned-lawyer and you've got Jack Holloway. An entertaining read with more courtroom drama than I expected from a science fiction novel.
My review: https://andrewliptak.wordpress.com/2011/04/28/john-scalzis-fuzzy-nation/
Sci fi with a (former) lawyer as the main character develops into a smart legal thriller. Interesting characters and fun developments. Captivating and fun
Scalzi is reliable as ever. Less light fun and a little more heartbreaking than his recent work, but still a page turner.
Really fun, short science-fiction book. Wil Wheaton read the audiobook. That was enough to get me to listen.