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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
With only a few qualms about its predictability, I can soundly recommend this quick read. This the re-imagining of a great Young Adult novel, and I'm happy to say that it's genuinely enjoyable and briskly paced, but with a little too many lucky breaks and just-in-time insights.
*****
Warning - here are a few comments that might be considered mild spoilers.
*****
More description, especially the technologies. I know that this isn't hard-science scifi and the focus was the story and not the off-world toys, but I still wanted more details.
They're mining on another world for fossil-based products? We're not beyond fossil-based fuels, but we're able to travel to another star system?
How much would it cost to ship a _dog_ to another star system? How did he get a dog? That would've made a good sub-plot and made him a more sympathetic character and made his misanthropy more palatable.
Paper records? Binders? Bookshelves? Even I don't use paper very much at all, and I was born mid-20th-century.
So, Scalzi: did you name the bad guy after your pal Wil Wheaton? OK, that was subtle enough to get away with, but the court case that references Mieville? Yeah, don't do that.
So when's the sequel?
*****
Warning - here are a few comments that might be considered mild spoilers.
*****
More description, especially the technologies. I know that this isn't hard-science scifi and the focus was the story and not the off-world toys, but I still wanted more details.
They're mining on another world for fossil-based products? We're not beyond fossil-based fuels, but we're able to travel to another star system?
How much would it cost to ship a _dog_ to another star system? How did he get a dog? That would've made a good sub-plot and made him a more sympathetic character and made his misanthropy more palatable.
Paper records? Binders? Bookshelves? Even I don't use paper very much at all, and I was born mid-20th-century.
So, Scalzi: did you name the bad guy after your pal Wil Wheaton? OK, that was subtle enough to get away with, but the court case that references Mieville? Yeah, don't do that.
So when's the sequel?
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Light and entertaining, but there's nothing wrong with that, especially as it concludes in a very satisfying manner. Anyone who can make legal proceedings compelling gets some points too.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
deeply funny book about the trials and tribulations (literal) of Some Dude and a bunch of cats who are actually, People Too
Rounding up from 4.5 stars because it made me laugh out loud on a few occasions and made me sad too. This is a my second Scalzi book and I'm really enjoying his writing style. This story flows well and, despite being grounded in science fiction, there is no overly complicated world building to sift through, no overly complicated sentence structures or purple prose to trip over. It's a completely accessible world, with recognizable themes, for even those new to the genre.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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
Read this in 2 days. Wonderful lighthearted sci-fi about corporate shenanigans 1000 years from now.
Main character is a self-admitted asshole who helps strip mine a planet under interstellar environmental laws. He comes across a once in a lifetime opportunity and then discovers a new species.
What follows is a series of increasingly complex situations in which this dude must balance his own self-interest with whether or not he wants to help others and how hard he can screw over a mega corporation.
It's fun, kind of sweet and goofy as shit. Highly enjoyed
Main character is a self-admitted asshole who helps strip mine a planet under interstellar environmental laws. He comes across a once in a lifetime opportunity and then discovers a new species.
What follows is a series of increasingly complex situations in which this dude must balance his own self-interest with whether or not he wants to help others and how hard he can screw over a mega corporation.
It's fun, kind of sweet and goofy as shit. Highly enjoyed
It seems a majority of the negativity (if you can even call it that) stems from fans of H. Beam Piper's Little Fuzzy who feel as though Scalzi didn't quite capture the depth of the characters.
Having not yet read Piper's work (don't worry, it's up after I read Pegg's autobiography), I felt he did an outstanding job. Yes, I would have liked, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story, regardless.
Having not yet read Piper's work (don't worry, it's up after I read Pegg's autobiography), I felt he did an outstanding job. Yes, I would have liked
