Reviews

I have nothing but good things to say about this book. It was a lucky find, the first time around - I was drawn to the bright blue spine, read the back, shrugged, thought I'd spend $4; and the rest is history. Every character, every plot point, even every description of a painful wound is skillfully rendered with a dry sense of humor and a fast-paced sensibility (I don't think that's a phrase, but bear with me). It's not that Scalzi thinks he's as good a writer as he is, or that he's trying to talk up to a literary breed of reader. He's smart, and he's funny, and he uses that to tell an engaging story with a fascinating and quirky cast of characters in a way that anyone who likes humor and science fiction will enjoy. The twists just keep coming along the way, and each one makes more sense than the last, even the climactic ending. From Harry Creek to Ben Javna to Robin Baker to big Takk, the cast is well-drawn without being nitpicky, and their adventures kept me turning the pages frantically on this, my second read, just as much as on my first.

bookaneer808's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The plot is, frankly, bonkers.

In the future, Earth is part of a space federation with many other sentient species. Unsurprisingly, there are humans who don't like aliens and want to stop any involvement between Us and Them. Underhanded shenanigans go on, including one of the MOST unhinged methods of insulting someone I've ever come across.
Then things get complicated...
Reminiscent of Douglas Adams but much snarkier.
Brilliantly read by Wil Wheaton.

niisound's review against another edition

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adventurous funny 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? No

4.5

Absurd, clever, and funny from start to finish. Beginning the story with bathroom humour did not prepare me for the thrilling adventures and actually captivating politics that I was going to thoroughly enjoy. Despite the increasingly ludicrous happenings, Scalzi somehow manages to convey it all in a way that feels possible and logical, as far as logic can keep up. My first read from him and definitely not my last.

landmark8385's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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