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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
I am really enjoying more stories about Harry Wilson and Hart Schmidt but feel like these individual chapters could have been edited better for flow to make them a great novel instead of ADHD bursts. Wish they were some Lt. Cloud stories of him piloting around troops and diplomats. Miss his card playing scenes. Also would have been nice to get a check up from the Perry Family.
Leave it to me to inadvertently start reading a book that turns out to be #5 in a series. By the time I figured it out, I was well into it, and didn’t really feel as though the back story was crucial, so I kept going.
The other thing I didn’t realize (yeah, yeah, arrest me for inattentive librarianship) was that it was first published as series of short e-books. That explains the highly episodic nature of the book, and the fact that the chapters were often only loosely related.
All that said, I liked it a great deal. I wanted to read more Scalzi after finishing Redshirts and Lock In, and this didn’t disappoint. I love the moments of humor woven throughout, even when the plot elements are grim.
Fool that I am, I’m diving directly into book 6, in part because it’s available right now, but also because it picks up right where 5 left off.
Someday I will go back and read Old Man’s War, honest, cross-my-heart, Librarian’s Honor.
Meh
They were extras.
One I had already read. The other was just meh.
Not good, not bad. There's a reason they are called extras (they weren't good enough to make the book)
They were extras.
One I had already read. The other was just meh.
Not good, not bad. There's a reason they are called extras (they weren't good enough to make the book)
This is a book made up of 13 episodes that Scalzi released (I believe one a week for thirteen weeks). I did rate each episode as I read them and really do recommend that you read them that way. They were written, designed and released to be read episodically and I'm not really sure they work as a novel.
The episodes had me turning the pages and really looking forward to the next episode. I should state that I am in general a fan of episodic fiction so this really was right up my alley.
The stories all revolve around the division between Earth and the Colonial Union after the conclusion of The Last Colony when Perry tells the Earth what the CU has been up to for a few hundred years. Quite a few characters in this book, Harry Wilson, Schmidt, Abumwe etc.
Scalzi's a rockstar for a reason, he's just really really good at telling a story, of having you want to keep turning those pages to find out what happens next and The Human Division does not disappoint.
Recommended
The episodes had me turning the pages and really looking forward to the next episode. I should state that I am in general a fan of episodic fiction so this really was right up my alley.
The stories all revolve around the division between Earth and the Colonial Union after the conclusion of The Last Colony when Perry tells the Earth what the CU has been up to for a few hundred years. Quite a few characters in this book, Harry Wilson, Schmidt, Abumwe etc.
Scalzi's a rockstar for a reason, he's just really really good at telling a story, of having you want to keep turning those pages to find out what happens next and The Human Division does not disappoint.
Recommended
I didn't care much for this book. I wasn't invested in the story or characters. Kind of feels like Scalzi has milked the OMW universe dry at this point.
not every one of these short stories is a winner, bit overall I enjoyed the book quiet a lot.
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
As long as you keep in mind this is not a novel, but a series of related short stories sharing many of the same characters, I believe you will find this a good addition to Scalzi's "Old Man's War" universe.
It reminded me a little of Spider Robinson's "Calahan's Crosstime Saloon" stories as well as some of those in Larry Nivens "Known Space" universe.
My rating would have been 3.5 but as Goodreads only support integer ratings, I went with 3.
It reminded me a little of Spider Robinson's "Calahan's Crosstime Saloon" stories as well as some of those in Larry Nivens "Known Space" universe.
My rating would have been 3.5 but as Goodreads only support integer ratings, I went with 3.