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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Yet another exciting entry in the Old Man's War series! Scalzi continues to expand our understanding of the universe. This rag-tag group of diplomats and government workers keep getting thrown into complex situations and, at least some of the time, wrest victory from the jaws of defeat. There were a number of sections that had me on the edge of my seat. I loved it and it made me want to read the whole series again. As people point out, all of the characters have very similar personalities...but I like that personality so it was fine by me! And while others were turned off by the way that each chapter is a standalone story on its own that connects with the rest, for me that was a strength.
"The Human Division" is the single volume format of what was originally 13 individual shorts released in 2013. Each chapter represents one of the individual short stories. This book as a whole threads those stories together, but not particularly well.
I enjoyed the individual stories, and no current writer pulls together dialogue (and snarkiness) as well as Scalzi. But as a single volume, the book fell short. The characters were consistent, the themes were persistent, but the thread that bound the individual stories together was tenuous and ended flatly.
I encourage this read because Scalzi's a terrific writer, and I thoroughly enjoy myself each time I pick up one of his books. If you've never read Scalzi before, I recommend reading his original novel in this universe: "Old Man's War".
I enjoyed the individual stories, and no current writer pulls together dialogue (and snarkiness) as well as Scalzi. But as a single volume, the book fell short. The characters were consistent, the themes were persistent, but the thread that bound the individual stories together was tenuous and ended flatly.
I encourage this read because Scalzi's a terrific writer, and I thoroughly enjoy myself each time I pick up one of his books. If you've never read Scalzi before, I recommend reading his original novel in this universe: "Old Man's War".
The thing that most impresses me about Scalzi is that his sci-fi novels totally live up to the feminist ideas he supports and espouses in his blog writing. Over half of the characters and authority figures in [b:The Human Division|15698479|The Human Division (Old Man's War, #5)|John Scalzi|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1341582413s/15698479.jpg|21356077] are female, and they are all fully-formed characters who have things to do and points of view.
The Human Division is a series of 13 linked stories about space diplomacy during a developing schism between the people of Earth and the Colonial Union (the union of human settlers on other worlds that has been exploiting the Earth for the soldiers it needs). Written in different styles, these chapters all were entertaining to listen to on a car trip. They ranged from straight-up tense action stories to character studies of a family's dynamic when the son chooses to stay in a low-level diplomatic career in space rather than enter political life on his home planet.
The Human Division is a series of 13 linked stories about space diplomacy during a developing schism between the people of Earth and the Colonial Union (the union of human settlers on other worlds that has been exploiting the Earth for the soldiers it needs). Written in different styles, these chapters all were entertaining to listen to on a car trip. They ranged from straight-up tense action stories to character studies of a family's dynamic when the son chooses to stay in a low-level diplomatic career in space rather than enter political life on his home planet.
People gave this book a bad rap because it is a collection of short stories that he put on the internet first. If you haven't read those yet, then you are golden! Fun Scalzi stories that always seem to resolve themselves in a clever fashion. Can't complain. There is a story line between them all (or most of them), so that is nice, too.
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Enjoyable, but leaves more strands hanging that resolved. The transitions between each chapter are a little rough, probably due to the episodic nature of the book.
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
So I was new to this Old Man's War and because I enjoyed Redshirts I gave this episode idea a chance. And at first I really loved it. I was able to jump into this world and follow where the story was progressing with a lot of eagerness for each new episode.
Now I would almost would have given this five stars after the first seven episodes, but after that I became disenchanted by the idea that this was going to be compiled later with a couple of extras. That fact turned me off from finishing the episodes and I just waited until I could find this at the library to finish it up. It's disappointing when a publisher try's to pull every gimmick they can to make an extra buck. It's just an insult to us readers.
Overall though I loved the story and ill be reading the rest of the series now, but I am even more cautious more than ever whenever I see ideas such as this and ill just hold off from the initial hype and wait it out.
Now I would almost would have given this five stars after the first seven episodes, but after that I became disenchanted by the idea that this was going to be compiled later with a couple of extras. That fact turned me off from finishing the episodes and I just waited until I could find this at the library to finish it up. It's disappointing when a publisher try's to pull every gimmick they can to make an extra buck. It's just an insult to us readers.
Overall though I loved the story and ill be reading the rest of the series now, but I am even more cautious more than ever whenever I see ideas such as this and ill just hold off from the initial hype and wait it out.
⭐️⭐️✨
Plot: In book 4 of the Old Man's War series, the Human Division follows Lieutenant Harry Wilson as he tries to address the backlash against the Colonial Union that occurred as the result of the CU hiding the truth of the universe from humanity for centuries. This task will push Harry's skills to the limits as he learns that the price for failure is to large to comprehend.
Genre: Science fiction, military, space opera, action & adventure.
----------
Thoughts While Reading:
Thoughts at 75%:
1. This book jumps around A LOT. While I am aware that the main protagonist is Harry Wilson, it feels as though there isn't really a main protagonist just because of how often the point of view switches. Also, I get that all the little individual stories (or POVs) are meant to be introducing extra information related to the main storyline, but I just feel like they are all filler. Especially the part about the dog Tuffy.
2. EVERY. SINGLE. CHARACTER is written exactly like John Perry. That same smart assed, sarcastic, intelligent, charming, quick-witted and irreverent character that every damn person is in a John Scalzi book. I'm realising now that's why Zoë same across as so unrealistic and fake; she was written as a teenaged version of John Perry, and it just didn't work. On top of all this, even goddamn aliens, COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SPECIES TO HUMANS act in the same way! Like what the?! Not every single character in this book (alien or human) is going to have that same irreverence, sarcasm and smart assed-ness. It's so weird. I like sci-fi books where aliens act and talk differently because they are well, ALIEN. In the Old Man's War books, aliens act exactly like humans; just humans in different looking bodies (like insectisoid or having "eye stalks" etc.). I really quite liked Old Man's War, the rest of the books seem to be written to cash in on the success of that book, and have nowhere the same amount of thought, care, or heart put into the story or the writing.
3. With the other books in this series, there was a certain amount of readability that made them easy to get through despite any issues that I might have. The Human Division doesn't have that special something for me. I have this (super annoying) thing where I have to finish a series when I start it, because I feel like that is necessary to be able to judge the series fairly and as a whole. So I will be continuing on and reading the rest of The Human Division, as well as The End of All Things. I'm just not really looking forward to it at this point. I've read so much great sci-fi in my life (even this year), and while Old Man's War held a lot of promise, the rest of the series has not even slightly held up. In fact, I'd say that each book has dropped in quality. This book is currently sitting on around 2 stars for me, and I'm just trying to get to the end as quickly as possible.
Thoughts at 100%:
1. Ok so. One of the things that annoyed me about this book was the jumping around between "episodes", and I just read at the end of the book that this was because they were originally released individually as John Scalzi wrote them. Still, not a fan.
2. All of the gripes that I mentioned above held true until the end of the book. What else can I say?
Plot: In book 4 of the Old Man's War series, the Human Division follows Lieutenant Harry Wilson as he tries to address the backlash against the Colonial Union that occurred as the result of the CU hiding the truth of the universe from humanity for centuries. This task will push Harry's skills to the limits as he learns that the price for failure is to large to comprehend.
Genre: Science fiction, military, space opera, action & adventure.
----------
Thoughts While Reading:
Thoughts at 75%:
1. This book jumps around A LOT. While I am aware that the main protagonist is Harry Wilson, it feels as though there isn't really a main protagonist just because of how often the point of view switches. Also, I get that all the little individual stories (or POVs) are meant to be introducing extra information related to the main storyline, but I just feel like they are all filler. Especially the part about the dog Tuffy.
2. EVERY. SINGLE. CHARACTER is written exactly like John Perry. That same smart assed, sarcastic, intelligent, charming, quick-witted and irreverent character that every damn person is in a John Scalzi book. I'm realising now that's why Zoë same across as so unrealistic and fake; she was written as a teenaged version of John Perry, and it just didn't work. On top of all this, even goddamn aliens, COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SPECIES TO HUMANS act in the same way! Like what the?! Not every single character in this book (alien or human) is going to have that same irreverence, sarcasm and smart assed-ness. It's so weird. I like sci-fi books where aliens act and talk differently because they are well, ALIEN. In the Old Man's War books, aliens act exactly like humans; just humans in different looking bodies (like insectisoid or having "eye stalks" etc.). I really quite liked Old Man's War, the rest of the books seem to be written to cash in on the success of that book, and have nowhere the same amount of thought, care, or heart put into the story or the writing.
3. With the other books in this series, there was a certain amount of readability that made them easy to get through despite any issues that I might have. The Human Division doesn't have that special something for me. I have this (super annoying) thing where I have to finish a series when I start it, because I feel like that is necessary to be able to judge the series fairly and as a whole. So I will be continuing on and reading the rest of The Human Division, as well as The End of All Things. I'm just not really looking forward to it at this point. I've read so much great sci-fi in my life (even this year), and while Old Man's War held a lot of promise, the rest of the series has not even slightly held up. In fact, I'd say that each book has dropped in quality. This book is currently sitting on around 2 stars for me, and I'm just trying to get to the end as quickly as possible.
Thoughts at 100%:
1. Ok so. One of the things that annoyed me about this book was the jumping around between "episodes", and I just read at the end of the book that this was because they were originally released individually as John Scalzi wrote them. Still, not a fan.
2. All of the gripes that I mentioned above held true until the end of the book. What else can I say?