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kalona's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
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? Yes
5.0
timinbc's review
5.0
Five stars because it does what it says on the tin. This isn't trying for a Nobel in Literature, just to entertain us, and it does that five stars' worth.
I've read "Little Fuzzy" - OK, some while ago - and as others have noted, both stories are jes' fine.
This one has a good, tight plot. There isn't much doubt about where we're headed, but there are some interesting details in how we get there. In particular, there are plenty of little plot details that turn out 300 pages later to be important - so pay attention early on.
Jack starts out as a classic rebel,then appears to be someone who just has to be contrary 100% of the time, and ends up as an interestingly complex selfish altruist.
There's a great courtroom scene, followed soon after by an even better one. You won't want to stop reading at that point.
I liked the way Aubrey was a spoiled-brat toffee-nosed rich twit - but not entirely. Saved him from being a cardboard cutout. And there's a nice little Gort-Klaatu twist at the end.
Good fun read.
I've read "Little Fuzzy" - OK, some while ago - and as others have noted, both stories are jes' fine.
This one has a good, tight plot. There isn't much doubt about where we're headed, but there are some interesting details in how we get there. In particular, there are plenty of little plot details that turn out 300 pages later to be important - so pay attention early on.
Jack starts out as a classic rebel,then appears to be someone who just has to be contrary 100% of the time, and ends up as an interestingly complex selfish altruist.
There's a great courtroom scene, followed soon after by an even better one. You won't want to stop reading at that point.
I liked the way Aubrey was a spoiled-brat toffee-nosed rich twit - but not entirely. Saved him from being a cardboard cutout. And there's a nice little Gort-Klaatu twist at the end.
Good fun read.
maestroalberti's review
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
hyzerchan's review
5.0
I very much enjoy John Scalzi books. This is the third I've read and the 4th 5 star.
book_hoarder_bose's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
crowsandprose's review
1.0
I really wanted to like this book. H. Beam Piper's "Little Fuzzy" was near and dear to my heart as a teenager, and some of the first hard science fiction I started reading.
This isn't anywhere near that quality. This has hollow characters -- and every male character in the book with the single exception of Sullivan (who only has moments where he's not pretending to be a raging prick along withe Aubrey, Landon, DeLise and Holloway) is very busy throughout the entire book engaging in a planet-wide prick measuring contest which frankly makes for boring reading. If I wanted to see guys measure their pricks, I'm certain I can find it for free on the internet somewhere.
Beyond that, the plot is shallow, there's way too much time spent on the drama llamaing of the male characters over mining rights, and the fuzzies are a political back drop to a book that really should have been written as an original story, since it bears next to no resemblance to H. Beam Piper's works. It seems really like the borrowing of the Fuzzy set up is a marketing ploy, because I don't think this book would have flown on it's own right, if you'd presented it as anything other then a 'reboot' of a vastly superior series, and would have failed. Frankly, I hope we don't see another one of these from Scalzi.
In short: Homage became an insult. Take a pass on this and just go straight to the great: "Little Fuzzy" and other works by H. Beam Piper.
This isn't anywhere near that quality. This has hollow characters -- and every male character in the book with the single exception of Sullivan (who only has moments where he's not pretending to be a raging prick along withe Aubrey, Landon, DeLise and Holloway) is very busy throughout the entire book engaging in a planet-wide prick measuring contest which frankly makes for boring reading. If I wanted to see guys measure their pricks, I'm certain I can find it for free on the internet somewhere.
Beyond that, the plot is shallow, there's way too much time spent on the drama llamaing of the male characters over mining rights, and the fuzzies are a political back drop to a book that really should have been written as an original story, since it bears next to no resemblance to H. Beam Piper's works. It seems really like the borrowing of the Fuzzy set up is a marketing ploy, because I don't think this book would have flown on it's own right, if you'd presented it as anything other then a 'reboot' of a vastly superior series, and would have failed. Frankly, I hope we don't see another one of these from Scalzi.
In short: Homage became an insult. Take a pass on this and just go straight to the great: "Little Fuzzy" and other works by H. Beam Piper.
gewidder's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This is my third Scalzi book and I might become a dedicated reader. I definitely want to pick up more of his books because I really enjoy his writing style and imagination. While I'm aware the plot of Fuzzy Nation isn't something he came up with entirely on his own, it still showcases his technique and talent perfectly. His books are both so easy to read in terms of flow and structure, and so nicely dense in terms of worldbuilding and plot. It's great entertainment, but smart and nerdy. They feel both light and hefty. There may be convenient plot contrivances or cliches here and there, but it doesn't feel cheap; his worlds and plots feel thought out, lived in, with well-earned twists and turns and endings.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Fatphobia
davesroka's review
3.0
This was an entertaining read (as Scalzi generally is, despite the fact that his main characters are almost always the same :)). Overall, it felt a bit rushed and underdeveloped; more like a short story than a full novel. Not Scalzi's best, but a perfect beach read.
ljesica's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Jack Holloway is a surveyor on an Explore and Exploit planet, working for Zara Corporation. They are allowed to mine there because there are no sentient natives. Jack has just found a sunstone seam that is going to make him a millionaire. And then he returns to his house to find a cat like creature who walks on his hind legs and has broken in to his home.
While getting to know “Papa Fuzzy”, Jack starts to think he may be the smartest creature he’s ever met. Definitely smarter than his dog Carl, who Jack has taught how to hit the detonator button while surveying. And now Jack has a dilemma. Millions of dollars in his pocket, or saving some really cute, possibly sentient creatures from losing their planet.
This is my third Scalzi book and they continue to be completely hilarious and ridiculous novels of nonsense. He is great at anthropomorphizing animals and I love it. I enjoyed this one and look forward to continuing to add to my Scalzi collection.
kshark1123's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.75