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A review by troutgirl
Old Man's War by John Scalzi
I've owned more than one copy of this book, but people kept "borrowing" it from me before I could read it! Finally I had to resort to a much-thumbed and somewhat stained in the final chapter paperback copy from the library, and I'm glad I did.
I should just mention here that Mr Scalzi is a college alum of mine, although we have never crossed paths. And actually I am pleasantly astonished that anyone who graduated from the University of Chicago could write something as delightful as this space opera -- because frankly we never studied fiction writing in school, and in fact I don't think I ever read a novel except in one class my senior year. I suspect that this book is Exhibit A for the age-old argument that being forced to write A LOT (however miscellaneously) and having great bookstores around are far more determinative of writing success than MFAs or genres or all that mess.
The genius of the "old man's war" concept is obviously that you get all the naive exposition of your typical space opera -- enlisting, training (nobody knows the drill sergeants I've seen!), seeing the elephant, red badge of courage etc -- with the far greater depth of characters who are not just mature but positively decrepit. As our protagonist points out matter-of-factly in explaining his enlistment: "People can live longer, and do live longer, but they still live those years as an old person." Next time you read about some medical research that promises to extend your life, remember this line.
Here I must confess I had a hard time differentiating between the squad members introduced early in the book -- why so many? -- especially the females. Also my favorite characters are a race of aliens that could not-uncharitably be described as "Buddhists TO THE MAX". Net-net, I'm grateful for a novel entertaining enough to -- with the help of a pitcher of iced green tea -- help me entirely forget the discomfort of the hottest day of the summer this year.
I should just mention here that Mr Scalzi is a college alum of mine, although we have never crossed paths. And actually I am pleasantly astonished that anyone who graduated from the University of Chicago could write something as delightful as this space opera -- because frankly we never studied fiction writing in school, and in fact I don't think I ever read a novel except in one class my senior year. I suspect that this book is Exhibit A for the age-old argument that being forced to write A LOT (however miscellaneously) and having great bookstores around are far more determinative of writing success than MFAs or genres or all that mess.
The genius of the "old man's war" concept is obviously that you get all the naive exposition of your typical space opera -- enlisting, training (nobody knows the drill sergeants I've seen!), seeing the elephant, red badge of courage etc -- with the far greater depth of characters who are not just mature but positively decrepit. As our protagonist points out matter-of-factly in explaining his enlistment: "People can live longer, and do live longer, but they still live those years as an old person." Next time you read about some medical research that promises to extend your life, remember this line.
Here I must confess I had a hard time differentiating between the squad members introduced early in the book -- why so many? -- especially the females. Also my favorite characters are a race of aliens that could not-uncharitably be described as "Buddhists TO THE MAX". Net-net, I'm grateful for a novel entertaining enough to -- with the help of a pitcher of iced green tea -- help me entirely forget the discomfort of the hottest day of the summer this year.