Old Man's War
Military Science Fiction Adventure
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4.5 • 159 Ratings
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- £5.99
Publisher Description
At seventy-five years old, John Perry is looking for a fresh start – in the army. But the universe is a dangerous place in John Scalzi's Old Man's War . . .
'Gripping and surpassingly original' – Cory Doctorow, author of Walkaway
Earth's military machine can transform elderly recruits, restoring their lost youth. But in return, its Colonial Defence Force demands two years of hazardous service in space. This is how Perry finds himself in a new body, crafted from his original DNA. A genetically enhanced and upgraded new body, ready for battle.
But upgrades alone won't keep Perry safe. He'll be fighting for his life on the front line as he defends humanity's colonies from hostile aliens. He'll pay the price for his choices. And he'll discover the universe is even more dangerous than he imagined . . .
'A space war story with fast action, vivid characters, moral complexity, and cool speculative physics' – Ken MacLeod, author of Beyond the Light Horizon
Old Man's War is the first in the series. The gripping space war continues with The Ghost Brigades.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Though a lot of SF writers are more or less efficiently continuing the tradition of Robert A. Heinlein, Scalzi's astonishingly proficient first novel reads like an original work by the late grand master. Seventy-five-year-old John Perry joins the Colonial Defense Force because he has nothing to keep him on Earth. Suddenly installed in a better-than-new young body, he begins developing loyalty toward his comrades in arms as they battle aliens for habitable planets in a crowded galaxy. As bloody combat experiences pile up, Perry begins wondering whether the slaughter is justified; in short, is being a warrior really a good thing, let alone being human? The definition of "human" keeps expanding as Perry is pushed through a series of mind-stretching revelations. The story obviously resembles such novels as Starship Trooper and Time Enough for Love, but Scalzi is not just recycling classic Heinlein. He's working out new twists, variations that startle even as they satisfy. The novel's tone is right on target, too sentimentality balanced by hardheaded calculation, know-it-all smugness moderated by innocent wonder. This virtuoso debut pays tribute to SF's past while showing that well-worn tropes still can have real zip when they're approached with ingenuity. Forecasts:Blurbs from Cory Doctorow, Robert Charles Wilson and Ken MacLeod will help ensure this gets more than the usual attention for first novels.
Customer Reviews
Blast
Fun and imaginative SF, with plenty of action and violence, and few spare words to slow things down. I would have liked more psychological twists and intrigue from the BrainPal, but that would have required a much longer and perhaps slower book. I'm on the fence about reading the next one. The premise of this book offered a great twist and setup, but the followthrough was achieved with action and ideas that weren't quite as original. A sequel needs a brand new twist.
Couldn’t put it down
Great pacing, humourous, and interesting story ideas.
The middle age war
I have read this book several times I feel more excited to read it each time.
I really effortlessly enjoyable read.