Zoe's Tale - John Scalzi

Advantages: Fantastical queer Tales. Evocative Descriptions of the exotic. Some Scottish Settings.
Disadvantages: Colonial high-society Biases. Fascination with Otherness. Basic Knowledge of Subjects required.

...Supernatural Tales is an anthology of short stories from the early 20th century horror writer John Buchan. Although the collection is mainly made up of those stories which have to do with strange goings-on, in my opinion a better title would be ?Arcane Tales", because most of the stories are more queer and unsettling than terrifying or even overtly fantastical, and they almost all share an emphasis on "ancient secrets". Baron Buchan the author was a British imperialist. (colonial administrator of South Africa, and governor general of Canada, anyone?) This shows through in his writing style with the tone of an old gentleman and connoisseur ? Rule Britannia! Guide the Savage- protégée and be a man! (think Rudyard Kipling's style) I?m sure this would annoy a lot of people, but I don?t care enough to argue with someone just... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: A remarkable debut
Disadvantages: Perhaps a little on the short side?

...Heinlein's Starship Troopers was ostensibly a book about humanity waging an interplanetary war against nasty alien creatures. It took a squad of raw recruits and showed their brutal training and induction into military life. It's become a classic, but a bit of a dodgy classic because of its political subtexts. So I was a bit wary of John Scalzi's Old Man's War, as the back cover blurb suggested it might follow much the same plot. And in a way it does. Instead of fresh-faced teens signing up to splatter aliens, however, John Perry has just turned 75. He's a pacifist who used to work in advertising, but he's signed up to join the Colonial Defense Forces, who want the experience of senior citizens rather than the rashness of youth in their infantry ranks. The attraction for John is the implication that the CDF will make him... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: great pace, action, dialogue
Disadvantages: only 300 pages!

...This amazing first novel by John Scalzi is set in a non specific future and begins on Earth. The action soon transfers to the far reaches of space and as the title suggests not everyone is pleased to see us. Plot The novel begins on the 75th birthday of the main character, John Perry and follows him as he says goodbye to his wifes' grave and joins the army. The army is Colonial Defence Force and joining means leaving Earth - forever! The storyline follows Perry as he is trained and enters his first combat. So why do you have to be 75 to join? Read the book to find out. The Action If you liked the Forever War by Joe Haldeman you will probably like this too. The training and battles are realistic with the extra spice available with science fiction. Human relationships are explored and described including the physical side... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful