Book Review: The Android's Dream by John Scalzi

After reading the last John Scalzi book, Fuzzy Nation, and being extremely disappointed by it, I became very hesitant to pick up another one of his books. But this one was on sale and had a pretty blue cover, so I closed my eyes and clicked "buy".

The Android's Dream is a science fiction, space opera, political comedy written by John Scalzi. It's available as an eBook, audiobook, and those paper things your grandparents used to read.

Overview

The leader of an alien world is assassinated, and citizens of Earth have to help install the next ruler by finding a certain bread of sheep. (Trust me, it's actually a great book despite the incredibly stupid premise.)

The Good

Characters. The characters are incredibly likable. Each feels very real, but not incompetent, which too many authors do. Some are more powerful or more able than any real person should be, but that's what makes science fiction fiction and fun.

Dialog. If you've ever read anything by John Scalzi, you've read this type of dialog before. He's only able to write in one voice well. But this is him at his best with that voice.

Twists. This story has a lot of twists, some I saw coming, but others I did. Yet all of them felt right and earned. None felt contrived or pulled out of left corner.

Narration. Wil Wheaton has the perfect voice for this kind of story and tells it just how it should be told.

The Bad

Names. The alien names are a little hard to remember or keep straight. They sound so similar and more like noise than deliberate sound.

Dated. You can tell this book is a decade or too old, because some of the references and details are very dated, but not dated enough to make it feel period. But it doesn't spoil the story.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I wouldn't have done anything differently.

Overall

The Android's Dream by John Scalzi is an exciting, hilarious, twist-filled ride with interesting characters and a very satisfying ending that ties everything up but doesn't make it seem too easy or too neat. I give it 5 out of 5 eReaders.

     

Book Review: Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi

I'm a big fan of classic science fiction from the mid-1900s and John Scalzi, so I was curious to see the combination of the two even if the subject matter wasn't the most interesting.

Fuzzy Nation is John Scalzi's retelling of an earlier science fiction story by H. Beam Piper. It's available in all formats: eBooks, Audiobooks, and those paper things your grandparents used to read.

Overview

A prospector working for a large corporation discovers both a large mineral deposit and a sentient species on a remote planet. The discovers cause major legal woes for all.

The Good

Writing. John Scalzi is a master of words. The words don't interfere with the story, which I always appreciate. The story moves at a good pace and is always interesting.

Characters. The characters were all very likeable and sufficiently developed for this story. They were all memorable enough that I cared what happened to them.

Narration. Wil Wheaton does his usual great job with this story. His voice and approach really fit the types of stories John Scalzi writes.

The Bad

Melodramatic, "They Lived Happily Ever After" Ending. The story was pretty good up until the very ending when suddenly the little guy who keeps losing throughout the story suddenly completely and utterly defeats the giant, all powerful corporation through a short preliminary hearing with a few Perry Mason-style legal maneuvers. It was just too much. The character, while a lawyer, was never shown to be at Perry Mason's level, and his arguments in the book would never fly in a real court of law.

Soft Science and Pedestrian Legal Battle. John Scalzi is a jack-of-all-trades, but a master of none, as this book shows.

While I appreciate how varied and genre-crossing his stories are (one of the reasons I read them), it's clear his understanding of most topics doesn't extend beyond what he's read or watched on TV. This book is mostly an environmental sob story, but becomes a legal thriller at the end. The environmental story is the same standard propaganda one sees on popular TV shows with little read science or thinking behind it. The legal battle at the end has about the same level of credibility.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I wish John Scalzi would spend more time preparing to write the stories by obtaining the necessary technical knowledge in the subjects he chooses to write about instead of using a pedestrian level of knowledge on gains from reading and watching fiction and mainstream media coverage. His writing is really good, his ideas and take on subjects are always interesting and fun, but the stories always suffer from a lack of real expertise that would turn enjoyable stories into masterpieces.

Overall

Fuzzy Nation is an enjoyable read with interesting characters, but nothing I haven't read before. The science is fairly pedestrian and the legal battle at the end little more than a back Perry Mason parody. I give it 3.5 out of 5 eReaders.

   

Book Review - The Collapsing Empire: The Interdependency, Book 1 by John Scalzi

I've been on a John Scalzi kick lately, having only recently discovered his writing. Most of his stories have been really enjoyable, especially with Wil Wheaton narrating them. I love space opera and social commentary, and this book has both.

The Collapsing Empire: The Interdependency, Book 1 is science fiction space opera written by John Scalzi. It's available in all formats: eBooks, Audiobooks, and those paper things your grandparents used to read.

Overview

In the future, mankind is spread out on several planets and moons throughout the galaxy connected by a naturally occurring phenomenon called The Flow that allows different points of space to be connected so that light years can be transversed in a few months. They've formed the Interdependency ruled by an Emperox who is both leader of the government and the state sponsored church. The old Emperox dies and is succeeded by his daughter who discovers the whole Interdependency is a lie and disaster is coming.

The Good

Social Commentary. The point of this book is NOT to explore some cool new scientific theory or build some cool new world. The point is to make a social commentary on people and their interactions with each other in the realms of business, government, religion, and other social interactions. Everything else (characters, plot, science) is basically a plot device to illustrate this exploration. The author makes several interesting observations without drawing too many definite conclusions or trying to force a particular political or social philosophy on the readers (although it's pretty clear the author has very liberal leanings).

Characters. The characters are really fun and a bit outrageous. They're not well developed in the traditional sense, because as I stated earlier, that isn't the point. They're little more than caricatures, and as such, are slightly exaggerated to make certain points and commentary about human behavior and human interactions.

Story. While the point of this novel is social commentary, this book still has a very interesting story with lots of action and interaction. It's well paced.

The Bad

Prologue. The prologue is really boring. It's a mutiny mixed with a natural disaster, but it comes out as a particularly bad episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. The characters are very flat, the action boring, and the tone very different from the rest of the novel. I almost returned the book after listening to it is was so disappointing. But then the main story begins and it is a fun ride after that.

Lack of Science. It's pretty obvious John Scalzi has a degree in Philosophy and not the hard sciences. His books are very philosophical and deal with the ramifications of science and other things than the actual mechanics. While this is very entertaining, it makes the stories feel weaker than they need to and his opinions less well thought out. For example, in this story, a scientific phenomenon known as The Flow is essential to the story. It's what connects one world to another and makes it possible for one group to control the others. And it's demise is what is motivating much of the action. And yet there is no attempt to even explain it. While I appreciate the author not making up some nonsense and admitting The Flow just is, it also lends an air of amateurishness to an otherwise excellent story.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I would have liked to have seen a little more thought put into the science and characters that were a little more characters and a little less caricatures. While all of that would work well and be ideal for a short story, in a long novel that is part of a multi-novel series it is a little weak and will make it hard to sustain long-term interest and any big surprises or developments.

Overall

The Collapsing Empire: The Interdependency, Book 1 is a humorous science fiction space opera that deals with politics, economics, social institutions, and the effects that changing natural phenomena have on human civilizations. It's heavy on social commentary and humor and light on actual science and adventure. I give it 4.5 out of 5 eReaders.

     

Book Review: Rip-Off! (scifi/fantasy anthology) aka Mash Up

I love short stories, because they focus on one story or one idea. Novels on the other hand tend to be three or more short stories that eventually meet at the end chopped up into chapter-sized bits. Each chapter ends with the obligatory cliffhanger before switching to the next part of a different story. When you finally return to the cliffhung story, you've lost a lot of interest, and the resolution is usually pretty quick and simple. I love short story anthologies, because there is usually a previously undiscovered gem or two in an otherwise unremarkable collection.

Rip-Off! is a science fiction and fantasy short story anthology with stories by John Scalzi and others. Each author was asked to take the opening line of some work of literature and write a story based on that. Each author describes why he or she chose the line they did. It's available as an audiobook from Audible and an eBook or paperback called Mash Up.

The Good

Muse of Fire by John Scalzi. A physicist is working on a forcefield made of plasma his company wants to sell for money, but he is secretly using it to free his muse of fire girlfriend trapped in Hell.

Begone by Daryl Gregory. A man sees his clone taking his place with his wife, child, and work and makes several attempts to kill him and take his life back. Involves witches.

Karin Coxswain or Death as She Is Truly Lived by Paul Di Filippo. A named Karin dies, goes to Hell, and because a riverboat captain who transports souls across the river Styx. One day her ex-husband dies and books passage on her boat.


The Lady Astronaut of Mars by Mary Robinette Kowal. An old woman who was the first female astronaut to Mars in her youth is now very old and caring for her ailing husband close to death when she is offered a chance to return to space, but it will mean abandoning her husband.

The Mediocre

Fireborn by Robert Charles Wilson. Two children from a rural community become involved with their mythological godlike figures which involves dancing and ascending to the moon. Both have their own plans, and loyalty is explored.

The Evening Line by Mike Resnick. A man comes into money and suddenly women line up to marry him. Mages are employed by all parties to affect the outcome.

The Big Whale by Allen M. Steele. Moby Dick told as a Maltese Falcon-style detective story.

Writer’s Block by Nancy Kress. Fighting writer's block, a man discovers the true cause revolves around his wife in a fantasy tale.

The Bad

No Decent Patrimony by Elizabeth Bear. A man deals with the death of his father.

The Red Menace by Lavie Tidhar. Communism meets fantasy.

Highland Reel by Jack Campbell. This tale takes place in Scotland and explores characters from a Scottish myth.

Every Fuzzy Beast of the Earth, Every Pink Fowl of the Air by Tad Williams. This book is a new spin on the Creation story from The Bible with a girl who claims to be God's daughter who wants to rearrange His creations.

Declaration by James Patrick Kelly. A group of people who spend their lives online in a virtual world decide to declare their independence from reality, but life isn't that simple.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I wish there had been more good stories, and that the authors hadn't been so self-indulgent.

Overall

Like most short story anthologies, Rip-Off! has a few pretty good stories and a few really disappointing tales. None are gems, and a couple are bombs that I didn't even bother finishing, but overall it is a collection of well-written tales in the science fiction and fantasy genres. I give it 3 out of 5 eReaders.

     

Book Review: Redshirts by John Scalzi

I've enjoyed a lot of books by John Scalzi, I love Star Trek, and I enjoy Wil Wheton's narration. But I don't like bad parodies or silly science fiction which this book seemed like it was. I downloaded the first four chapters as a free preview, but couldn't get thru them. It took me awhile to finally break down and buy the book, and it was mostly a leap of faith based on how much I enjoyed previous books by this author.

Redshirts is science fiction comedy written by John Scalzi. It's available in all formats: eBooks, Audiobooks, and those paper things your grandparents used to read.

Overview

This story is a very clever parody of Star Trek with the crew realizing they are controlled by a TV show and have to figure out how to break its hold or end up dying at the whims of the producers and writers.

The Good

Writing. Most stories by John Scalzi I've enjoyed. He always has a very original take on traditional stories. The prose is clean and crisp and moves at a great pace. The wit and personality of the author comes thru in the words no matter what the situation or genre be it space opera or crime thriller.

Characters. The main characters are basically extras from a bad scifi TV show, but the author has managed to give each one a personality and made me care about the fate of each one.

Pace. This book starts off a little slow, but after the first four chapters it moves quickly and never feels stagnant or rushed. 

Humor. This book is very funny, but with a more intellectual and understated sense of humor. There were a few scenes where I laughed out loud, but most of the time I just had an amused smile on my face.

Relationships. John Scalzi's other books have great characters, but this is the first one I've read that had great relationships. He really spent time on the interactions between characters and developing the characters thru their relationships with each other. The many sentimental moments really heightened the overall impact of the story and added real weight to the main conflict. The relationships are why I cared whether the characters succeeded in their big mission or not. 

Twists. This book definitely has some twists I didn't see coming, but none of them felt contrived or forced. The situation was so well set up that everything felt like it had to happen. And the twist at the very end (Chapter 24)  was quick but laugh out loud hilarious and so brave to pull off.

The Bad

Bad Star Trek Parody. The novel opens up with a bad parody of a mediocre episode of the original Star Trek. I understand that this is necessary to set up the story and the world, but it could have been more interesting. Also, Star Trek always took itself seriously and tried to be high literature, with the silliness being a result of small budgets, short shooting schedules, and the 1960s. It kind of annoys me when people exaggerate the silliness.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

The only thing I would change is to have a more interesting opening. The first few chapters are generic, bad science fiction and were hard to sit thru. I almost didn't buy this book after previewing the first two chapters they were so lame.

Overall

Redshirts is a hilariously entertaining science fiction comedy with a really unique twist on the old trope of breaking the fourth wall. After a slow start, it races to an exciting and unexpected finish. I give it a solid 4.5 out of 5 eReaders.

    

Book Review: Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi

I love science fiction, but most of the good stories seem to have already been told. So on the rare occasions I do find something new and different, I get really excited. When I saw the retro-60s cover of Agent to the Stars and read Wil Wheaton narrated it, I decided to give it a chance. Wil Wheaton tends to narrate a certain type of story, so you have a pretty good idea what you're getting into.

Agent to the Stars is scifi comedy written by John Scalzi. It's available in all formats: eBooks, Audiobooks, and those paper things your grandparents used to read.

Overview

Agent to the Stars is the story of a Hollywood agent who represents a handful of movie and TV "stars" without much hope of a big career and one movie star who will have a bright albeit brief career due to her looks. He is assigned to help an alien race make first contact with Earth and somehow make them appear friendly and not start a riot.

The Good

Writing. I had never read anything by John Scalzi before I listened to this book, but he is an excellent writer. His tone is very conversational. The prose is clean and crisp and moves at a great pace. The wit and personality of the author comes thru in the words no matter what the situation.

Characters. The characters are all basically caricatures of those who work in film and television, but the author manages to make each one zany enough to be fun and likable, but it does take time for each one to reach that point.

Pace. This book moves really quickly and never feels stagnant or rushed. 

Humor. This book is very funny, but with a more intellectual and understated sense of humor. There were a few scenes where I laughed out loud, but most of the time I just had an amused smile on my face.

Situations and Twists. This book has such outlandish characters and situations that it almost feels like a cartoon, but the author is skillful enough to always keep it in a believable real-world setting. The author never holds back with how far he can push things, but each one serves a purpose and adds something to the story or the characters so nothing feels superfluous.

The Bad

Overused Stereotypes. The main characters of this book are all involved in the movies or TV somehow and are basically caricatures that have appeared frequently over the last century in movies and TV. The author manages to make each one zany enough to be fun and likable, but it wouldn't of hurt to be a little more original.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

The only thing I can think of is having more interesting aliens. As much as I love green Jell-O, I was glad when the story went away from the alien. Some of the cultural criticism it brought up were entertaining, but that was just a small part of the alien's page time.

Overall

Agent to the Stars is an entertaining and hilarious scifi comedy. The characters are all a lot of fun with outlandish situations that couldn't happen anywhere else. I was entertained from start to finish. I give it a 5 out of 5 eReaders.