The Last Colony by John Scalzi
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Book Reviews of The Last Colony
Book Review: Glad I Read Them in Order
Summary: 5 Stars
To get the most out of THE LAST COLONY, you should read Old Man's War first, and then THE GHOST BRIGADES, both very excellent novels, and which, between them, introduce you to Scalzi's universe and bring you up to date in it. This is important, because unlike the relatively static universes of other series, such as that of Asimov's FOUNDATION or Weber's Honorverse, Scalzi's universe continues to develop with each novel. (It may not in the next one, ZOE'S TALE which I am looking forward to reading soon.)
John Perry returns from OMW and Jane Sagan from OMW and GB, and Zoe from GB, along with several other old friends and some new ones. Like the other two before it, LC is a real page-turner, difficult to put down and leaving you eager to read more Scalzi.
But since John Scalzi can't write them as fast as we can read them, I can recommend another, and very different 'Last Colony.' David Weber has given us OFF ARMAGEDDON REEF and its sequels, BY SCHISM RENT ASUNDER and BY HERESIES DISTRESSED which are also great fun. Buy them all, and enjoy!
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Book Review: Every bit as good as OLD MANS WAR
Summary: 5 Stars
If you plan to read the this book, then start with the first book OLD MANS WAR. Last Colony stands alone well as a critical analysis of humanity and a fun look at a possible future, but I think it is best when read where it belongs as the last in the series.
Last Colony catches up to John Perry, a 90 year old man in his remade body of a 30 year old, when he has retired from the Colonial Union army. He was recruited from earth, where they only accept you to travel offworld at the age of 75 and promise that your body will be rejuvenated as long as you serve a term of 2 years defending the earth colonies. But things aren't always as they seem and John served much longer, meeting Jane Sagan, a special forces soldier as in THE GHOST BRIGADES, the second in the series.
John and Jane are happy in their retirement from army life on a colony when they are tricked into serving as the administrators of a new colony that is called Roanoke--like the lost colony of America.
the book takes off fast and travels furious from there and ends on a satisfying note, which is why I like Scalzi's books.
Book Review: Fantastic read for even the casual reader
Summary: 5 Stars
Granted, I'm speaking from the position of a total sci-fi nerd. Btu Scalzi manages to write so that his works are easy to read, engaging, humorous and serious, and most importantly, entertaining.
Although theres a bit of gloss over some background, the science and theory behind everything is easy to follow, and though quite a bit of it is obviously made up, the technology he creates is original and well thought out. The plans and politics are also well explained, a serious shortfall of many, many sci-fi books and TV shows. Theres no Star-Trek throwaway gobbledigook to come up with the last minute solution. Every situation is described concisely, and to be blunt, a little blandly, which helps to crystallize how brilliant the plan was.
The humor is what makes his work fantastic. Despite the dark overtones of the books, Scalzi manages to make you smile, if not laugh at some of the conversations and situations, and the Last Colony keeps up that trend magnificently.
Book Review: The Last Colony
Summary: 5 Stars
This is third installment of the "Old Man's War" trilogy. John, Jane, Zoe (along with her two Obin nannies and protectors), leave for a new planet to colonize. But they end up at a different planet than what they were expecting. They find themselves as pawns in a diplomatic war between the human Colonial Union and the alien Conclave led by General Gau, who is an honorable being. They wind up as "victors" over both groups by thinking out of the box. This was supposed to be the last book in this universe, but "Zoe's Tale" should be out now in hardback.Book Review: A classic
Summary: 5 Stars
Yes, I dare say it - for me, Scalzi is the closest heir to maestro Heinlein as I've read. The Last Colony is Scalzi's humanist final book of a trilogy - and it's almost perfect. If you haven't read Old Man's War or the Ghost Brigades, do yourself a favor and read those first. Not because this book doesn't stand on its own - but because you'll be depriving yourself of the pleasure the arc of the three books will bring you.
Good humanist sci-fi in the best tradition.
Highly recommended.