 |
Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi
Book Summary InformationAuthor: John Scalzi Edition: Hardcover Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published) Published: 2008-08-19 ISBN: 0765316986 Number of pages: 336 Publisher: Tor Books
Book Reviews of Zoe's TaleBook Review: More character time leads to Scalzi's best so far Summary: 4 Stars
(I received a Zoe's Tale ARC through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program)
Zoe Boutin Perry was never a significant character on her own merits in the previous John Scalzi book "The Last Colony" - a key to parts of the plot, but more important there for what she was than who she was. Combine that with her involvement in the one big plot gap of the book - where key events happened offscreen - and there's plenty of room for something like "Zoe's Tale", which covers roughly the same time period but from the perspective of Zoe rather than her parents.
And Zoe's Tale it truly is - though the previous books in the Old Man's War series were primarily from first person perspective, they were not as focused on a single character. As a result, Zoe may be Scalzi's best established character; the note-perfect sarcasm was a little overplayed (Scalzi is great at snark) but not by much. Plus, it allows him free reign with her primary conflict - growing as a person and facing the issue of who she is as a person versus her role as a icon to an alien species and part of a treaty between that species and humanity.
The personal focus also causes a problem, however; it's not as easy to switch the grand events occurring during the novel. This leads to some strained info dumping on occasion as the reader has to be caught up on the background plot to understand what's going on. Scalzi also manages to write himself into a corner later on, setting up a big fight scene that he can't write out - it would completely throw off the books pacing and is too large to manage - so he has to offhandedly dispatch it in 7 words.
For all that this is a parallel to the third book in a series, it feels accessible as a standalone book; the plot dumping helps, but the book is mostly shaped well on its own. There are a couple minor points that a new reader is unlikely to get - the roles of Phoenix and Earth, certain aspects of the CDF - but they're not significant distractions. Zoe's Tale is as good a place as any to start with Scalzi, and a good book in its own right.
****
Summary of Zoe's TaleHow do you tell your part in the biggest tale in history?
I ask because it's what I have to do. I'm Zoe Boutin Perry: A colonist stranded on a deadly pioneer world. Holy icon to a race of aliens. A player (and a pawn) in a interstellar chess match to save humanity, or to see it fall. Witness to history. Friend. Daughter. Human. Seventeen years old.
Everyone on Earth knows the tale I am part of. But you don't know my tale: How I did what I did - how I did what I had to do - not just to stay alive but to keep you alive, too. All of you. I'm going to tell it to you now, the only way I know how: not straight but true, the whole thing, to try make you feel what I felt: the joy and terror and uncertainty, panic and wonder, despair and hope. Everything that happened, bringing us to Earth, and Earth out of its captivity. All through my eyes.
It's a story you know. But you don't know it all.
|
 |
Thirteenby Richard K. Morgan Del Rey; Published: 2008-06-24; Paperback; BookBest price: $8.46Price in other shops: $15.00
Broken Angelsby Richard K. Morgan Del Rey; Published: 2004-03-02; Paperback; BookBest price: $5.87Price in other shops: $14.95
Woken Furies: A Takeshi Kovacs Novelby Richard K. Morgan Del Rey; Published: 2009-09-30; Mass Market Paperback; BookPrice in other shops: $7.99
Halting State (Ace Science Fiction)by Charles Stross Ace; Published: 2008-06-24; Paperback; BookBest price: $3.92Price in other shops: $7.99
Pattern Recognitionby William Gibson Berkley; Published: 2005-02-01; Paperback; BookBest price: $3.71Price in other shops: $7.99
The Accidental Time Machineby Joe Haldeman Ace; Published: 2008-07-29; Paperback; BookBest price: $3.92Price in other shops: $7.99
Spook Countryby William Gibson Berkley Trade; Published: 2008-06-03; Paperback; BookBest price: $1.84Price in other shops: $15.00
The Player of Gamesby Iain M. Banks Orbit; Published: 2008-03-26; Paperback; BookBest price: $7.03Price in other shops: $12.99
Matterby Iain M. Banks Orbit; Published: 2008-02-27; Hardcover; BookBest price: $9.99Price in other shops: $25.99
Zoe's Taleby John Scalzi Tor Books; Published: 2008-08-19; Hardcover; BookBest price: $12.47Price in other shops: $24.95
|
Agent to the Starsby John Scalzi Tor Books; Published: 2008-10-28; Paperback; BookBest price: $6.95Price in other shops: $14.95
The Android's Dreamby John Scalzi Tor Books; Published: 2006-10-31; Hardcover; BookBest price: $11.97Price in other shops: $24.95
Old Man's Warby John Scalzi Tor Science Fiction; Published: 2007-01-15; Mass Market Paperback; BookBest price: $3.21Price in other shops: $6.99
By Schism Rent Asunderby David Weber Tor Books; Published: 2008-07-22; Hardcover; BookBest price: $13.95Price in other shops: $25.95
Anathemby Neal Stephenson William Morrow; Published: 2008-09-01; Hardcover; BookBest price: $16.85Price in other shops: $29.95
The Ghost Brigadesby John Scalzi Tor Science Fiction; Published: 2007-05-01; Mass Market Paperback; BookBest price: $3.63Price in other shops: $7.99
Valiant (The Lost Fleet, Book 4)by Jack Campbell Ace; Published: 2008-06-24; Mass Market Paperback; BookBest price: $3.86Price in other shops: $7.99
Saturn's Childrenby Charles Stross Ace Hardcover; Published: 2008-07-01; Hardcover; BookBest price: $11.05Price in other shops: $24.95
The Sagan Diaryby John Scalzi Subterranean Press; Published: 2007-02-10; Hardcover; BookBest price: $12.11Price in other shops: $20.00
The Last Colonyby John Scalzi Tor Books; Published: 2007-04-17; Hardcover; BookBest price: $7.49Price in other shops: $23.95
|