Old Man's War (FoHBC#1)

Zarcath · 10-27-2006, 04:48 AM

FoH Book Club #1

Old Man's War by John Scalzi

http://www.amazon.com/Old-Mans-War-J...dp/0765315246/

Quote:

With his wife dead and buried, and life nearly over at 75, John Perry takes the only logical course of action left him: he joins the army. Now better known as the Colonial Defense Force (CDF), Perry's service-of-choice has extended its reach into interstellar space to pave the way for human colonization of other planets while fending off marauding aliens. The CDF has a trick up its sleeve that makes enlistment especially enticing for seniors: the promise of restoring youth. After bonding with a group of fellow recruits who dub their clique the Old Farts, Perry finds himself in a new body crafted from his original DNA and upgraded for battle, including fast-clotting "smartblood" and a brain-implanted personal computer. All too quickly the Old Farts are separated, and Perry fights for his life on various alien-infested battlegrounds. Scalzi's blending of wry humor and futuristic warfare recalls Joe Haldeman's classic, The Forever War (1974), and strikes the right fan--pleasing chords to probably garner major sf award nominations.

Please Purchase By - November 4th
Initial Impression Discussion - November 8th

Jump To Discussion - (here i'll list links to discussion blocks within the thread in an attempt to prevent spoilers)

Member Reviews - (here i'll list everyone's name and how many stars+comments)

Khorum · 10-27-2006, 11:55 AM

It's got spaceships, planets and explosions on the cover, which fits Penny Arcade's minimum criteria for acceptable non-illustrated reading material. Count me in.

Aulirophile · 10-29-2006, 04:59 PM

Library has it, I'm in.

brekk · 10-29-2006, 06:47 PM

checking my town library tomorrow

apan · 10-29-2006, 11:10 PM

I've ordered it now. Hopefully I will get it in a reasonable time.

Cuppycake · 10-30-2006, 11:35 AM

I'm passing on this one. I like fantasy, not Sci-Fi stuff about space and that sort of thing.

Dokomo · 10-30-2006, 11:46 AM

This was pretty close to hard core sci fi. Yes, there is emphasis on technology and war, but also about how a society of old people works. I read it in one day, so I'll avoid spoilers. The author has written two more books in the universo, but it seems only the third is a direct sequel.

Zeste · 10-30-2006, 05:03 PM

I'm in.

Me and my wife have a 2 person book club, so this is my pick, we rotate.

Cuppycake · 10-30-2006, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeste

I'm in.

Me and my wife have a 2 person book club, so this is my pick, we rotate.

That is so cute, btw =)

Zanoan · 10-30-2006, 06:00 PM

Think I'll pass on this one, about the same reasons as Cuppy and because I have some other shit I wanna finish first.

Khorum · 10-31-2006, 10:59 AM

I picked it up last night, small book but only available in trade paperback so far. It was a hugo finalist so that's promising.

Gahid · 11-02-2006, 08:34 AM

Passing until an adult picks a book

Lhon · 11-02-2006, 09:34 PM

I read this a while ago, because I like to try new sci-fi authors. It didn't make much of an impression on me. Pretty run-of-the-mill story, really didn't bring anything new to the table other than the old person perspective.

Ham n Cheese · 11-03-2006, 02:49 PM

decided to pass, not into super sci-fi like this so decided to keep on with the dark tower until next month. look forward to the discussion though

Zeste · 11-03-2006, 04:09 PM

I got my copy. I am a huge clarke/asimov fan, so this might be promising.

10-29-2006, 04:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
Aulirophile Ultima Ratio Regum Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: California Posts: 1,581 -1 Internets	Library has it, I'm in. __________________ "Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire." ~Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

10-30-2006, 11:35 AM	#6 (permalink)
Cuppycake Plugged In Like Neo Join Date: May 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,976 +3 Internets	I'm passing on this one. I like fantasy, not Sci-Fi stuff about space and that sort of thing. __________________ Metaplace - Nothing I say here represents my employer, legalblahdiddyblah.

10-30-2006, 11:46 AM	#7 (permalink)
Dokomo Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Buffalo Grove, IL Posts: 706 -3 Internets	This was pretty close to hard core sci fi. Yes, there is emphasis on technology and war, but also about how a society of old people works. I read it in one day, so I'll avoid spoilers. The author has written two more books in the universo, but it seems only the third is a direct sequel. __________________ 70 Mage - Paradigm - Echo Isles

10-30-2006, 05:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
Zeste Ben's Secret Assassins - HIPPITY HOP RABBIT Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,622 +12 Internets	I'm in. Me and my wife have a 2 person book club, so this is my pick, we rotate. __________________ Locke: Where do you get electricity? Ben: We have two big hamsters running around in this giant wheel in our secret underground lair. Locke: Yeah, that's funny.

10-30-2006, 06:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
Zanoan I wish I was queer, so I could get chicks Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Denmark Posts: 1,807 -1 Internets	Think I'll pass on this one, about the same reasons as Cuppy and because I have some other shit I wanna finish first. __________________ "It is better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt" - Abraham Lincoln

10-27-2006, 11:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
Khorum Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 3,992 -14 Internets	It's got spaceships, planets and explosions on the cover, which fits Penny Arcade's minimum criteria for acceptable non-illustrated reading material. Count me in.

10-29-2006, 11:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
apan Deranged Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 152 +0 Internets	I've ordered it now. Hopefully I will get it in a reasonable time.

10-31-2006, 10:59 AM	#11 (permalink)
Khorum Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 3,992 -14 Internets	I picked it up last night, small book but only available in trade paperback so far. It was a hugo finalist so that's promising.

11-02-2006, 08:34 AM	#12 (permalink)
Gahid Registared User Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,006 +0 Internets	Passing until an adult picks a book

11-02-2006, 09:34 PM	#13 (permalink)
Lhon Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 403 -1 Internets	I read this a while ago, because I like to try new sci-fi authors. It didn't make much of an impression on me. Pretty run-of-the-mill story, really didn't bring anything new to the table other than the old person perspective.

11-03-2006, 02:49 PM	#14 (permalink)
Ham n Cheese Productive, fully-charged, cocked and pointed Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Houston Posts: 8,386 +20 Internets	decided to pass, not into super sci-fi like this so decided to keep on with the dark tower until next month. look forward to the discussion though __________________ Xeph Hunky Dory Mavo Mayhem

11-03-2006, 04:09 PM	#15 (permalink)
Zeste Ben's Secret Assassins - HIPPITY HOP RABBIT Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,622 +12 Internets	I got my copy. I am a huge clarke/asimov fan, so this might be promising. __________________ Locke: Where do you get electricity? Ben: We have two big hamsters running around in this giant wheel in our secret underground lair. Locke: Yeah, that's funny.

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