The Sword and Laser discussion

Wow,

Started Old Man's War on Dec 25th and before I knew it, I just finished the fourth book in the series (and the two novellas) 10 days later. Anyone else got sucked into it so fast? It is a really quick and easy read and really fun. Took me about this long to read Red Shirts.

Thierry

Yep. I started the first book in mid-December and I'm about 100 pages through book 3, The Last Colony, right now.

The more I read of Scalzi, the more I love, and I think this universe he has created is rich with stories to tell.

I started OWM on Thursday (Jan 3) and I have started book 4 (Zoe's Tale) today. I'm not a big fan of parallel story line books, but after the first three I'm willing to slog it out. Otherwise, definately addictive reading.

Mapleson wrote: "I started OWM on Thursday (Jan 3) and I have started book 4 (Zoe's Tale) today. I'm not a big fan of parallel story line books, but after the first three I'm willing to slog it out. Otherwise, de..."

I read Zoe's Tale after reading Old Man's War, because it was the only Scalzi book I could find at the store. Then I read the rest of the series out of order.

I re-read it recently. Now I have more respect for Zoe's Tale as another view on The Lost Colony. It's not the same perspective as the others, but it did give a new view into that universe.

I liked it.

Since you guys are so advanced in the series, tell me something, the whole story wraps up on the third book or are there still loose ends waiting for a fourth one?

The story wraps up with The Last Colony. But some things could have been filled in better, so Scalzi wrote Zoe's Tale, which is The Last Colony from Zoe's perspective.

There's also The Sagan Diary, a novella? novelette? from Subterranean Press that is, in tone, completely unlike the rest of the series; short stories Questions for a Soldier and After the Coup; and the upcoming serial novel (first installment comes out January 15), The Human Division (main character is one of the secondary characters in OMW). I may be missing something...

Thanks a lot! I'm going to give them a try, then. I was just afraid to end up with an incomplete story at the end.

Definitely this was the first science fiction book I've ever read and was surprised how fast a burnt through it, read the book in a few hours and going to try pick up the second one very shortly.

I forget exactly how I first heard about Scalzi. It was slightly before someone gave me a copy of Agent to the Stars, which sat in my "to-read" pile for months. He was one of those SF authors I'd never read, but would visit their blogs once in a while.

Then, I think I must have been intrigued by the publicity leading up to Zoe's Tale, so I picked up and read OMW, then burned through the rest of the series in less than a month. (Can't remember the last time I did that.) Agent to the Stars followed quickly after that, and then I met Scalzi at an author reading and have been a huge fan since.

It was a quick, enjoyable read, but I can't say I would read more of his work. The book seemed like a doughnut to me, tastes good, but not allot of substance.

Nathan wrote: "It was a quick, enjoyable read, but I can't say I would read more of his work. The book seemed like a doughnut to me, takes good, but not allot of substance."

keep going... the world gets fleshed out. i have a lot of emotions invested in the series.

I did the same as a few of you and read through the first 3 books in days, and found myself enjoying the world he creted. I havent read zoe's tale as of yet not knowing if it was truly worth the read (or in my case worth buying), does it add considarbly to the story?

Maybe because of the protagonist, it feels like a YA novel within the series. Not that any of the OMW books are heavy reads. It does fill in a few points: (view spoiler)[the werewolves, Zoe's diplomatic mission and where the sapper field comes from, etc. (hide spoiler)] Overall, Zoe's a pretty cool character and the book is very enjoyable, but I wouldn't say that it's a must.

Thierry wrote: "Maybe because of the protagonist, it feels like a YA novel within the series. "

pretty sure it was written as a YA novel within the series

I enjoyed Zoe's Tale more than Last Colony. It didn't read like the typical YA book either. Zoe is a smart cookie without being annoying.

Ohhh good I thought I was the only one, I finhsed the last colony two days ago :p I think I will lehm on Zoe's tale, I barely made it after the prologue. But I pre order the human division first installment on my kindle :D

EZ 8-)

Leesa wrote: "I enjoyed Zoe's Tale more than Last Colony. It didn't read like the typical YA book either. Zoe is a smart cookie without being annoying."

I'm glad someone enjoyed it as more than a YA book. I just finished Last Colony and am about to start on Zoe's Tale any day now.

Edwin wrote: "Ohhh good I thought I was the only one, I finhsed the last colony two days ago :p I think I will lehm on Zoe's tale, I barely made it after the prologue. But I pre order the human division first in..."

it's worth reading. it does offer more details and doesn't hit the same nails to many times.

yup started yesterday and went to work for 10 hours and still got through about 1/2 the book and I can't wait because I have the rest of the series to look forward to :-)

Just finished Ghost Brigades-wow it was good. I even found myself a little teary at the end.

Kristina wrote: "Just finished Ghost Brigades-wow it was good. I even found myself a little teary at the end."

keep going

I finished the book in less than 2 days, and I'm sure going for the rest of the series. Very easy and relaxing read.

And now part I of The Human Division landed on my Kindle :)