You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

Travis of NNY wrote: "So after discussing this book a bit in another group a member made the conment that he enjoyed Armada only he liked it better the first time he watched it as a movie years ago called The Last Starf..."

Yeah, there's no doubt that this story walks very much hand in hand with The Last Starfighter and Ender's Game, as has also been mentioned. Cline calls it out, and the book definitely takes it's own spin on the subject, it helps that it's told in Cline's voice, which is full of nostalgia for not just the 80's but kind of that joy of escapism from childhood, that as an adult can sour.

I gave the book 4 stars, but I feel it's really 3 1/2, because the conspiracy for me just doesn't ring-true. (view spoiler)[ I don't know that I can buy the idea that all alien movies and video games were created to acclimate people to the idea of aliens, prepare them to fight them. I think it goes against my sense of what I get out of alien movies...I mean a movie like District 9 or Alien Nation, has a very different message than Independence Day or Pacific Rim.

What worked for me, and was a interesting twist, is the idea that everyone with gaming consoles, tablets, and an internet access were an army just waiting to be mobilized using the drone force, which felt very relevant, along with the NSA-style invasion stuff with the video game scores, and I loved taping into the conspiracy around Polybius. (hide spoiler)]

I've reached chapter 22 (view spoiler)[Zack's Dad can't be dead..he just can't be..too many have already died so this just can't happen! (hide spoiler)]

I should be able to finish the book some time tomorrow :-)

Gotta get my son to kindergarten oriebtation. So. Very quick. Done. Hought the ending was (view spoiler)[ a bit too clean and we all live happily ever after style to suit me. I wanted more destruction and death and here woukd be a real kicker let the aliens destroy earth for once (hide spoiler)]

I think I'm still in chapter 17, if not just started chapter 18 (view spoiler)[I agree with you Cherie about the father/son reunion. I thought it was done well. They are very alike - Zack Jnr is obsessed with his father and has all things his father on the walls of his bedroom while Zack Snr is obsessed with his son and wife and has his bedroom wall covered in all things them.

Zack Snr has some balls and same goes for the main dude (can't remember his name) - the guy who bollocked Zack Jnr for following the last alien ship in to the base. Their stunts were bold and I wonder whether that's why he didn't totally roast Zack. I suppose the impending destruction of planet earth was a big factor too.

I'm really liking the events so far on the moon and the interactions between the old crew and the new crew up there.

I'm still really enjoying this book.
(hide spoiler)]

I have finished this book. (view spoiler)[I am so pissed that Zack's dad dies..and for real this time! I was so hoping that he really wasn't dead and that he would appear at the end of the book....maybe there is still hope because Cline leaves the book like there could be a sequel. I didn't really care for the whole Lex relationship. I think mostly because it showed up so fast and then they had to be separated. There wasn't time for them to evolve as a couple so that bothered me a little bit. I rated it 3 starts because it was easy for me to put down in the middle of the book. The last few chapters were intense, however. If there is a sequel to this book, I will most likely pick it up :) (hide spoiler)]

Thanks for the buddy read everyone :-)

@Stephanie: (view spoiler)[It was a bummer when Zack's dad dies, I felt so bad for him and his mom, to loose him all over again. It felt so soon after we met him, too. Though, I do like it when we feel the cost of conflict in books through an important character's death.

It felt like there would be an opening for a sequel, which I would read. Imagine how completely the world will change with the introduction of the alien science and tech? (hide spoiler)]

@TravisNNY: (view spoiler)[I suppose the baby and the peace with the aliens could feel like a nice little bow at the end of the story. I personally felt though it ended very ominously. When Zack observes all these things that the aliens are providing for us, and wonders how quickly it could be taken away, or what the next tests might be.

I also agreed with Zack that it is a helluva a lot of destruction in testing the planet. The reveal that it's just a computerized creation that's performing the test, coupled with the use of drone-warfare, leaves me with the icky feeling of always needing to leave the man in the machine. (hide spoiler)]

Lynda wrote: "@Stephanie: ..."

Definitely!(view spoiler)[ I still wish his dad didn't have to die....but since there wasn't a body...is he really dead this time? (hide spoiler)]

Stephanie wrote: "Lynda wrote: "@Stephanie: ..."

Definitely![spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Could be kickin' it with Elvis in a spaceship somewhere. (hide spoiler)]

Lynda wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "Lynda wrote: "@Stephanie: ..."

Definitely![spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Lol!!!!

Just finished. I'll comment tomorrow as i feel really rough right now so off to tuck up warm in bed after i've eaten something.

Hope you feel better soon, Sarah!

Looking forward to your thoughts, Sarah.

Thanks Stephanie! Still feeling a bit weird. I think I must have picked up a virus.

But I thought I'd better head on over here and get my thoughts down before I forget it all.

The author writes at the end about his Scientist heroes and that why he gave them all cameo roles in the book. I liked the idea. I wonder whether any of those still alive have read the book. It looks like he went to some effort to get the science right which I always admire in an author.

chapter 18(view spoiler)[Thanks Cherie - smoking man spotted :-)
At first Xavier's theory confused me but then it clicked and I agree, definitely sounded plausible. It did feel very hollywood in how things panned out. I guess some conspiracy theories end up being correct. You only have to think back to the fact that people thought the earth was flat at one point and then this guy comes along spouting to everyone that it's actually spherical and they mark him as a lunatic. I wouldn't say I'm a conspiracy theorist but I do love to hear about other's theories.

I agree Tasha that Zavier is a fantastic character.
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Chapter 22(view spoiler)[I'm with you Stephanie. I was shocked about Xavier's death. That one day was pretty intense for all involved. So much happened. To have found each other again and to then loose them - I can't imagine what they must be like. (hide spoiler)]

The ending(view spoiler)[I am surprised Zack wasn't more angry when he discovers that it was an AI bot which built the "alien" armada and put the humans in this test situation where so many lives were lost. It raised questions for me too which makes me think there may well be a sequel. Who created the AI? Was it an alien (as there are other planets in this Sodality) or was it human built? What do they have in mind for the people of earth? What are the next tests which determine what new technology will be shared? Will there be any future alien contact with these other Sodality members? Who runs the Sodality? I'd not heard of the term Sodality before and wondered if it were a made up word by Cline but it is a real word meaning "a confraternity or association, especially a Roman Catholic religious guild or brotherhood" so I'm wondering whether it was the Church testing humanity?!

Despite this open-endedness, other things were wrapped up very neatly. The whole thing with the school bully I wasn't expecting. Zack's mom being pregnant. Lex moving closer to Zack. I think these things could have been left out. But I guess they give Zack a good starting point if Cline does bring out a follow up book. I'd be interested to hear what he gets up to being an ambassador to this Sodality. (hide spoiler)]

I gave it 4 stars as I did really enjoy the story. My mind did wander a bit in some of the game play descriptions early on and the ending was a bit off for me but it was a great read. Very different to RPO and I liked that it was.

I have finished :) Going to grab some breakfast then sit and read spoilers

The ending (view spoiler)[ didn't love it leaves a lot of unanswered questions. (hide spoiler)]

Sarah wrote: "I didn't get any reading done yesterday so I've gotten behind you guys. Its August bank holiday here this weekend so an extra day with my partner home. We're desperately trying to get the floor dow..."

love Sons of Anarchy I am still plugging away on season 1 I think

nice buddy read. Thanks everyone

Tasha☺ wrote: "The ending [spoilers removed]"

Agreed (view spoiler)[I feel like it was left that way though for a possible sequel? (hide spoiler)]

Agreed. It's been a fun buddy read.

@Tasha - we're in season 3 and well and truly addicted. There is a book which takes place between series 4 and 5 some I'm going to read that for sure.

Tasha☺ wrote: "The ending [spoilers removed]"

I agree, Tasha!

Sarah - I had the same thoughts as you did in your ending spoiler. It was just too tame. I guess I will not mind a sequel though!

I got the book from the library, finally!, and just finished it tonight. I really liked it, I admit I skimmed a little over battle stuff, but that's typical for me and fighting. Made me laugh and teary eyed. I don't know if I had an issue with comparing it to RPO, but I might have just made Wade into Zack. No biggie...
I enjoy the way Cline writes and the not so stereotypical character traits he gives them gamers.
I wasn't ready for it to be done, I even read his acknowledgements! lol
I wish I could read everyone's views, but I can't see spoilers on the GR app :( ...FWP...I know.
MTFBWYA

I may have turned Zack into Wade as well, lol :)

Finally got the audiobook and finished it yesterday. Mixed feelings. I just read through all the comments, but will have to wait until tonight to respond - unfortunately, my break is over.