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[theweaselking]

If you don't like John Scalzi, I suspect something is wrong with your humour gene. Or your action gene. Or both.

(PS: If WHEN you like that one, here's the first book in the series it's from, free, in HTML)
(PPS: If you prefer PDF or Mobi, check this link out.)

Comments

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

You can judge for yourself whether I have a functioning sense of humor. To my mind, the Scalzi story (like most "humorous" sf) had a number of humor-shaped objects, but wasn't actually funny. The action was fairly good.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

I find exchanges like this:

"The mission isn't going well. The Korba haven't been nearly as receptive to our negotiations as we thought they might be. We want to try something new. A new direction. A new diplomatic tack."

"A new tack that is somehow focused on me getting punched," Harry said, setting his drink back down.

"Maybe," Schmidt said.

"Once or repeatedly?" Harry asked.

"I think that would depend on your definition," Schmidt said.

"Of 'once'?" Harry asked.

"Of 'punched,' actually," Schmidt said.

"I already have very deep reservations about this plan," Harry said.

and this:

"I have two requests for you from Ambassador Abumwe," Schmidt said. "And she said for me to say to that by 'request,' she means that if you don't do them both she will find a way to make the rest of your natural existence one of unceasing woe and misery."

"Really," Harry said.

"She was very precise about her word use," Schmidt said.

very amusing, personally. It's the dry kind of clever exchange that makes me like Pratchett and the less absurd Adams.

[dreamshade.livejournal.com]

Ha! That was a lot better than I suspected it'd be.

[moosl.livejournal.com]

I just finished it. It's one of the best first lines I've seen in a while.

[leighdb.livejournal.com]

Heh.

I'm not a hard sf fan, but I really might have to pick up Old Man's War.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't call OMW "hard SF" - it doesn't spend nearly enough time on the numbers to fit that, in my brain - but it's definitely Mad Adventure SF, and lots of people compare it to Heinlein's Mad Adventure SF.

Personally, I can kinda see the resemblance, but I find the main difference is that OMW is fun to read, and Heinlein tends not to be.

But yes! Grab the *free* version, read a few chapters, then go buy it on paper!