this post was submitted on 18 May 2024
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Lemmy World Rules

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I’ve been really enjoying John Scalzi’s catalog- Started with Starter Villain (delightful!), The Kaiju Preservation Society (Sweet..), Lock In + Head On (fun who-done-its), The Android’s Dream (clever, enjoyable read), Agent to the Stars (funny, creative, pretty good).

I’m half way through the first book of Old Man’s War and it’s depressing AF. I don’t see how it’s going to get any more light hearted, given the subject matter. All the aliens are enemies, more battle scenes than anything else, graphic descriptions of war injuries and deaths.. I’m not really compelled to keep going. Can anyone vouch for it being worth it to continue?

Edit: I'm realizing that "better" isn't a good descriptor. I guess what I mean is "Will there be fewer graphic descriptions of injuries and death; as well as general despair on the part of the MC." It is a "good" book by all metrics except "feel-goodiness" and "Not making me queasy at descriptions of faces being blown apart." I'd come to expect a light and clever romp from John Scalzi, and from everyone's replies, he is more varied in his styles than I'd previously been aware.

I'd been half hoping this would all resolve into a lovely, heartwarming story about how the universe was saved by a race of benevolent, highly intelligent cats who tricked everyone into getting along. I tried to go further this morning and am, for now going to set it aside after another scene with an exploding face.

Thanks to all who replied!

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[–] lordnikon 27 points 7 months ago (1 children)

it is really good and has a great pay off. So much so that it turned me from not knowing him at all to getting what ever he writes without question or even reading the synopsis, but if you are looking for light hearted story this is not the series for you at this time.

[–] I_Fart_Glitter 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

So much so that it turned me from not knowing him at all to getting what ever he writes without question or even reading the synopsis

I felt this way about Starter Villain! I'm curious how you felt about that one, given how different it is from Old Man's War.

[–] lordnikon 2 points 7 months ago

it was good I would put it on the same level as Agent to the Stars or Fuzzy Nation. plain old goofy fun.